Associate, Private Fixed Income

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to join MetLife Investment Management’s EMEA Corporate Private Credit team as an Associate and further develop your experience in investment grade private credit across a broad range of sectors.

Based in London and reporting to the Head of Corporate Private Credit EMEA, the team originates and manages transactions across Europe and oversees a portfolio of approximately $16 billion of predominantly investment grade corporate private debt on behalf of MetLife Investment Management’s affiliated and unaffiliated clients.

The Associate role offers broad exposure to origination, execution and portfolio management within an established private credit platform. It would suit a highly motivated, analytical individual with experience in banking, investment management or a rating agency environment who seeks broad responsibility and strong development potential.

Key team objectives include:

Origination of corporate private debt

Managing and minimising credit losses within the existing portfolio

Expanding origination into new markets and sectors

Delivering market‑leading credit performance

As the Associate, you will also work closely with teams across MetLife Investment Management, including Infrastructure and Project Finance, Insurance Asset Management, Client Portfolio Management, Derivatives, Credit Research, Legal, Operations and Compliance, giving you broad exposure across the investment process.

Guided by our purpose - always with you, building a more confident future - and our [1] New Frontier strategy focused on stronger growth, attractive returns and all-weather performance, this Associate role is ideal for a highly motivated candidate who wants to develop as an investor while contributing to the origination, evaluation and monitoring of corporate private placement investments.

Key Responsibilities

Origination & Portfolio Management

Due diligence:

Participate in roadshows, presentations, issuer meetings and due diligence sessions.

Review offering memoranda, sell-side research, rating agency reports and methodologies, and other relevant documentation.

Assess and synthesise legal structures with guidance from internal and external counsel.

Engage with banks and advisers on transactions and prospective opportunities.

Financial analysis:

Analyse financial statements and models.

Conduct sensitivity analysis and other financial assessments related to transactions.

Build, refine and update financial models as required.

Execution:

Prepare comprehensive written materials, including investment summaries and Investment Committee memoranda.

Evaluate pricing and assess the relative value of investment opportunities using Bloomberg and other market data sources.

Provide recommendations on internal credit ratings for prospective and existing investments.

Contribute to Investment Committee presentations.

Collaborate with Client Portfolio Management to align investment opportunities with client objectives.

Support transaction closing activities.

Market analysis:

Support the team’s origination initiatives, including preparing presentation materials and conducting market analysis.

Monitor deal flow and track opportunities using Salesforce.

Portfolio management:

Review portfolio investments regularly and attend credit update meetings.

Complete annual portfolio credit reviews.

Deliver credit event updates to senior management and clients.

Support amendments, waivers and other transaction changes.

Address client investment requests with the Client Portfolio Management team.

Required Qualifications

Strong academic record

At least 3 years’ credit or investment experience in credit underwriting, M&A, or corporate finance

Skilled in financial statement analysis and accounting

Excel and financial modelling proficiency

Strong grounding in credit analysis

Knowledge of fixed income markets

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Strong organisational and prioritisation skills

Strong problem-solving skills, sound judgement under pressure, and close attention to detail

Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team

Preferred Qualifications

Chartered accountant or CFA® charterholder (or working towards)

Experience with private placements

Familiarity with Bloomberg and Salesforce

Working knowledge of emerging AI tools for investments

References

Visible links

1. https://www.metlife.com/about-us/newsroom/2024/december/metlife-unveils-new-frontier-growth-strategy-and-long-term-financial-commitments-at-2024-investor-day/

Location Expectation: This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in office.

Benefits We Offer

MetLife UK offers a range of benefits to deliver value to our employees and their families, supporting their health, wellbeing and financial security. Our flexible benefits offering provides freedom, choice, and flexibility in the way that you receive your benefits to better suit your lifestyle, meet some of your practical needs, and provide advantages in terms of tax and National Insurance savings. Our core benefits include 9% employer pension contributions with up to 4% matching available, comprehensive private medical insurance, income protection insurance, and life insurance. We offer a host of additional benefits that you can choose to buy including critical illness/dental/travel/gadget insurance, annual leave buy/sell, partner life insurance and more. All employees receive a £20 benefits allowance per month to spend on any additional benefits they select.

About MetLife

Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the "World's Most Admired Companies" and Fortune World’s 25 Best Workplaces™, MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by our core values - Win Together, Do the Right Thing, Deliver Impact Over Activity, and Think Ahead - we’re inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it’s [1] #AllTogetherPossible. Join us!

References

Visible links

1. https://www.metlifecareers.com/en_US/ml/GreatPlaceToWork