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Direct Lending Jobs (NOW HIRING)

KBRA

Corporate Credit Funds - Director (NY)

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$150K - $175K/yr

The team focuses on private credit and direct lending transactions, including feeder fund rated notes, master fund credit facilities, middle market CLOs, corporate loan and bond portfolios, and ...

KBRA

Corporate Credit Funds - Director (NY)

New York, NY · On-site

$150K - $175K/yr

The team focuses on private credit and direct lending transactions, including feeder fund rated notes, master fund credit facilities, middle market CLOs, corporate loan and bond portfolios, and ...

KBRA

Corporate Credit Funds - Director (NY)

New York, NY · Hybrid

$150K - $175K/yr

The team focuses on private credit and direct lending transactions, including feeder fund rated notes, master fund credit facilities, middle market CLOs, corporate loan and bond portfolios, and ...

InforCapital

$140 - $245/hr

Direct Lending strategy highlights: leveraging the Ares and Direct Lending platforms; multi-asset-class one-stop solutions; ability to rotate between asset classes for relative value; driving ...

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$84K

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How much do direct lending jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for direct lending in the United States is $84,036.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $61,000.00 and $125,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is direct lending?

A Direct Lending job involves evaluating, originating, and managing loans provided directly to businesses or individuals without intermediaries like banks. Professionals in this field assess credit risk, structure loan terms, and ensure compliance with financial regulations. Roles can vary from credit analysis to portfolio management, focusing on providing customized financing solutions. Strong analytical skills, financial modeling, and an understanding of market trends are essential for success in this field.

What does a direct lending professional do?

A typical day in Direct Lending involves conducting due diligence on potential borrowers, analyzing financial statements, structuring loan terms, and preparing credit memos for approval. Team members often collaborate closely with credit committees, relationship managers, and legal specialists to ensure seamless deal processing and compliance with internal policies. Regular communication with clients is also a key aspect, as it helps address borrower inquiries and manage ongoing relationships. While the workflow can be dynamic, strong organization and prioritization skills help professionals stay on top of multiple concurrent transactions.

What skills and qualifications are needed for direct lending?

To thrive in Direct Lending, you need a solid understanding of credit analysis, financial structuring, and underwriting, often supported by a degree in finance, business, or a related field. Familiarity with loan origination systems, financial modeling software, and regulatory compliance requirements is typically expected. Strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and effective negotiation abilities are crucial for building client relationships and managing transactions. These competencies ensure accurate risk assessment, efficient deal execution, and successful portfolio management in a competitive lending environment.

How to get a job in direct lending?

To get a job in direct lending, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree in finance, economics, or a related field, along with strong analytical and communication skills. Relevant experience in banking, credit analysis, or financial services can improve chances, and certifications like the CFA or credit-specific training may be beneficial. Applying through financial institutions, networking, and demonstrating knowledge of lending processes are key steps.

What do direct lenders do?

Direct lenders provide loans directly to borrowers without intermediaries, often offering personal, business, or mortgage loans. They evaluate applicants' creditworthiness, set loan terms, and handle the approval process, typically using financial analysis and underwriting skills.
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What cities are hiring for Direct Lending jobs?

Cities with the most Direct Lending job openings:

What states have the most Direct Lending jobs?

States with the most job openings for Direct Lending jobs include:

Direct Lending jobs near you
Infographic showing various Direct Lending job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $84,036 per year, or $40.4 per hour.

Senior Associate, Credit, US Direct Lending

Ares Operations LLC

New York, NY • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Over the last 20 years, Ares' success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values - Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy - and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.

Job Description

Ares is seeking a Senior Associate to join its U.S. Direct Lending investment team in New York. The Senior Associate will help drive investments across the full lifecycle from origination and underwriting through structuring, documentation, closing and portfolio management. The role provides meaningful exposure to Ares U.S. Direct Lending's investment committee, senior leadership, management teams, advisors, investors and clients. The successful candidate will be expected to bring outstanding analytical and execution capabilities while developing judgement, communication skills, relationship-management experience and legal-documentation expertise in a fast-paced environment with lean deal teams.

The Senior Associate will play a central role in evaluating, executing and managing investments across the full lifecycle. Working closely with senior and junior investment professionals, the Senior Associate will be expected to maintain a high level of analytical and execution excellence while assuming increasing ownership of investment committee presentations, legal documentation, portfolio oversight and external relationships.

Key Responsibilities

  • Perform detailed fundamental credit analysis that forms the basis for decisions regarding new debt and/or equity investment opportunities.
  • Screen new investment opportunities and develop preliminary perspectives on business quality, industry dynamics, credit risks and transaction structure.
  • Prepare various complex Excel financial models including cash flow analysis, debt sizing, capital structure, downside scenarios and investment returns.
  • Prepare investment committee memoranda and increasingly present key underwriting conclusions, risks and recommendations to the investment committee.
  • Prepare presentations and other materials for internal and external audiences, with increasing opportunities to communicate directly with investors, clients and other stakeholders.
  • Analyze investment performance including maintaining and updating investment valuations and financial models, monitoring company and industry developments, and assessing performance relative to original underwriting.
  • Negotiate and review legal documentation.
  • Lead investment closings.
  • Collaborate with management teams, sponsors and advisors.
  • Manage a substantial portfolio of investments.
  • Review and provide guidance on work completed by junior investment professionals and contribute to their development through day-to-date coaching and feedback.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or international equivalent
  • Strong intellect with excellent quantitative, financial and analytical skills.
  • 4-5 years of relevant experience from Investment Banking, Private Equity or Credit
  • Experience in Leveraged Finance or Private Credit preferred

Skills/Abilities

  • Self-motivated and driven; ability to work effectively in a collegial, fast moving and demanding environment while managing multiple priorities with limited supervision.
  • Strong investment judgement and problem-solving skills.
  • Collaborative team player who communicates and manages effectively with senior and junior investment professionals as well as key internal and external stakeholders.
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills.
  • Demonstrated ownership, accountability and attention to detail, with the ability to anticipate next steps and independently manage complex workstreams.
  • Intellectual curiosity and a commitment to developing deeper industry knowledge, investment judgement and leadership capabilities.
  • Impeccable integrity and trustworthiness.
  • Advanced MS Excel modeling skills.
  • Advanced MS PowerPoint and presentation-development skills.

Reporting Relationships

Partner, Credit

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.

$170,000.00 - $200,000.00

The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit.

Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more.

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.

Apply