Senior Research Analyst, US Small Business Portfolio Strategy

Forward Financing is a financial technology company based in Boston, Massachusetts with team members throughout the United States, Dominican Republic, and Canada. The company is on a mission to unlock the capital that fuels small businesses across America. Recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In Boston and certified as a Great Place To Work®, Forward is investing in its employees, technology, and customer experience – with long-term success in mind every step of the way.

The Senior Research Analyst, US Small Business, is a senior individual contributor. This analyst will conduct deep-dive research into the broader US economy and the specific sectors occupied by our small business customers. This role is highly visible and directly responsible for generating proactive insights—not just reporting past performance—to guide corporate financing activities, inform financial projections, and set industry-specific risk limits. The ideal candidate possesses the strategic rigor of an equity research analyst combined with the economic forecasting skill of an economist.

The mission of Senior Research Analyst is to serve as the independent, forward-looking economic and industry expert responsible for transforming complex US economic, industry, and market data into actionable strategic recommendations. The mission is to enable the executive team to proactively manage and adjust the company's overall credit risk appetite and capital deployment in a responsible and sustainable manner.

In this role you will:

• Generate Actionable Insights: Conduct in-depth research on macroeconomic variables, industry trends, and regulatory changes (e.g., fuel prices, consumer spending, tariffs) to predict their future impact on the profitability and stability of small businesses.

• Help Set Portfolio Risk Appetite: Provide clear, data-driven recommendations to Senior Leadership (SLT) on where the company should increase, limit, or pull back exposure across industries and various portfolio dimensions (deal size, new vs. renewal).

• Develop Proactive Risk Methodologies: Partner with the Analytics team to define variables and subject matter expertise for developing forward-looking risk assessment models and scorecards tailored to specific industries.

• Create Top-Down Portfolio View: Own the development and regular delivery (monthly minimum) of a structured top-down view of portfolio exposure, highlighting growth, underperformance, and overall risk trajectory across all key segments.

• Scorecard Development: Help design and maintain an internal G/Y/R (Green/Yellow/Red) framework or similar tool to rapidly communicate the risk status and trajectory of our largest industries to stakeholders.

• Continuous Monitoring: Actively track industry news, emerging risks, and competitive shifts, providing timely, high-impact updates to underwriting and risk teams.

• Executive Communication: Translate complex analytical findings into simple, coherent, and decisive presentations and reports for the SLT, ensuring they have a clear view for making critical capital allocation decisions.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Collaborate across the organization (Underwriting, Analytics, Finance, Strategy) to embed economic and industry insights into credit policy, financial forecasting, and corporate strategy discussions.

• Independent Research: Be a hands-on analyst comfortable navigating modern research tools (e.g., Bloomberg, AI-enabled platforms) to execute research and analysis without dedicated junior staff.

Why you should apply:

• Mission driven company: Forward is a trusted source of fast, flexible funding for small businesses that have often been underserved by traditional financing options. When you join the team, you will help ensure all small businesses have access to the financial support they need to succeed.

• Flexibility is a top priority: Our employees are empowered to choose where they want to work (whether that’s from home, in the office, or a combination of both) with flexible hours.

Role Requirements:

• Proven ability to synthesize vast amounts of quantitative and qualitative data to form a strategic thesis and a clear recommendation.

• Advanced financial modeling (Excel), proficiency in data querying (e.g., SQL), and experience with research databases (e.g., Bloomberg, FactSet).

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting strategic recommendations to senior management or investment committees.

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, or a highly quantitative field.

• A track record of making or influencing investment/credit decisions based on industry and economic outlook.

• Experience applying a macroeconomic lens to small and middle-market credit risk.

Total Rewards:

Additionally, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, commuter benefits, a flexible time-off policy, paid parental leave, 401k match for US employees, wellness reimbursement, volunteering days, annual professional development budget, and charitable donation match.

Forward is proud to be a remote-first company, keeping workplace flexibility a top priority for our employees. As a business, we are focused on impact; we are more concerned with your contributions to the success of the company than where you get your work done. To help facilitate in-person collaboration, employees are welcome to work from one of our premiere office locations.

When we aren’t collaborating to drive business and support our customers, we’re finding virtual and in-person ways to get to know our colleagues, celebrate team wins, and have fun together!

Forward Financing Core Values:

• Drive the Mission - We believe in financial opportunity for underserved small businesses. We say “yes” when others say “no.”

• Keep It Real - We value direct communication, candid feedback, and authenticity. We are an open book.

• Act with Kindness - We create an environment where caring is cool and helping is the norm. We do the right thing.

• Shoot for Extraordinary - We are inspired by innovative thinking and continuous improvement. We never settle for yesterday’s best.

About Us:

Forward Financing is a financial technology company based in Boston, Massachusetts with team members throughout the United States, Dominican Republic, and Canada. The company is on a mission to unlock the capital that fuels small businesses across America. Whether facing challenges accessing traditional financing or simply needing a convenient, flexible solution, Forward is committed to funding more of the millions of small businesses nationwide. Forward offers revenue-based financing – delivering an upfront sum of working capital in exchange for a set amount of the business’s future revenue. By simplifying the requirements, streamlining the process, and using advanced proprietary technology, Forward is often able to deliver funds same day – giving more businesses the financial opportunity they need to thrive. Plus, with their dedicated teams and award-winning service, customers get personalized support when they need it most.

Since 2012, Forward has expanded access to capital by providing over $4.1 billion in funding to more than 80,000 small businesses. The company is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau with an Excellent / 4.7 stars rating on Trustpilot.com. Recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In Boston and certified as a Great Place To Work®, Forward is dedicated to empowering both its team and the customers they serve, helping them succeed and thrive.

US Equal Opportunity Employment Information

Forward Financing is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to fostering a fair and inclusive culture built on a foundation of high performance and exceptional customer experience. With a laser focus on employee impact, we’re able to reduce biases and ensure the right people are in the right jobs to contribute to our mission. The varied perspectives of our people fuel innovation and make us a stronger team. By embracing what makes each of us unique, we create a supportive environment where people feel valued, accepted, and empowered to thrive.

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