About the Business
Our client is a fast-growing private capital asset manager with over £10bn of assets under management across private credit, real estate and private equity strategies.
The business has established itself as a leading specialist in private asset-backed credit, working with a global investor base that includes pension funds, insurers, sovereign wealth funds and leading financial institutions.
The Opportunity
The business is looking to appoint a Senior Associate into its Real Estate Credit Investment team. This is a role offering exposure to the full transaction lifecycle, from assessing and underwriting new lending opportunities through to structuring, execution and ongoing portfolio management.
The successful candidate will play an active role in evaluating new real estate debt opportunities across bridging, development finance, PBSA, care, commercial real estate and term lending. Responsibilities will include building and reviewing financial models, assessing credit risk, undertaking due diligence, developing transaction structures and preparing investment recommendations for approval.
Alongside new deal activity, the role will involve maintaining oversight of an existing loan portfolio, monitoring performance, identifying emerging risks and managing issues throughout the life of each facility.
This is an opportunity for an ambitious real estate credit professional to take on significant investment responsibility within a high-performing team, with exposure to a broad range of transactions and the ability to contribute to investment decisions.
Key Responsibilities
- Evaluate and underwrite new real estate debt opportunities across a range of asset classes and lending strategies.
- Build, develop and review detailed financial models, assessing borrower cashflows, development appraisals, loan returns and downside scenarios.
- Assess credit risk, borrower strength, asset quality, business plans and underlying security.
- Lead and contribute to due diligence processes, working with valuers, lawyers, monitoring surveyors and other external advisers.
- Develop and assess transaction structures, including leverage, pricing, covenants, repayment profiles and appropriate credit protections.
- Prepare investment committee papers, credit recommendations and supporting analysis, presenting key findings and risks to senior investment stakeholders.
- Support the negotiation and execution of new transactions, including heads of terms, facility documentation and completion processes.
- Manage and monitor an existing portfolio of real estate loans, assessing performance against underwriting assumptions and identifying potential risks.
Candidate Requirements
- Experience within real estate credit, lending or debt investment, ideally gained at a bank, specialist lender or real estate debt fund.
- Strong experience in underwriting and assessing new real estate lending opportunities, with exposure to transaction structuring and execution.
- Advanced financial modelling skills, including the ability to build and review cashflow models, development appraisals and investment return analysis.
- Strong understanding of real estate debt structures, credit risk and key investment metrics, including LTV, LTC, LTGDV and IRR.
- Exposure to a range of real estate asset classes, ideally including development finance, bridging, commercial real estate and/or operational assets such as PBSA and care.
- Experience managing or monitoring a real estate loan portfolio, with the ability to identify emerging risks and take appropriate action.
- Exposure to complex credit situations, workouts and restructurings would be advantageous.
- Strong commercial judgement and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage with borrowers, advisers and senior investment professionals.
- Highly analytical, proactive and comfortable taking ownership in a fast-paced investment environment.
Senior Associate – Real Estate Credit Investments employer: Buckden Partners
Buckden Partners is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of the City of London. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, team members are encouraged to take ownership of their projects while collaborating with talented professionals in the field. The company promotes a culture of innovation and excellence, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in real estate credit investment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Associate – Real Estate Credit Investments
✨Get Involved in Local Property Events
Dive into local property expos and networking events! Real estate thrives on connections, so attending these events helps us meet potential employers and industry leaders, plus it's a chance to show off your enthusiasm for the field.
✨Connect with Local Agents on Social Media
Follow and engage with local real estate agents and firms on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. Sharing their posts and commenting with your insights can put you on their radar and might even lead to job opportunities at companies like Buckden Partners.
✨Don’t Underestimate the Power of Cold Outreach
Got your eye on a specific company like Buckden Partners? Don't hesitate to send a direct message or an email expressing your interest. Personalise your approach, maybe mentioning a recent listing or project of theirs, and it could set you apart from other candidates.
✨Utilise Property Management Platforms
Check out property management platforms and job boards tailored for the real estate sector. They often have exclusive listings, especially for full-time roles. Don't forget to visit Buckden Partners's careers page directly; we love seeing passionate candidates applying through our website!
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Real-Estate Savvy:When crafting your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight any relevant experience in the real estate sector. If you've done internships, assistant roles, or even relevant coursework, lay it out clearly. We want to see your familiarity with market trends, property management, or any sales experience you've got under your belt!
Quantify Your Achievements:In real estate, numbers speak volumes! When detailing your past roles, use concrete figures to demonstrate your achievements. For example, mention how many properties you sold, the percentage increase in client satisfaction, or any successful negotiations. These metrics can give your application that extra punch it needs!
Tailor Your Documents for the Job:Every application should feel personal. When applying for the Senior Associate – Real Estate Credit Investments role at Buckden Partners, tweak your CV to focus on aspects that are important to them. If they value client relationships, emphasise your interpersonal skills. We want to see you aligning your experiences with what they're looking for!
Keep It Professional Yet Approachable:While we want you to show off your expertise, don't forget to let your personality shine through in your cover letter. A touch of friendliness can set you apart, especially in real estate where client interaction is key. Show that you're ready not just to work with the property but also with people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Buckden Partners
✨Know Your Market Trends
In real estate, it’s all about staying ahead of the curve. Make sure we brush up on the latest market trends in the area where Buckden Partners operates. Being able to discuss local property values, demand, and upcoming developments will show that we’re not just interested in the job, but genuinely invested in the industry.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions during the interview. We might get asked how we’d handle different client situations or property evaluations. Preparing our responses for common real estate scenarios not only demonstrates our problem-solving skills but also shows that we can think on our feet in a client-facing role.
✨Showcase Your Connections
In full-time real estate, networking is key! Let’s think about our connections in the industry and what we can bring to Buckden Partners. Whether it’s insights on prospective clients or relationships with local contractors, talking about these experiences can set us apart from other candidates.
✨Demonstrate Technical Savvy
Familiarity with different real estate software tools is a big plus. We should be ready to discuss any platforms we've used, whether it's for property management, CRM, or data analysis. Being comfortable with technology not only makes us more efficient, but also shows that we’re adaptable to the tools used at Buckden Partners.
