Senior Vice President, ABS Ratings – Commercial & Esoteric Assets

Morningstar DBRS is seeking a Senior Vice President for its ABS Ratings team, focusing on Commercial and Esoteric Assets. This leadership role involves overseeing the entire credit rating process, from originator due diligence and transaction modeling to committee presentations. The SVP will manage client relationships, mentor junior analysts, and contribute to methodology development and market commentary. The ideal candidate will possess deep credit acumen, strategic thinking, and a collaborative approach to high-quality analytical work in complex securitization transactions.

Must Have

• Lead the credit rating process for new ABS transactions involving commercial and esoteric asset classes.
• Conduct detailed transaction analysis, including originator and servicer evaluation, loan pool and performance data review, structural modeling, and legal documentation analysis.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams (cash flow modeling, legal, research) to ensure alignment on assumptions and analytical output.
• Present transactions at internal rating committees and guide the development of public-facing reports, credit memoranda, and rating rationales.
• Act as a primary point of contact with issuers, arrangers, investors, and other transaction stakeholders throughout the rating process.
• Manage, mentor, and train junior members of the ABS team, fostering analytical rigor and professional growth.
• Monitor and surveil outstanding transactions; recommend rating actions as necessary based on asset performance and structural changes.
• Contribute to methodology development, research publications, and market commentary that advance the thought leadership of Morningstar DBRS.
• Represent the firm at client meetings, investor discussions, and key industry conferences and events.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• 8–12 years of experience in structured finance, credit ratings, or securitization with strong knowledge of commercial/esoteric ABS.
• Proven track record of leading ratings or analytical engagements across complex securitization structures.
• Strong knowledge of credit risk, cash flow modeling, and deal documentation.
• Familiarity with Excel and modeling platforms such as Intex, T-REX, VBA, and Bloomberg.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with ability to convey complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, while maintaining attention to detail and analytical integrity.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative, team-first approach to problem-solving.

Good to Have

• Advanced degree (MBA, MS, or related) preferred.

Perks & Benefits

• 75% 401k match up to 7%
• Stock Ownership Potential
• Company provided life insurance - 1x salary + commission
• Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision)
• Potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions (up to $500-$2,000 annually)
• Additional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annual
• Company-provided long- and short-term disability insurance
• Trust-Based Time Off
• 6-week Paid Sabbatical Program
• 6-Week Paid Family Caregiving Leave
• Competitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental Bonding Leave
• Adoption Assistance
• Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities
• Annual Education Stipend
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Charitable Matching Gifts program
• Dollars for Doers volunteer program
• Paid volunteering days
• 15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups
• Hybrid work environment (four days in-office each week in most locations)

About The Role:

Morningstar DBRS is seeking a seasoned and analytical leader to join our Asset-Backed Securities (ABS) Ratings team as a Senior Vice President focused on Commercial and Esoteric Assets. This is a key leadership role within a growing practice that evaluates highly structured and often complex securitization transactions backed by multiple asset classes such as data center infrastructure, equipment leases, small business lending, communications infrastructure, and aviation.

You will oversee the end-to-end credit rating process from originator due diligence to transaction modeling and committee presentations, while managing client relationships and mentoring junior analysts. This role is ideal for someone who combines deep credit acumen with strategic thinking, a collaborative mindset, and a passion for driving high-quality analytical work.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the credit rating process for new ABS transactions involving commercial and esoteric asset classes.
• Conduct detailed transaction analysis, including originator and servicer evaluation, loan pool and performance data review, structural modeling, and legal documentation analysis.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams (cash flow modeling, legal, research) to ensure alignment on assumptions and analytical output.
• Present transactions at internal rating committees and guide the development of public-facing reports, credit memoranda, and rating rationales.
• Act as a primary point of contact with issuers, arrangers, investors, and other transaction stakeholders throughout the rating process.
• Manage, mentor, and train junior members of the ABS team, fostering analytical rigor and professional growth.
• Monitor and surveil outstanding transactions; recommend rating actions as necessary based on asset performance and structural changes.
• Contribute to methodology development, research publications, and market commentary that advance the thought leadership of Morningstar DBRS.
• Represent the firm at client meetings, investor discussions, and key industry conferences and events.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MS, or related) preferred.
• 8–12 years of experience in structured finance, credit ratings, or securitization with strong knowledge of commercial/esoteric ABS.
• Proven track record of leading ratings or analytical engagements across complex securitization structures.
• Strong knowledge of credit risk, cash flow modeling, and deal documentation.
• Familiarity with Excel and modeling platforms such as Intex, T-REX, VBA, and Bloomberg.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with ability to convey complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, while maintaining attention to detail and analytical integrity.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative, team-first approach to problem-solving.

Compensation and Benefits

At Morningstar we believe people are at their best when they are at their healthiest. That’s why we champion your wellness through a wide-range of programs that support all stages of your personal and professional life. Here are some examples of the offerings we provide:

• Financial Health
• 75% 401k match up to 7%
• Stock Ownership Potential
• Company provided life insurance - 1x salary + commission

• Physical Health
• Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision) including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions (up to $500-$2,000 annually) for specific plans and coverages
• Additional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annual
• Company-provided long- and short-term disability insurance

• Emotional Health
• Trust-Based Time Off
• 6-week Paid Sabbatical Program
• 6-Week Paid Family Caregiving Leave
• Competitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental Bonding Leave
• Adoption Assistance
• Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities
• Annual Education Stipend
• Tuition Reimbursement

• Social Health
• Charitable Matching Gifts program
• Dollars for Doers volunteer program
• Paid volunteering days
• 15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups

Base Salary Compensation Range

$145,000.00 - 272,000.00 USD Annual

Incentive Target Percentage

40% Annual

If you receive and accept an offer from us, we require that personal and any related investments be disclosed confidentiality to our Compliance team (days vary by region). These investments will be reviewed to ensure they meet Code of Ethics requirements. If any conflicts of interest are identified, then you will be required to liquidate those holdings immediately. In addition, dependent on your department and location of work certain employee accounts must be held with an approved broker (for example all, U.S. employee accounts). If this applies and your account(s) are not with an approved broker, you will be required to move your holdings to an approved broker.

Morningstar's hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to collaborate in-person each week as we've found that we're at our best when we're purposely together on a regular basis. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in-office each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you'll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.

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