The posting
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
- Candidates who are hired will be paid for this exercise
Final Note
We especially encourage applications from private equity professionals, leveraged finance and sponsor coverage bankers, and private credit or direct lending professionals who have built full models from scratch. Candidates from investment banking or corporate finance will be considered only with top-tier backgrounds and hands-on LBO, debt, or credit modeling experience.
