Associate - Trading Business at Oaknorth.ai

Since 2015, we’ve backed entrepreneurs with over £13bn in funding, helping create 56,000+ jobs and 34,000+ new homes across the UK and US — and we’re just getting started.We’re committed to helping innovative businesses flourish, and our Debt Finance team sits at the heart of that mission. This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic, fast-growing bank known for challenging the status quo. We’re not looking for just another cog in the wheel — we want curious, proactive self-starters who want to grow their careers while supporting some of the UK’s most ambitious business leaders.As an Associate in Debt Finance, you’ll work closely with senior team members across all stages of the transaction lifecycle — from origination through to execution — helping ensure every deal is delivered smoothly and with impact.

Principal Responsibilities:

Support the team on the execution of transactions across trading businesses — including structured, leveraged, sponsor, and cash flow finance deals.

Help maintain and update the CRM, tracking opportunities from new leads through to completed transactions.

Assist in the preparation of credit papers and transaction recommendations for Credit Committee and other approval forums.

Contribute to financial analysis and modelling to assess opportunities and test key assumptions.

Conduct company, sector, and transaction research, drawing insights from a variety of data sources.

Attend client and third-party meetings with senior bankers, contributing to discussions and capturing key insights.

Collaborate across functions (Credit, Transaction Execution, Legal, etc.) to help ensure deals are efficiently executed and funded.

What Makes a Successful Associate:

A Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.

Ideally 3 + years’ experience in a finance-related role — e.g. corporate banking, leveraged finance, debt advisory, or transaction services.

A keen interest in supporting UK mid-market businesses and learning how debt finance enables growth.

Strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to grasp complex financial information quickly.

Confident communicator, both written and verbal, with an ability to collaborate across teams.

Highly organised and detail-oriented, with a proactive approach to problem-solving and learning.

A self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment where no two days are the same.

Apply Now