Emerging Country Debt Analyst

Job Title

Sovereign Credit Analyst

Position Overview

GMO's Emerging Debt Team is a focused team that manages $9.5 billion in dedicated EMD AUM for a variety of clients (pension funds, endowments, sub advisory, etc). It has a first-decile, 30-plus-year track record in managing hard currency strategies (EMBIG-D benchmark), and a first-decile 17-year track record in managing local currency strategy (GBI-EMGD benchmark). It also manages a select set of bespoke mandates.

The team is currently seeking an experienced sovereign credit analyst to join its 7-member group of portfolio managers and analysts. The sovereign credit team covers roughly 80 countries that span investment-grade, sub-investment grade, and defaulted countries. We are looking for a strong team player with a demonstrated passion for emerging markets economic and political analysis. It is imperative that the successful candidate have the initiative and ability to work independently, while collaborating with teammates within a small, collegial setting.

This position is based in Boston.

Key Responsibilities

The candidate will be expected to contribute to the team's best-in-class alpha strategies by:

• Working with the sovereign team to price relative country risk across the investment universe, using the team's models and processes.
• Providing input into improvements and enhancements to the sovereign credit models.
• Contributing to default recovery analysis for countries in distress.
• Sourcing and maintaining data necessary for the above.
• Meeting with policymakers of countries in the investment universe, both virtually and in-person.
• Working with corporate/quasi-sovereign analysts when necessary to provide a joint assessment of the likelihood of support.
• Assisting in analysis of emerging market currencies and local interest rate markets.
• Responding to client requests for information and analysis on economic and financial developments.

Requirements and Desired Skills and Characteristics

• Education: Undergraduate degree holders with a strong academic background will be considered. An advanced degree in economics, quantitative methods, or a related field would be preferable.
• Experience: A minimum of ten years of relevant economic research focused on emerging and developing economies is required. Work in the specific area of sovereign credit analysis would be desirable, as would knowledge of exchange rate and local interest rate modeling in emerging markets.
• Communication Skills: Ability to understand and work with a culturally diverse population of issuers is critical. The ability to communicate concisely in writing is critical.
• Professional Skills: Ability to take initiative and successfully follow through on tasks; accept compromise and deliver results to meet deadlines; manage multiple projects and set priorities. The ideal candidate will also show a desire for achievement and commitment to the investment process and to growing their expertise in the field.
• Data Analysis: Advanced capability in MS Excel required. Python would be an added plus, as would relevant work with statistical packages such as Stata.
• Language Skills: Proficiency in a foreign language is desirable but not required.

$175,000 - $250,000 a year This is a reasonable, good faith estimate of the current salary range for this role. GMO's salary range accounts for a wide array of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets and market demand for skills; level of experience and training; specific qualifications, performance, time in role/company, geographic location, and other business and organizational needs. In addition, this position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus award, which award may be determined by individual, team, department and firm performance, and is subject to the terms of GMO's compensation plan. This position is also benefits eligible. GMO's comprehensive benefits program includes medical insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, long-term disability coverage, a 401(k)/profit-sharing retirement plan, open paid time off, leaves of absences, dependent care resources, tuition reimbursement, charitable gifts matching, flexible spending accounts, and commuter benefits.

GMO is committed to the recruitment, employment, and promotion of all candidates equally, regardless of an individual's gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military or veteran status, genetic information, physical or mental disability (except where such disability is a bona fide occupational disqualification) or any other classification protected under federal, state or local law.