Credit Analysis in Action: Economic and Industry Essentials

Course Overview

This course offers a concise, practice-oriented path into advanced credit analysis and fixed-income risk management. Aimed at professionals, it pairs rigor with application across loan structuring and collateral, covenants, stress testing and scenarios, Basel III capital, high-yield/distressed debt, portfolio risk mitigation (including CDS), and ESG—using tools like collateral/recovery modeling, Excel-based scenarios, CDS pricing basics, RWA calculations, and structured risk transfer. Through expert instruction, hands-on exercises, and case studies, you’ll review loan agreements, interpret covenants, value collateral, run stress tests, assess speculative-grade debt and restructurings, and implement hedges in diversified portfolios while aligning with evolving regulations and ESG. The capstone delivers a full credit assessment and decision-ready recommendation, equipping you to structure loans, evaluate risk, meet regulatory expectations, and manage institutional exposure with confidence. This course is designed for finance professionals aiming to deepen their expertise in credit risk assessment and fixed income investing. Whether you're a financial analyst, fixed income trader, portfolio manager, or credit risk specialist at a bank or rating agency, the content is tailored to equip you with practical, industry-relevant skills. Investors looking to better understand the bond market will also benefit from its structured approach and real-world applications. To get the most out of this course, participants should have a basic understanding of financial concepts such as time value of money, interest rates, and financial statements. Familiarity with Excel and basic quantitative skills will be helpful for completing hands-on exercises. While no prior experience in credit analysis or fixed income markets is required, those with a background in finance, accounting, or investment will find the course especially rewarding. By the end of this course, participants will analyze macroeconomic and industry drivers of credit risk across cycles; evaluate specialized markets such as high-yield and distressed debt; integrate ESG factors into comprehensive assessments; and execute end-to-end credit analyses using professional, decision-ready methodologies. They will also design and interpret stress tests and scenario analyses to quantify downside risk using practical, Excel-based models. Finally, they will communicate clear, defensible recommendations to stakeholders aligned with Basel expectations and institutional risk policies.