Associate - Private Debt / Direct Lending (German-Speaking Europe)

Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Level: Associate
Strategy: Private Debt / Direct Lending
Region: DACH

Overview

We are representing a leading European private debt investor seeking to hire an Associate into its Frankfurt-based investment team. The team focuses exclusively on private debt investing across German-speaking Europe and is actively involved in evaluating, underwriting, executing and managing investments in sponsor-backed and corporate-backed transactions.

This is an opportunity to join a lean, collaborative team where Associates receive significant responsibility and direct exposure to investment decision-making, sponsors, advisors and portfolio companies.

Responsibilities

• Support the evaluation, underwriting and execution of private debt investments across the DACH region.
• Build and review detailed financial models, debt sizing analyses and downside case scenarios.
• Conduct credit analysis, business reviews and capital structure assessments.
• Prepare investment committee materials and transaction memoranda.
• Participate in due diligence processes and interact directly with management teams, sponsors, lenders and advisors.
• Support execution workstreams including documentation, negotiations and transaction structuring.
• Monitor existing portfolio investments and provide ongoing performance analysis.
• Develop relationships with private equity sponsors, debt advisors, M&A advisors and wider market participants.
• Over time, take increasing responsibility for origination activities and relationship development.

Candidate Requirements

• 2-5 years of experience within:
  • Leveraged Finance
  • Acquisition Finance
  • Infrastructure Finance
  • Sponsor Finance
  • Private Debt
  • Corporate & Investment Banking
• Strong financial modelling and credit analysis capability.
• Experience evaluating debt structures, leverage profiles and borrower cash flows.
• Understanding of private equity-sponsored transactions.
• Strong academic background from a leading university.
• Fluent German and English required.
• Commercial mindset with the ability to work in a lean, hands-on environment.

Preferred Backgrounds

Particular interest in candidates from:

• Leveraged Finance teams at leading European and international banks.
• Infrastructure Financing teams with credit underwriting exposure.
• Sponsor Finance and Acquisition Finance teams.
• Existing private debt professionals seeking broader responsibility.

Less emphasis is placed on pure debt advisory profiles, with preference given to candidates who have had direct involvement in underwriting, structuring and executing financing transactions.

What Makes Someone Successful

• Demonstrates genuine ownership of transactions rather than acting as a process coordinator.
• Comfortable operating in a smaller team environment with greater individual responsibility.
• Able to clearly articulate personal contribution to deals.
• Strong cultural fit with a collaborative, low-ego and relationship-driven team.
• Interest in developing into a long-term private debt investor and, ultimately, an origination-focused investment professional.

Compensation

• Base Salary: €110,000 - €120,000
• Target Total Compensation: €190,000 - €200,000+

Why Join?

• Join a well-established European private debt platform with significant available capital.
• Direct exposure to investment committee processes and senior decision makers.
• Lean team structure offering accelerated development and responsibility.
• Clear progression opportunities as the platform continues to grow.
• Long-term path into deal origination, sponsor coverage and investment leadership.