Senior Associate | Leveraged & Acquisition Finance | London

Leveraged & Acquisition Finance Origination - Senior Associate (London)

Overview:

A leading European leveraged finance platform is seeking a Senior Associate (Associate II / III) to join its Leveraged / Acquisition Finance Origination team in London.

The team focuses on originating and executing sponsor‑backed leveraged finance transactions, primarily supporting private equity clients on LBOs, acquisitions, refinancings and recapitalisations across a broad range of sectors. The platform operates at the intersection of direct lending and the leveraged loan and bond markets, structuring and underwriting bespoke financing solutions alongside internal capital markets teams.

The London origination team covers opportunities across the UK and selected European markets, working closely with senior bankers, credit, syndication and execution teams. The role offers significant exposure to live deal execution, origination initiatives, and credit decision‑making, with increasing responsibility for deal ownership and junior oversight.

The Role:

The Senior Associate will play a hands‑on role in executing sponsor‑led leveraged finance transactions, while also contributing meaningfully to origination, credit work, and internal coordination. The position suits a self‑starter with strong technical skills who is comfortable operating with limited supervision, managing workstreams independently, and acting as a key point of contact within deal teams.

You will be expected to exercise judgment, support seniors in client interactions, and mentor junior team members, while continuing to deepen your product and sector expertise.

Key Responsibilities:

Transaction Execution & Credit

• Lead financial and business analysis on prospective transactions, including company, industry, competitive positioning, and valuation assessment
• Take ownership of leveraged finance credit analysis, including capital structure design, cash flow sustainability, leverage metrics, covenant analysis and downside scenarios
• Review, challenge and refine financial models prepared by Analysts, ensuring accuracy, robustness and appropriate sensitivity analysis
• Synthesise findings from financial, commercial, legal and other due diligence workstreams and clearly articulate key risks and mitigants
• Prepare and coordinate full credit approval materials for internal committees, ensuring completeness, consistency and clarity

Origination & Client Materials

• Support senior bankers on origination initiatives, pitch preparation and client engagement
• Lead the preparation of high‑quality client presentations, articulating transaction rationale, structure and value proposition
• Assist with sponsor dialogue by helping frame financing solutions aligned with client objectives and risk appetite

Syndication & Capital Markets Exposure

• Coordinate closely with internal syndication and capital markets teams on loan and bond execution
• Oversee preparation of Information Memoranda, management presentations and marketing materials
• Manage investor Q&A during syndication in collaboration with senior colleagues

Process Management & Internal Coordination

• Support deal execution from mandate through closing, including funding processes and internal approvals
• Take responsibility for KYC and compliance processes, liaising with internal stakeholders to ensure timely completion
• Act as a central point of coordination across Risk, Legal, Portfolio Management, Loan Capital Markets, Debt Capital Markets and Compliance
• Identify opportunities to improve execution efficiency and internal processes, implementing enhancements with senior support

Team Leadership & Development

• Guide, mentor and review work of junior team members (Analysts, graduates and interns)
• Set quality standards for analysis, modelling and presentation output
• Contribute positively to team culture in a high‑performance, collaborative environment

Candidate Profile:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, Mathematics or a related quantitative discipline
• 4-7 years of relevant experience, with strong exposure to Leveraged Finance, Acquisition Finance, or sponsor‑backed transactions
• Solid understanding of financial statements, accounting principles and credit fundamentals
• Excellent financial modelling capabilities (LBO, cash flow and credit models)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex ideas clearly
• Highly organised, detail‑oriented, and capable of managing multiple workstreams in a fast‑paced environment
• Comfortable operating independently while working effectively as part of a team