Senior Investment Analyst

Location(s)
Chicago, Illinois

Details

Kemper is one of the nation’s leading specialized insurers. Our success is a direct reflection of the talented and diverse people who make a positive difference in the lives of our customers every day. We believe a high-performing culture, valuable opportunities for personal development and professional challenge, and a healthy work-life balance can be highly motivating and productive. Kemper’s products and services are making a real difference to our customers, who have unique and evolving needs. By joining our team, you are helping to provide an experience to our stakeholders that delivers on our promises.

Position Summary:

The Senior Investment Analyst is responsible for independently analyzing the creditworthiness and relative value of issuers and investment opportunities across a broad range of asset classes, which may include corporate bonds, municipal bonds, structured securities, private debt, private equity, and alternative investments. This role develops actionable investment recommendations, monitors portfolio holdings, performs valuation analysis, and contributes to enhancements of the investment research process and framework. The position requires sound investment judgment, strong financial and credit analysis capabilities, and the ability to communicate clear written and verbal recommendations to portfolio managers. The Senior Investment Analyst may also assist in training and mentoring interns and incoming analysts.

Position Responsibilities:

- Independently analyze debt issuers and investment opportunities across multiple sectors and asset classes in the primary and secondary markets, which may include corporate bonds, municipal bonds, structured securities, private debt, private equity, and alternative investments.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive written credit evaluations, including issuer overviews, industry and competitive analysis, financial statement analysis, relative value analysis, key risks, and investment considerations based on qualitative and fundamental factors.
- Monitor existing portfolio holdings by evaluating financial performance, market developments, ratings actions, covenant compliance, and other relevant credit and investment information.
- Make buy, sell, and hold recommendations to portfolio managers, both verbally and in writing, within a relative value framework.
- Analyze investment opportunities outside primary areas of coverage and collaborate with other team members on cross-asset research and portfolio initiatives.
- Perform quarterly valuations of private debt, private equity, and other alternative investments, including assessment of valuation assumptions, comparable investments, market conditions, and supporting documentation.
- Maintain high-quality investment research files and internal databases to support portfolio monitoring, reporting, valuation, and investment decision-making.
- Participate in developing and enhancing the team’s investment research process, analytical tools, reporting, and framework.
- Track and evaluate market, economic, industry, and company-specific trends that may affect current or prospective investments.
- Build productive relationships with portfolio managers, investment team members, issuers, underwriters, asset managers, and other external market participants.
- Assist in training and mentoring interns and incoming analysts and provide constructive review of their work, as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

- Bachelor’s degree required preferably in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field.
- Two to four years of professional experience in credit research, investment research, trading, industry analysis, financial analysis, or a related field including demonstrated ability to work independently and develop investment recommendations.
- CFA, MBA, MS in Finance, or active pursuit of a relevant advanced degree or professional designation required.
- Demonstrated knowledge of financial statements, credit analysis, fixed income markets, valuation, and investment concepts with expertise in at least one relevant asset class.
- Strong analytical, written and verbal communication, and Excel skills, with the ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Experience analyzing multiple fixed income, private market, or alternative investment asset classes
- Experience valuing private debt, private equity, or other less liquid investments.
- Experience with Bloomberg, Aladdin, Python, generative AI tools, or other investment research, analytics, and data platforms.

Key Competencies:

- Sound investment judgment and the ability to identify key risks, return drivers, relative value considerations, and appropriate recommendations.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in research, data, reporting, portfolio monitoring, and valuation work.
- Ability to prioritize assignments, meet deadlines, and manage multiple issuers, sectors, and asset-class responsibilities with limited supervision.
- Intellectual curiosity, initiative, and demonstrated ability to learn new sectors, asset classes, and investment strategies.

Kemper is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability status or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We are committed to supporting diversity and equality across our organization and we work diligently to maintain a workplace free from discrimination. Kemper is focused on expanding our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts to align with our vision, mission, and guiding principles. Kemper does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Kemper and Kemper will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.

Kemper will never request personal information, such as your social security number or banking information, via text or email.  Additionally, Kemper does not use external messaging applications like WireApp or Skype to communicate with candidates.  If you receive such a message, delete it.