Assistant Vice President - Leveraged Finance Research

About M&G India

We are M&G India, the strategic innovation and digital hub for M&G. Established in 2003, we have offices in Mumbai and Pune.

Our teams work closely with colleagues across the Group worldwide to drive transformation, build digital capability, and support sustainable growth. By leveraging technology, AI, automation, and process excellence, we bring new ways of thinking to improve outcomes for both customers and colleagues.

Grounded in a vibrant culture with strong foundations, we are central to how M&G is transforming as a business.

About M&G

Our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. With a heritage dating back more than 175 years, we have a long history of innovation in savings and investments, combining asset management and insurance expertise to offer a wide range of solutions.

Our two distinct operating segments, Asset Management and Life, work together to provide access to balanced, long-term investment and savings solutions.

Through telling it like it is, owning it now, and moving it forward together with care and integrity; we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent.

Title: Assistant Vice President (AVP) – Leveraged Finance Research

Function: Investments

Sub Function: Investment Research

Reports to: Vice President – Private Markets Research

Location: Mumbai

Overall Job Purpose

This role is part of the front-office investments team and involves working closely with the onshore M&G Leveraged Finance Research team. This is a dual role and includes both team management and analytical contributions. The responsibilities include evaluating investment opportunities across leveraged loans & private corporate credit opportunities in the UK and Europe. The role has four primary areas of focus: 1) underwriting and recommending primary and secondary investment opportunities, 2) monitoring existing portfolio exposures and identifying emerging risks, 3) conducting thematic and sector research to support investment decision-making and 4) managing, mentoring and developing junior team members. The successful candidate will combine rigorous fundamental analysis and intellectual curiosity to develop differentiated credit views, challenge assumptions and provide actionable investment recommendations to portfolio managers and senior analysts.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Play a pivotal role across teams in fostering analytical excellence, intellectual rigour and effective knowledge sharing.

• Work closely with onshore front-office leveraged finance analysts covering leveraged loans, private corporate credit opportunities, high yield bonds and other related opportunistic credit investments.

• Support the underwriting of primary and secondary opportunities, assessing business quality, industry dynamics, management execution, sponsor behaviour, financial performance and capital structure risk.

• Build and maintain detailed financial models covering earnings, cash flow, liquidity, debt capacity, leverage, covenant headroom and deleveraging pathways.

• Review credit agreements, bond indentures and intercreditor arrangements to assess security, guarantees, covenants, baskets, portability, structural subordination and lender protections.

• Participate actively in management meetings, lender presentations, sponsor discussions and due diligence calls, confidently challenging assumptions and testing the investment thesis.

• Prepare concise, decision-useful investment memos that clearly articulate the thesis, catalysts, key risks, downside protection, relative value and recommendation.

• Monitor portfolio investments continuously and act as the first line of defence in identifying deteriorating credit quality, liquidity pressure, covenant monitoring and refinancing risk.

• Conduct sector and thematic research to identify structural trends, vulnerable business models and attractive risk-adjusted opportunities ahead of consensus.

• Assess investments through an ESG lens, evaluating governance, sustainability and reputational factors that may affect long-term credit performance.

• Drive automation and enhancement of research tools and processes using Excel, Python, VBA, Power BI or other analytical technologies.

• Train, mentor and develop junior analysts through technical review, constructive challenge and continuous coaching.

Key Stakeholder Management

Internal:

• Head of Investment Research

• VP – Private Markets Research

External

• Onshore leveraged finance analysts

• Portfolio managers

• Issuers, management teams, arranging banks, financial sponsors and external advisers

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Educational Qualification:

Knowledge & Skills:

• Deep understanding of leveraged finance, corporate credit and capital structures, including leveraged loans, high-yield bonds and private credit instruments.

• Good financial-statement analysis and modelling capability, including the ability to normalise EBITDA, identify adjustments and distinguish accounting earnings from sustainable cash generation.

• Strong understanding of credit agreements, bond indentures, covenant packages, security structures, intercreditor terms and restructuring or recovery mechanics.

• Proven ability to synthesise complex quantitative and qualitative information into decisive, well-supported investment recommendations.

• An investigative mindset, with the confidence to challenge management narratives, sponsor assumptions, market consensus and internal views constructively.

• Ability to build trusted relationships, understand stakeholder priorities, communicate proactively, and align offshore delivery with onshore business expectations.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to defend recommendations under rigorous scrutiny from senior stakeholders.

• High ownership, attention to detail and resilience, with the ability to deliver high-quality work under tight transaction timelines.

• Demonstrated ability to mentor junior analysts and raise analytical standards across a research team.

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency in Bloomberg and corporate credit research platforms. Python, VBA and Power BI are desirable.

Experience:

• 9 - 12 years of relevant experience in leveraged finance, high-yield or loan research, private credit, credit underwriting, investment banking, rating advisory or a related discipline.

• Prior experience in managing highly effective teams is preferred.

• Demonstrable track record of underwriting complex credits and influencing investment, underwriting or risk decisions.

• Experience analysing sponsor-backed borrowers and event-driven transactions across multiple sectors and jurisdictions.

• Prior experience working directly with portfolio managers, investment committees or senior credit professionals is strongly preferred.

Educational Qualification:

• MBA, CA or equivalent postgraduate/professional qualification from a recognised institution.

• CFA charter, active CFA candidacy or FRM qualification is desirable; demonstrated investment judgement and technical excellence will be weighted more heavily than credentials alone.

M&G Behaviours relevant to all roles:

Tell it like it is: Respectfully speaking up to create better ways forward – both direct and empathetic 

Own it now: Putting your name on things with confidence to drive progress and results quickly

Move it Forward Together: Forming cross-functional teams to seize the right opportunities and solve real problems.

Note: *We are in Hybrid working with min. three days’ work from office (subject to policy change)

We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G Global Services, regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability or long term condition, we are looking to attract, promote and retain exceptional people. We also welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks.