Senior Credit Strategist

Job Title: Senior Credit Strategist

Location: Gurugram, Delhi-NCR

Department: Ratings

Reporting To: Chief Ratings Officer / Team Lead

Employment Type: Full-time

Preferred Availability: Immediate Start

Job Description:

We are seeking an experienced Senior Credit Strategist who will be responsible for managing and driving the credit rating process across assigned sectors. The role involves conducting detailed credit assessments, formulating rating recommendations, and leading interactions with senior stakeholders including corporates, banks, and investors. The position also carries responsibility for mentoring junior analysts and contributing to sectoral research and thought leadership.

This role requires deep knowledge of credit assessment, strong leadership capabilities, and commitment to maintaining independence, objectivity, and analytical rigor that defines our rating process. The successful candidate will work closely with the Chief Ratings Officer.

Key Responsibilities:

• Independently lead credit rating assignments across multiple sectors including but not limited to corporates, infrastructure, financial services.
• Conduct in-depth financial statement analysis, business model evaluation (including competitive positioning, management quality and strategic direction), cash flow assessment, and risk analysis (Including Industrial, Operational and Macroeconomic risk assessment).
• Conduct stress testing and sensitivity analysis across multiple economic scenarios.
• Conduct key credit metrics calculation including adjusted leverage, coverage ratios, and liquidity measures.
• Preparing and updating detailed financial models encompassing financial analysis, capital structure analysis, calculation of key credit quality determinants and financial projections (up-to 7 years).
• Prepare and present rating rationales, committee notes, and press releases.
• Maintain thorough documentation of all rating decisions for regulatory compliance.

Stakeholder Management:

• Engage with senior management of issuers, promoters, bankers, and investors.
• Conduct due diligence for comprehensive credit assessment by visiting the issuer facility.
• Provide rationales for rating recommendations before internal rating committees.
• Communicate rating decisions and sector insights effectively to external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with other sector teams for cross-sector analysis and benchmarking.
• Work with research team on thematic studies and market outlook reports.
• Coordinate with compliance team to ensure adherence to company policies.

Research & Sector Insights:

• Monitor industry developments, regulatory changes, and macroeconomic trends.
• Conduct regular peer analysis and competitive landscape assessment
• Track default patterns, recovery rates, and credit cycle implications
• Contribute to agency's annual default studies and rating performance analysis
• Develop sector-specific rating criteria and methodology enhancements
• Support implementation of technology solutions for analytical efficiency
• Publish sector reports, outlooks, and thematic research notes.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Manage, review and guide the work of a tea of 3-5 junior and associate analysts.
• Assign rating mandates and oversee work allocation across team members
• Review and approve all analytical work products before submission to rating committees
• Ensure consistent analytical standards and methodology application across the team
• Provide coaching, training, and knowledge sharing to strengthen team capabilities.

Governance & Compliance:

• Ensure strict compliance with SEBI & RBI regulations for CRAs, internal policies, and ethical standards.
• Support regulatory examinations and audit processes.
• Maintain detailed records and documentation as required by regulatory authorities.
• Maintain integrity, independence, and transparency in rating opinions.
• Implement robust quality control measures for all analytical outputs
• Report any potential conflicts of interest or independence concerns immediately

Candidate Profile:

• CA, CFA, MBA (Finance) or equivalent postgraduate qualification in finance/economics from a premier institution.
• Additional Certifications: FRM, ACCA, or equivalent risk management certifications preferred
• 7–10 years of relevant experience in credit rating, investment banking, corporate finance, or credit risk assessment.
• Demonstrated experience in at least 2 of the following sectors:

• Corporate ratings (manufacturing, services, technology)
• Infrastructure and project finance
• Financial institutions (banks, NBFCs, insurance)
• Municipal and government ratings

• Strong financial and analytical skills with deep understanding of credit risk including strong understanding of finance and accounting concepts; especially, adjustments in calculation of adjusted earnings, cash flow and leverage metrics.
• Ability to manage a team and provide coaching, query handling and analytical mentoring to the team.
• Willingness to be fungible across sectors and regions
• Excellent communication, report writing, and presentation skills.
• Ability to identify key characteristics and drivers of sectors assigned.
• Credit assessment and analysis (or financial analysis), including business, financial and management profiling
• Good understanding of banking regulations, calculation of key credit metrics and capital ratios.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments under strict deadlines.
• Leadership qualities with experience in mentoring teams.

Why Join Us?

• Unique opportunity to be a part of the core ratings function of a newly SEBI-registered Credit Rating Agency.
• Contribute in shaping the company's culture, methodologies, and market positioning.
• High visibility role engaging with regulators, market participants, and industry leaders.
• Collaborative, diverse, and supportive team culture

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