Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.
Job Description
Ares is currently searching for a highly motivated, detail-oriented team player to join as an Associate in the U.S. Direct Lending Product Management and Investor Relations team in the New York office.
Ares U.S. Direct Lending Group (“DLG”) is one of the largest direct lenders in U.S. With a team of approximately 220 investment professionals, Ares U.S. DLG originates investment opportunities in senior secured loans, private high yield, mezzanine, preferred equity and select minority equity investments. Ares U.S. DLG provides investors access to its platform through several vehicles, including commingled funds, separately managed accounts and a publicly traded vehicle, Ares Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: ARCC).
Primary Function and Essential Responsibilities:
To succeed in this role, an individual must possess a strategic orientation combined with strong analytical skills and potential for relationship management. In addition, this person will be a conceptual thinker, creative, articulate and have the ability to understand and convey a variety of concepts at all levels. Outstanding organization skills combined with excellent judgment and exemplary values are imperative. The successful candidate should possess the following specific competencies or attributes:
- Outstanding communication skills – both verbal and written
- Detail oriented and highly motivated with ability to multi-task
- Exceptional interpersonal skills – ability to establish rapport and quickly create trust and respect with institutional investors and internal colleagues
- Outgoing, collaborative and inclusive style
- Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment
- Knowledge of direct lending / leveraged finance
- Highly motivated self-starter who works well independently
- Ability to meet deadlines and work well under pressure
Specific tasks will include:
- Develop marketing and due diligence materials such as private placement memorandums (PPM), pitch books and due diligence questionnaires (DDQs) for investment vehicles
- Prepare request for proposals, questionnaires and data requests related to investor due diligence
- Assist team with monthly, quarterly and year-end fund reporting as well as ad-hoc investor requests
- Work directly with investors, business development team and various other groups to communicate strategies, follow-up on investor/prospect specific inquiries and develop materials for use by the direct lending team, marketing team and other professionals as required
- Work across functions to obtain and synthesize information from the deal, reporting and accounting teams in order to prepare communication materials
- Conduct market and competitor research
- Create presentations and coordinate logistics for Annual General Meeting, investor meetings and conference calls
- Work on strategic projects for new business development initiatives
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- 2+ years of relevant work experience which can include investment banking, asset management and/or alternative investments.
- Experience with investor relations/business development from a placement agent/private direct lending fund, asset manager or private equity firm preferred
- Investment and leveraged finance experience preferred
- Series 7, 63 and SIE or ability to obtain
General Requirements:
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Exceptional attention to detail, placing a high priority on accuracy and organization
- Problem solver with ability to research solutions and suggest resolutions
- Highly motivated with the ability to set priorities, multitask and monitor own workload to meet aggressive deadlines
- Takes initiative and has a strong work ethic
- Demonstrated experience working in a team environment with multiple tasks
- Highly proficient in Word, PowerPoint and Excel
Reporting Relationships
Partner, Product Management and Investor Relations, Credit
Compensation
The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.
The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit.
Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more.
There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.
