Senior Credit Trader, Principal, Liquid Credit

Ares Management
Ares Management

New York, NY, USA

USD 230k-250k / year

Posted on Jun 30, 2026

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

With a tenured team of investment, trading and risk professionals in offices across the U.S. and Europe, we seek to capitalize on investment opportunities within the liquid credit universe through tactical top-down allocation and disciplined credit selection. Liquid credit investment solutions help traditional fixed-income investors access the syndicated loan and high yield bond markets and capitalize on opportunities across traded corporate credit. Our strategies include syndicated loans, high yield bonds, and multi-asset credit. We are currently seeking a Principal to join our liquid credit trading team based in New York, NY.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS AND ESSENTIAL RESPOSIBILITIES:

  • Senior trader focused on bank loans, high yield bonds and corporate distressed securities with responsibility for trading on behalf of the Liquid Credit, Direct Lending, Special Opportunities and Alternative Credit groups.
  • Partner with portfolio managers to develop a fulsome understanding of the Firm and Credit Group’s investment goals and divergent portfolio mandates to generate actionable trade ideas including relative value across loans/HY. Source investment opportunities and deal flow by leveraging Street relationships and by establishing/fostering new buyside partnerships.
  • Capital markets responsibilities including but not limited to: manage new issue calendar, facilitate dialogue on early looks, reverse inquiries, develop/strengthen relationships with our capital markets counterparties and in time develop relationships with Sponsors.
  • Serve as a dynamic contributor to the Liquid Credit Investment Committee and Global Allocation Committee processes, adding not only technical and trading commentary, but also fundamental credit insight.
  • Provide timely market color and feedback to internal constituents (portfolio managers, analysts, credit/firm management). Specifically provide daily proprietary summaries of firmwide trading activity and overall market commentary that can be shared across Ares’ investment and investor relations platform.
  • Foster communication and collaboration with professionals across Credit including Liquid Credit, Direct Lending, Special Opportunities, and Alternative Credit.
  • Partner with IT and investment operations groups to leverage the use of technology to provide efficiencies in all areas of the trading process.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Certification:

  • BA/BS in Finance, Accounting, or related field required; master’s degree and/or CFA a plus

Experience Required:

  • 8-10+ years relevant experience and currently in a buyside or sellside trading (preferred) or capital markets capacity within the below IG-corporate credit markets
  • Proficient in understanding portfolio manager/client needs, generating proprietary idea flow, partnering with counterparties to source opportunities, and communicating credit and market news to internal constituents
  • Established track record of strong relationships with internal and external/counterparty relationships

Requirements:

  • Ability to assess facts and make quick decisions in a trading environment
  • A demonstrated track record of multi-tasking/simultaneously managing multiple tasks while on the trading desk
  • Firm understanding of trading platforms and the ability to quickly learn any required internal applications
  • Strong understanding of credit fundamentals and market technicals
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to manage both internal and external business relationships
  • Strong attention to detail and high operational accuracy
  • Strong sense of teamwork, ethics and personal accountability

Reporting Relationships

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.

$230,000.00 - $250,000.00

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.