HELP! Credit Underwriting vs Credit Portfolio Management

Option 1:
- BB underwriting (credit risk) team, focusing on leveraged finance transactions
- Approve transactions or recommend alternative structuring to improve risk ratings
- $115k base, 20% bonus

Option 2:
- MM credit portfolio management team (also credit risk), focusing on sponsor-backed names as well
- Annual reviews for covered names; approve/process waivers/amendments for loans in the portfolio
- Potential to do some underwriting for overflow names
- $100k base, 50% bonus

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What should I pick? I want to eventually get into corporate banking or leveraged finance as the next step in my career. Neither of these options seems to focus on modeling. Which one positions me best for that next move?

Salary seems to tilt toward option #2, but on a tax-affected basis, it's only about a $6k difference.

11 Comments
 

If you want to move into corporate banking or leveraged finance, I'd go with Option 1. I previously worked in LevFin at a BB, and people in LevFin value transaction based work experience, (i.e. people who understand the nuances of the entire deal process) versus glorified credit surveillance (what the other role sounds like).

LevFin and Corporate Banking are DEAL based jobs and working in a transaction based role, especially one that focuses on underwriting levfin transactions is a relatively seamless transition. Also, what is the BB's view on internal moves? If they're open to it, it's not too hard to transition internally to a levfin group after a year or two. A lot of people at my old BB got in that way.

 

^^ Thanks to both of you guys. I think internal mobility is promising for the BB. I've been struggling with the idea, but it sounds like Option 1 provides more transferable skills and experience. It's not as high of a salary as I was expecting, but I'll do it to bridge the gap to my final goal.

Thanks again -- I think I can make a clearer decision based off of that information.

 

1 is deals. 2 is quarterly reviews & admin work.

Would take 1 any day of the week, especially if you want to be a credit/HY/distress investor.

Array
 

When you all consider deals though, does it matter that it's from a credit risk standpoint and not an active structuring-type role? Maybe I'm just skeptical because I wouldn't be leading the deals so-to-speak, but just being apart of the approval process doing credit analysis and the modeling is light at best (we would interface with the team that handles the model to have them change certain assumptions if need be).

Some further details on it:

  • I would have a seat at management meetings and be able to ask questions
  • I would be independently doing transaction memos, asking follow-up questions to the Lev Fin group, etc.
  • Deal with some derivatives and currency exposures (working with trading desks) as well.
 

portfolio management on a loan book is horrible.

Underwriting is constantly intellectually stimulating, at least if you're working somewhere with a decent transfer of deal flow.

My experience is that underwriters are paid substantially more.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, post threads about how to do it on WSO.
 

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