Fixed Income Municipal Research Associate

At MFS, you will find a culture that supports you in doing what you do best. Our employees work together to reach better outcomes, favoring the strongest idea over the strongest individual. We put people first and demonstrate care and compassion for our community and each other. Because what we do matters – to us as valued professionals and to the millions of people and institutions who rely on us to help them build more secure and prosperous futures.

About the job:

At MFS, you will find a culture that supports you in doing what you do best. Our employees work together to reach better outcomes, favoring the strongest idea over the strongest individual. We put people first and demonstrate care and compassion for our community and each other. Because what we do matters – to us as valued professionals and to the millions of people and institutions who rely on us to help them build more secure and prosperous futures.

In 1924 MFS Investment Management established the first mutual fund in the United States. Today, MFS offers a wide range of products and services to investors, including more than 70 mutual funds, fixed and variable annuities, separately managed accounts, and retirement plans to retail customers, institutional investors, and insurance offerings.  

At MFS we hire talented individuals and allow them to work in an environment that fosters teamwork. We strive to make MFS a company where our employees can grow and succeed. While MFS provides a supportive work environment, we maintain high standards of accountability to ensure that employees meet our standards of excellence. We value intelligence and hard work. We value the perspective you bring. We will reward you for your good ideas, your work ethic, and your experience. We believe that our unique culture directly benefits our business.      

About the Fixed Income Team:

This department is responsible for the research, management and trading of all fixed income securities and the execution of all currency transactions.  The Fixed Income Research Department has research analysts and associates who analyze the credit quality of issuers and issues being considered for purchase or currently held in the portfolios.  They analyze industry factors, borrower fundamentals and debt structure issues.  It is their responsibility to make buy-hold-sell recommendations based on the relative value of the security in the market place.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Under the supervision of senior analysts, assist in the credit analysis of various types of municipal bonds.  This includes providing timely new issue recommendations and performing surveillance of existing municipal bond holdings
• Collect financial data and other relevant information from issuer financial statements, rating agency reports, general sector studies, and various other sources to be utilized in the development of financial models and credit/investment reports
• Support analysts and portfolio managers in the understanding of the fundamental drivers of assigned sectors and implications of that data on the broader Fixed Income markets
• Engage and collaborate with Research Associates, Analysts, and Portfolio Managers
• Assume additional projects and responsibilities as required

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• One to three years' relevant experience, ideally in a buy-side role, rating agency, or similar
• Bachelor’s degree and a strong interest in developing a career in fixed income and municipal research
• Analytical mindset: ability to gather, synthesize and concisely compile information
• Skilled at both written and verbal communications
• Organized and attentive to detail
• Ability to work on complex projects in a self-directed manner
• Computer/modeling skills: Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint

Representative Skills & Attributes Contributing to Success in Associate Role:

• Intellectual curiosity and a proactive approach towards personal development.
• Receptiveness to and incorporation of feedback from manager and peers.
• A constant growth mentality to incorporate evolving market expectations and tools.
• Strong modeling and data management skills.
• Thrive within a collaborative team structure, including cross-asset class collaboration.

#LI-HYBRID

At MFS, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. If you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly, we encourage you to apply - you might be just the right candidate for this role or others.

What we offer:

• Generous time-off provided: including "Responsible time off" for many roles, paid company holidays when the US Stock Exchange is closed, plus paid volunteer time
• Family Focus: Up to 20 weeks of paid leave for new parents, back-up care program, dependent care flexible spending account, adoption assistance, generous caregiver leave
• Health and Welfare: Competitive medical, vision and dental plans, plus tax-free health savings accounts with company contributions
• Wellness Programs: Robust wellness webinars, employee assistance program, gym reimbursement through our medical plans, fitness center discounts and more
• Life & Disability Benefits: Company-paid basic life insurance and short-term disability
• Financial Benefits: 401(k) savings plan, Defined Contribution plan- 15% of base salary invested into the Plan, competitive total compensation programs

MFS is a hybrid work environment (remote/onsite) unless otherwise stated in the job posting.

If any applicant is unable to complete an application or respond to a job opening because of a disability, please contact MFS at 617-954-5000 or email talent_acquisition@mfs.com for assistance. 

MFS is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and it is our policy to not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws. Employees and applicants of MFS will not be subject to harassment on the basis of their status. Additionally, retaliation, including intimidation, threats, or coercion, because an employee or applicant has objected to discrimination, engaged or may engage in filing a complaint, assisted in a review, investigation, or hearing or have otherwise sought to obtain their legal rights under any Federal, State, or local EEO law is prohibited. Please see the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal document and Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision, linked for your reference.