Position Overview
Jefferies Finance is seeking a Head of Valuations to lead valuation and pricing processes across its private credit platform. The role will oversee the monthly/quarterly private credit valuations for the direct lending business in coordination with its third-party valuation agents, and manage the monthly pricing process for the broadly syndicated loan portfolio.
The successful candidate will bring strong private credit, leveraged finance, and valuation expertise, with the ability to maintain a rigorous, well-controlled, and auditable valuation framework. The role requires close partnership with investment teams, finance, operations, auditors, third-party valuation firms, pricing vendors, and senior management.
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Key Responsibilities
- Lead the valuation process for the direct lending business, including privately originated loans, illiquid credit positions, equities, warrants, and other Level 3 assets.
- Coordinate with both investment and portfolio teams on internal valuation models
- Review and challenge valuation assumptions from third party valuation agent, including credit performance, market spreads, comparable transactions, borrower financials, covenant status, and recovery assumptions.
- Oversee monthly pricing for broadly syndicated loans, including review of vendor prices, broker quotes, exceptions, stale prices, and pricing anomalies.
- Maintain and enhance valuation policies, methodologies, documentation standards, and governance procedures.
- Prepare and present valuation materials for internal valuation committees and senior management.
- Coordinate with finance, operations, fund accounting, risk, legal, compliance, auditors, administrators, and external valuation providers on monthly / quarterly reporting processes.
- Manage relationships with third-party valuation firms, pricing vendors, auditors, and other external stakeholders.
- Support audit, investor due diligence, regulatory, and internal control processes related to valuation.
- Identify opportunities to improve valuation infrastructure, workflow, automation, data quality, and reporting.
- Serve as the firm’s valuation subject matter expert for private credit and syndicated loan portfolios.
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Candidate Profile
- 8–12+ years of relevant experience in valuation, private credit, leveraged finance, asset management, audit, or valuation advisory.
- Experience valuing private credit, direct lending, leveraged loans, distressed credit, or other illiquid debt instruments.
- Strong understanding of fair value principles, ASC 820, and Level 2 / Level 3 asset valuation.
- Knowledge of broadly syndicated loan pricing, pricing vendors, broker quotes, and secondary loan market dynamics.
- Strong credit judgment and ability to assess borrower performance, liquidity, leverage, covenant compliance, and capital structure.
- Experience working with auditors, valuation firms, fund administrators, investment teams, and senior stakeholders.
- Strong Excel, financial modeling, analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to operate independently, manage deadlines, and maintain strong valuation governance and controls.
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Preferred Qualifications
- CPA, CFA, ASA, or similar designation preferred.
- Experience at a private credit manager, BDC, CLO manager, alternative asset manager, valuation firm, or Big Four valuation practice.
- Prior experience preparing valuation committee materials or managing valuation governance processes, including materials for BDC Boards.
- Team management or supervisory experience preferred
Key Success Factors
- Maintain a robust, well-documented, and audit-ready valuation process.
- Provide independent, credible challenge to valuation assumptions.
- Build strong relationships across investment, finance, operations, risk, audit, and external providers.
- Improve consistency, transparency, and efficiency across valuation and pricing processes.
- Support the continued growth and institutionalization of Jefferies Finance’s private credit platform.
Primary Location: New York Full Time Salary Range of $300,000-$325,000
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