Associate | Leveraged Finance

Associate, Leveraged Finance Origination (London) - Tier‑1 Global Investment Bank

Location: London

Position: Associate 1 / Associate 2

Division: Leveraged Finance - Origination & Execution

A leading global Tier‑1 investment bank is seeking a highly motivated Associate to join its Leveraged Finance Origination team in London. This is a rare opportunity to work on headline, market‑defining transactions across private equity sponsors and large‑cap corporates, within one of the most active leveraged finance franchises in Europe.

This role is ideal for candidates looking to step into a pure origination and execution seat, with substantial front‑end exposure, premium deal flow, and the ability to shape market‑leading financings. The team advises and raises capital across LBOs, acquisition financings, corporate refinancings, dividend recapitalisations, and bespoke sponsor solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support senior bankers across origination, structuring, and execution of leveraged loan and high‑yield bond transactions.
• Lead day‑to‑day execution workstreams on high‑profile deals, including managing internal processes, preparing materials, and coordinating with product and sector teams.
• Develop financing structures tailored to sponsor and corporate client needs, leveraging strong commercial judgement.
• Prepare and deliver high‑impact pitch materials for client discussions, focusing on idea generation and origination initiatives.
• Work directly with private equity clients, CFOs, and treasury teams to shape deal strategy and execution timelines.
• Conduct market and investor analysis to support structuring and credit positioning.
• Collaborate closely with syndicate, capital markets, ratings advisory, and risk teams throughout the transaction lifecycle.
• Mentor analysts and contribute to the development of best‑in‑class execution processes across the platform.

Candidate Profile:

• 2-4 years of relevant experience in leveraged finance/acquisition finance at a leading bank or credit fund.
• Strong transaction experience with exposure to leveraged loans and/or high‑yield bonds.
• Ability to operate in a fast‑paced, deal‑driven environment with high client visibility.
• Excellent financial analysis and modelling capabilities, with the maturity to focus on origination + execution rather than back‑end technical work.
• Professional presence, strong communication skills, and confidence engaging with senior internal stakeholders and clients.
• Ambition to grow within a Tier‑1, high‑performance leveraged finance franchise.

What This Opportunity Offers:

• Exposure to the largest and most sophisticated sponsor and corporate clients in Europe.
• Consistent involvement in market‑leading transactions, frequently acting as left‑lead arranger.
• A highly collaborative culture with direct access to senior leadership.
• The ability to rapidly grow into a VP‑track role with expanding client responsibilities.
• A platform known for career progression, premium deal flow, and exceptional learning opportunities.