Title: Data Associate, RMBS
Location: NY-New York
Standard & Poor's is the world's premier provider of investment research, market indices, credit ratings, financial data, and fixed income research and analysis. With more than 10,000 employees and offices in nearly two-dozen countries, S&P is valued by investors and financial decision-makers everywhere for its analytical independence, market expertise and thought leadership. For 150 years Standard & Poor's has been an integral part of the global economic infrastructure. Its operations provide essential information to nearly every segment of the global financial community, creating the tools, analysis and research needed to make informed investment decisions.www.sp-150.com

The Data Solutions & Operations (DSO) has a great opportunity for a Data Associate. This role will assist in the effective use of data within Ratings. The selected candidate will help the push for the integrity and quality of Data within Ratings while maintaining a focus on strategic initiatives. This position will ensure that Rating Analysts are using the existing and future assets effectively across the organization. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
* Apply knowledge of residential mortgages, the securitization process and credit analysis to work with residential mortgage industry participants (especially issuers, originators, servicers) to enhance depth, breadth and quality of data collected by S&P;
* Make use of existing Structured Finance market knowledge (RMBS) to work in conjunction with analysts to understand the underlying data and analytics supporting ratings;
* Assess data and analytic needs of internal clients; determine datasets; manage and enhance data collection from multiple sources and make recommendations;
* Day to day management of Mortgage loan data in S&P internal databases, analytic models and systems; this will involve working with external vendors who supply data;
* Perform root cause and trend analysis and implement solutions that lead to data quality and process improvements;
* Scrutinize data record counts from differing databases/sources, determine reasons for any discrepancies and implement streamlined processes for the Data Operations group;
* Identify data issues and/or quality concerns and work with the business and IT to prioritize cleanses and/or projects to redefine business rules, validations and implement updates to the data;
* Provide recommendations and support implementation on technical or procedural workflow on data production by partnering with IT to build new data processes;
* Work closely with IT and Surveillance to define requirements for an enhanced internal data base to correctly store S&P data as part of project SAS deliverables. This should include requirements gathering for specific business rules to reflect the correct structure and loan group relationship between varying sources;
* Manage and run ad hoc data queries from multiple database types to identify data inconsistencies and support data production groups initiatives;
* Work with members of other teams such as Project Management CoE, Business Units, and IT to understand, identify and address issues or opportunities that lead to effective data management processes and improvements in data quality and services;
* Working with the Data Quality Assurance, identify measurable data and implement metrics to be used as global benchmarks to gauge performance of the data quality control group;
* Represent the team, its responsibilities and vision to management and business audiences;
* Present data strategy recommendations on the technical and procedural processes to the Associate Director of the DSO Operations team as well as other members of the Data Operations Management Team;
* Work with technical and development teams to ensure appropriate implementation of data change;
* Contribute to overall Ratings Data Strategies and Operations responsibilities.
Key Functional Competencies:
* Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree, preferably in Accounting, Finance, Economics or Mathematics ; CPA, CFA and/or an advanced degree a plus
* Minimum of 4-5 years work experience in related fields
* Requires advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and advanced Access skills, including the ability to create queries, tables and reports within MS Access
* Intermediate knowledge of SQL Navigator with ability to write queries for reporting purposes
* Intermediate understanding of multiple sets of data: Fixed Income, Equity, Derivatives, with specific emphasis on the RMBS market
* Knowledge of database design and modeling a plus
Key Managerial and Behavioral Competencies:
* Advanced communication skills (written and oral)
* Advanced problem solving skills
* Advanced multi-tasking skills
* Ability to facilitate group discussions
* Ability to work well within the context of a team
* Ability to meet strict deadlines
* Good decision making skills
* Intermediate leadership skills
This individual will be both a contributor and lead on tactical and strategic data initiatives and an understanding of project management and data management are necessary.
* Understanding of project management and data management are necessary
* Advanced understanding of database modeling/design/applications
* Breadth of international experience, including examining and integrating data across multiple markets.
Equal Opportunity Employer