Head of Ratings Advisory - Executive Director

SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 130 offices and 80,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges.

In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization’s extensive global network. The Group’s operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC MANUBANK, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd.

The anticipated salary range for this role is between $275,000.00 and $275,000.00. The specific salary offered to an applicant will be based on their individual qualifications, experiences, and an analysis of the current compensation paid in their geography and the market for similar roles at the time of hire. The role may also be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive award. In addition to cash compensation, SMBC offers a competitive portfolio of benefits to its employees.

Role Description

The Head of Ratings Advisory will play a critical role in advising corporate and financial institutional clients on credit ratings strategy, capital structure optimization, and debt issuance planning. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to senior management teams, leveraging deep knowledge of rating agency methodologies and market dynamics to help clients achieve optimal credit outcomes.

Role Objectives: Delivery

• Provide strategic advice to clients on credit ratings implications for financing decisions, capital structure, and liquidity management
• Develop tailored rating agency engagement strategies for issuers across sectors and regions
• Interpret and apply rating agency criteria to client financials, business models, and transaction structures
• Maintain strong relationships with rating agencies and internal stakeholders
• Act as a liaison between clients and rating agencies during rating reviews and presentations
• Monitor market trends, rating agency updates, and regulatory developments
• Establish ratings advisory team as well as develop written policy, procedure, and best practices

Qualifications and Skills

• Master’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting or Economics preferred
• Ten (10) or more years of experience with a focus on rating advisory and credit analysis
• Strong understanding of rating agency methodologies (S&P, Moody’s, Fitch)
• Advanced financial modeling and analytical skills
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities
• Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines

Additional Requirements

SMBC’s employees participate in a Hybrid workforce model that provides employees with an opportunity to work from home, as well as, from an SMBC office. SMBC requires that employees live within a reasonable commuting distance of their office location. Prospective candidates will learn more about their specific hybrid work schedule during their interview process. Hybrid work may not be permitted for certain roles, including, for example, certain FINRA-registered roles for which in-office attendance for the entire workweek is required.

SMBC provides reasonable accommodations during candidacy for applicants with disabilities consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know at [email protected].