Municipals Analyst

Role Purpose:

Supporting senior portfolio managers, the role holder will provide credit analysis and associated key credit information on the status of a large Municipal portfolio within three Municipal strategies and other SMA accounts which contain taxable municipal securities. There will be a requirement for the role holder to travel 20 to 30% of the time, including to other abrdn offices in the Northeast.

Base salary range $121,500 - $170,000

Key Outcomes / Responsibilities:

• Municipal credit analyst experience, ideally from a buy-side asset
  management firm, a rating agency or bond insurer
• Approach credit analysis with a systematic approach that incorporates a financial, accounting, geopolitical, and business economics understanding of issuers and industries
• Analyze and understand covenants in context of issuer’s financial and business situation
• Build financial models of issuers including projections and level of detail appropriate to the risk of a given issuer
• Recommend appropriate action (buy, sell, hold, swap, pass) on specific credits
• Identify and assess downside risk as well as upside opportunities
• Monitor specific issuer and industry developments on an on-going basis
• Help identify trends within or between industries and specific issues that may be exploited on a systematic basis from a portfolio point of view
• Understand and identify relative value within and across credits and sectors
• Engage with the firm’s other credit analysts, traders, and portfolio managers to facilitate a timely and effective investment-relevant flow of information
• Engage with outside sales coverage, traders, and analysts in effort to gain a perspective on particular credits or trends. Ask effective questions and identify strengths and potential flaws in outside analysis.
• Engage with and develop constructive relationships with management teams and other industry participants that help increase credit specific and sector knowledge
   

Role Specific Skills and Knowledge:

• Strong organizational skills
• Experience of working both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment is critical.
• The ability to demonstrate tenacity and aim for positive results while optimally managing key relationships.
• Strong team building skills and an overall “can do” attitude is crucial
• Knowledge of Bloomberg terminal and functions
   

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance or economics or a pre-law degree is preferred
• 3-7 years of municipal credit analyst experience
• A CFA or work towards the certification is desirable
• An MBA is not required, but is desirable