Contract Financial Modeler — Private Equity, Credit & Debt
Full-time independent contractor role, 40 hours/week.
Overview
We are partnering with a U.S.-based technology company building advanced AI systems focused on financial modeling and decision-making.
The goal is to train AI to think like real financial professionals: how models are built from scratch, how assumptions are structured, and how investment and lending decisions are made using those models.
This is a hands-on Excel modeling role. You will build detailed financial models from a blank spreadsheet and clearly explain your logic.
Our primary need is private equity modeling. Credit and debt modeling are also major priorities.
This role IS:
- Building financial models from a blank spreadsheet
- Structuring transactions, assumptions, and drivers
- Linking full model flows: operations → cash flow → debt → returns
- Debugging and improving model accuracy
- Explaining why a model works, not just producing outputs
This role is NOT:
- Dashboards, reporting, or data visualization
- FP&A focused on reporting, budgeting, or variance analysis
- Reviewing credit without building models
- High-level strategy without hands-on modeling
- Using AI tools to generate models
Primary Focus: Private Equity
Experience at a private equity fund (direct investing, buy-side diligence, and portfolio company modeling) is strongly preferred. You should have built multiple full LBO models from scratch, including:
- Sources & uses and transaction assumptions
- Multi-tranche debt schedules (revolver, term loans, mezzanine, cash sweep)
- Returns analysis: IRR, MOIC, and value creation drivers
- Operating models with sensitivities, downside cases, and exit scenarios
- Add-ons, dividend recaps, or refinancing scenarios (a plus)
Also Hiring: Credit & Lending
- 3-statement borrower models
- Cash flow-based underwriting and debt capacity analysis
- Covenant modeling (leverage, DSCR, interest coverage) and headroom testing
- Downside and stress scenarios that drive a lending decision
Also Hiring: Debt & Leveraged Finance
- Debt sizing and structuring
- Amortization, PIK, cash sweeps, and refinancing mechanics
- Private credit / direct lending deal models
- Recovery analysis and payment waterfalls
What You'll Do
- Build PE, credit, and debt models from scratch in Excel
- Review and debug models built by others
- Identify incorrect assumptions, broken logic, and risks
- Analyze how operating performance flows through to debt service and returns
- Clearly explain financial logic and decision-making
What Makes a Strong Candidate
- 2–10 years in finance roles with heavy, hands-on modeling
- Buy-side experience at a PE fund, including deal diligence and investment committee materials backed by your own models
- Direct experience in private equity, leveraged finance, sponsor coverage, private credit, direct lending, or credit underwriting
- Proven ability to build models from a blank spreadsheet (no templates)
- Experience building models that drove real investment or lending decisions
- High attention to detail and model accuracy
- Strong communication skills (English required)
Not a Fit If
Your experience is primarily:
- Reviewing models, making small updates, or producing pitch decks, comps, or outputs
- Valuation or DCF work without debt schedules or returns analysis
- FP&A reporting, budgeting, or dashboards
- Credit review without hands-on model building
- BI tools, analytics workflows, or reporting automation
Or:
- You have not built full financial models yourself
- You rely heavily on templates, tools, or AI to generate models
- You are not comfortable explaining your work in detail
Interview Process
All candidates complete a ~3-hour take-home Excel modeling exercise.
- Designed to reflect real-world modeling work
- Must be completed independently in Excel
Final Note
We especially encourage applications from private equity professionals, leveraged finance and sponsor coverage bankers, and private…