Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry. Job Description The Investment Operations group is seeking a self-starting, collaborative an Associate to join our U.S. Direct Lending Middle Office team. This position will focus on providing operational business support to cross-functional teams within the U.S. Direct Lending strategy, as well as work on strategic projects and initiatives to enhance the efficiency and scale of the operation. Primary functions & responsibilities Manage the Deal Closing process from a Middle Office perspective for all U.S. Direct Lending investments & activity to ensure timely execution, funding, and accurate reflection of transactions across all internal platforms. Responsible for reviewing draft credit documentation, liaising with external Administrative Agent services, advising on Funds Flow mechanics, and ensuring all Deal Closing requirements are complete in a timely manner. Assist in tracking pipeline of upcoming investment activity and ensure all operational functions are executed in a timely manner. Participate in major cross-functional projects to drive change and efficiency by utilizing automation and technology enhancements. Provide general operational support for U.S. Direct Lending including OMS trade support, wire entry, data management, loan amendments, restructures, cash and position discrepancies, new fund/account launches, etc. Work closely with cross-functional teams including Investment Teams, Capital Markets, Accounting, Compliance, Investor Relations, Legal, Operations, Technology, 3rd party Service Providers, etc. to create a Center of Excellence for U.S. Direct Lending Operations. Qualifications Education: B.S./B.A in Finance, Accounting, or other business-related field. Experience Required: 3-6 years bank loan/credit operations experience Strong knowledge of Private Credit/Direct Lending preferred Ability to multi-task and prioritize work in a fast paced environment Ability to interact and communicate effectively with investment professionals Knowledge of Hazeltree, IVP, ClearPar, Wall Street Office (WSO), Allvue Order Management System (OMS) and/or Advent Geneva strongly preferred Commitment to teamwork and initiative to problem solve and think outside the box Experience reviewing loan documents (Credit Agreements, Amendments, etc.) for key terms, data points and operational nuances General Requirements: Self-motivated and proactive team player who takes ownership and accountability of assigned tasks Excellent organization, attention to detail and time management skills with ability to prioritize work and function with minimal guidance Ability to think critically to challenge the norm and propose new ideas and solutions Effective articulation with written and oral communication skills Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships Strong proficiency in MS Office applications including Excel, Word, and Outlook Reporting Relationships Compensation The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role. $110,000 - $130,000 The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit. Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more. There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active. Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of March 31, 2024, Ares Management's global platform had approximately $428 billion of assets under management(1) with more than 2,900 employees operating across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com. Ares Management LLC (together with its related operating and administrative subsidiaries, “Ares Management”) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, creed, sex, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity and expression, transgender status, genetic information, status as unemployed, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Ares Management will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. (1) As of March 31, 2024. AUM amounts include funds managed by Ivy Hill Asset Management, LP., a wholly owned portfolio company of Ares Capital Corporation and registered investment adviser.