Senior Credit Analyst

**Asia Fixed Income**:
First Sentier Investors’ Asian fixed income capability is designed to provide relevant, high quality solutions for Asia focused investors within appropriate risk tolerances. Our offering extends to 15 Asian countries across three asset classes, namely credit, interest rates and currency. Operating across Hong Kong and Singapore the team comprises of highly experienced investment professionals focused on fixed income in this region.

Our investment philosophy for the Asian Fixed Income team is based on a strong focus on 3 key principles, namely flexibility, research and risk management.

Flexibility

Asian Fixed Income markets are constantly evolving and hence return drivers can vary over time. Our investment process combines both top-down (macro) and bottom-up (security specific) approaches, enabling us to focus on risks and opportunities that really matters, thereby delivering consistent risk adjusted performance under varied market conditions.

Research

We put a lot of emphasis on our research process and ensure we properly document all our output. We believe having an organized research depository helps to increase transparency and accountability for all our investment ideas. We are of the view that to be successful in the Asian Fixed Income markets, the team needs to be immersed in the region and fully understand the nuances of the markets as well as investors’ biases. An ESG assessment should also be an integral part of our research process as we often need to make a distinction between ability to repay and willingness to repay.

Risk Management

We believe risk management should be core to our philosophy and it should permeate into every stage of our investment process. We believe having a good diversification of alpha sources along with a focus on avoiding defaults/downgrades would allow us to achieve superior risk-adjusted returns in the long term.

**Position Purpose**:
The Analyst will cover a list of Asian corporate issuers with a particular focus on High Yield companies, providing research and recommendations consistent with the FSI research and signalling process. The role will require covering some Investment Grade issuers also. The Analyst will work closely with other members from the Asia Fixed Income team, the Portfolio Managers and Dealing teams. The position will also involve presenting the credit process to external parties, take part in credit research and strategy sessions, and provide written commentary on a regular, timely basis.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Communication - Analysts are expected to provide primary recommendations in the form of written research documents, stored on ION, supported by less formal communications, as needed. ION communications must meet FSI standards and the level required of client communications. Analysts are also frequently involved in client meetings, new business presentations, and other external sessions.
- Collaboration - we work in a team environment, sharing knowledge with other analysts and the wider FI team, and using constructive challenge to refine views and positions. Analysts are encouraged to seek improvement in their work, including suggestions for process improvement.
- Attend virtual/physical relevant conferences, issuer meetings in Asia
- Build expertise in Asian credit markets (primary market trends and secondary market, e.g. index composition) as well as maintaining/building relationships with market participants (corporate bond issuers, sell side analyst community and credit rating agencies).

**Required Capabilities**:

- A strong fundamental analysis background to include financial analysis, evaluation of industry fundamentals, management/strategy assessment, ESG risks, ability to question company management, among others.
- Solid grasp of fundamental analysis.
- Ability to assess the relative value of bond investment opportunities through the evaluation of risk-reward factors, legal structure, capital structure, bond covenants, technical/fundamental drivers, and the value of other issuers within a certain industry.
- Broad and diverse knowledge of the Asian High Yield sector, with particular experience with China property companies
- Able to articulate their opinions on a credit, and any related investment recommendation of that credit, to PMs of different products by written and oral means.
- A Proactive approach that sees them read widely, and constantly assessing companies and industries for potential investment suggestions and or ideas for where to focus attention
- Monitoring their coverage set and position signals on an ongoing basis which necessitates timely updates (via written and/or oral means) to team members across the globe.
- Bachelor's degree (4-year study program and degree) in business or a hard science, or a master's degree. CFA study (any level) is preferred.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Mandarin, preferably with the ability to present in each.
-