Director Middle Market Direct Lending

Do you want your voice heard and your actions to count? Discover your opportunity with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), one of the world’s leading financial groups. Across the globe, we’re 150,000 colleagues, striving to make a difference for every client, organization, and community we serve. We stand for our values, building long-term relationships, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world.

With a vision to be the world’s most trusted financial group, it’s part of our culture to put people first, listen to new and diverse ideas and collaborate toward greater innovation, speed and agility. This means investing in talent, technologies, and tools that empower you to own your career. Join MUFG, where being inspired is expected and making a meaningful impact is rewarded.

OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT/SECTION

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (“MUFG”) is one of the world's leading financial groups. Headquartered in Tokyo and with approximately 350 years of history, MUFG is a global network with around 2,300 offices in over 50 countries including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia and Oceania, and East Asia. The group has over 150,000 employees, offering services including commercial banking, trust banking, securities, credit cards, consumer finance, asset management, and leasing.

The Mid-Market (‘MM’) Direct Lending team is responsible for the origination and execution of MM LBOs with financial sponsors, working alongside coverage colleagues and supported by the Leveraged Finance platform.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

• Originate and execute Private Equity sponsor-driven Middle Market transactions consistent with our targeted sponsor framework, target size range and specific geographic focus.
• Act as deal captain to successfully structure and execute Term Loans and Unitranche facilities supporting Private Equity sponsors’ LBO transactions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Candidate will have Responsibility for:

• Driving profitable dealflow from the PE MidMarket community in EMEA.
• Developing and maintaining a strong network of PE relationships to originate business for the bank across MMDL and other relevant products with particular focus on the UK market.
• Working with PE Sponsor Coverage to identify target clients for MMDL not currently serviced by the bank.
• Leading deal execution to ensure the highest quality of transaction delivery, risk management and client satisfaction.
• Negotiating terms and documentation for leveraged finance transactions in the MidMarket in collaboration, where relevant, with Leveraged Capital Markets.
• Supporting risk management of onboarded assets, in partnership with LF Portfolio Management team, and drive incremental revenue and cross selling opportunities for MUFG.
• Working closely with internal stakeholders, notably credit, sponsor coverage, leveraged capital markets, FI coverage, corporate coverage, compliance and audit to promote the strategic mission of Leveraged Finance and to ensure the continued good standing of the team within the bank.
• Supporting the broader LF team leadership to manage and develop more junior team members.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Extensive experience of transacting sponsor-backed leveraged finance transactions in lead roles in the UK Middle Market.
• Strong network and ability to source deals in the UK Middle Market required (EBITDA £20-50m).
• Experience of working within a banking environment or a debt fund environment.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Functional / Technical Competencies:

• Demonstrable practical experience of leading leveraged finance / direct lending transactions in the UK market.
• Expertise in sub-investment grade credit analysis, cash flow modelling and documentary negotiation.
• Can demonstrate strong existing relationships with Private Equity capital markets teams in the UK.
• Excellent presentation and negotiation skills.

Education / Qualifications:

• Degree level (or equivalent experience) with relevant post degree qualification preferred (e.g. CFA, ACA, MBA).

PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent communication skills.
• Results driven, with a strong sense of accountability.
• Demonstrates a proactive, motivated approach.
• Clear ability to operate with urgency and prioritise work accordingly.
• Strong decision-making skills, shows the ability to demonstrate sound judgement.
• A structured and logical approach to work.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• A creative and innovative approach to work.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• The ability to manage large workloads and tight deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• A calm approach, with the ability to perform well in a pressurised environment.
• Strong numerical skills.
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills.

We are open to considering flexible working requests in line with organisational requirements. MUFG is committed to embracing diversity and building an inclusive culture where all employees are valued, respected and their opinions count. We support the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion in recruitment and employment, and oppose all forms of discrimination on the grounds of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, race, gender reassignment, religion or belief and marriage or civil partnership.