Ratings Associate

About Moody’s

At Moody’s, we unite the brightest minds to turn today’s risks into tomorrow’s opportunities. We strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome to be who they are—with the freedom to exchange ideas, think innovatively, and listen to each other and customers in meaningful ways. As a global leader in ratings and integrated risk assessment, we are advancing AI to move from insight to action—enabling intelligence that understands complexity and responds to it.

Moody’s is seeking candidates who model our values: invest in every relationship, lead with curiosity, champion diverse perspectives, turn inputs into actions, and uphold trust through integrity.

About the Role

The Ratings Associate (RA) will work with Lead Analysts in conducting comprehensive analysis on an assigned portfolio of credit ratings. The RA will perform holistic evaluations of credit risk by integrating credit inputs prepared by internal and external parties. In conducting credit analysis for assigned portfolios, transactions, or credit reviews, RAs will actively participate in rating committee discussions and interact with issuers and other market participants, in collaboration with Lead Analysts.

The RA role is integral to Moody’s focus on ratings accuracy, research, and market outreach. The RA role will focus primarily on banks and non-bank financial institutions in South and Southeast Asia, with the potential for cross-training in other rating groups.

Responsibilities

Portfolio Management

• Performs day-to-day credit analysis related to ratings, research, presentations, and investor outreach, including:
  • Reviewing financial statements and charts, analyzing data and financial statements, building and updating financial forecasts, and writing analytical commentary in accordance with Moody’s methodologies
  • Assisting with proprietary models and new financial projections as applicable, identifying trends in data, and applying analytical skills and judgment to form well-reasoned credit conclusions
  • Developing a working knowledge of credit fundamentals through a review of components such as transaction documentation, cash flow analysis, or loss allocation rules
  • Preparing first drafts of rating committee memos in collaboration with Lead Analysts
  • Attending and participating in rating committee meetings, including offering analysis and opinions where appropriate
• Develops strong working knowledge of Moody’s methodologies and credit rating best practices, applying these with moderate guidance
• Develops the ability to understand and identify key factors that affect issuer credit ratings, and engages with issuers directly for follow-up clarification and information
• May complete Credit Estimates used to assess elements of credit risk in certain rated transactions

Research & Investor Outreach

• Contributes to the first draft of core research, such as credit opinions, issuer and sector comments, press releases, and pre-sale and new issue reports, in collaboration with Lead Analysts
• Contributes to research strategy, including idea generation and preliminary drafting, adhering to Moody’s research standards
• Attends investor briefings and issuer meetings as required; helps prepare presentation materials; arrives prepared to engage in discussions
• Builds positive relationships with issuers by proactively understanding the issuer’s business and responding to issuer enquiries

Credit Administration

• Operates internal systems and software specific to the rating group
• Constructs and takes ownership of analytical databases as applicable; identifies issues with data for follow-up with Lead Analysts
• Demonstrates thorough understanding and judgment in applying Moody’s processes, documentation standards, and best practices, adhering to all laws and policies
• Ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to certify relevant key codes as required; completes mandatory training in a timely manner

Coaching & Guidance

• Provides clear, concise, and constructive guidance in the delegation of work to support teams
• Actively manages the workload pipeline to allow sufficient time for completion; seeks Ratings Associate Team Manager (RATM) guidance where needed to determine how to allocate work

Skills and Competencies

• Has 1–2 years of relevant working experience
• Good understanding of the banking sector and credit market
• Fluent in English; knowledge of other Asian languages is a bonus
• Solid verbal, written communication, and interpersonal skills
• Enjoys engaging in teamwork with a positive and constructive attitude
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Basic understanding of artificial intelligence concepts, with curiosity and enthusiasm for learning how AI tools can be used to improve processes and drive efficiency; interest in exploring AI systems and willingness to develop awareness of responsible AI practices, including risk management and ethical use

Education

• Undergraduate degree required at a minimum
• Postgraduate (Masters, MBA) and other professional certifications (CPA, CFA) are a bonus