Job Description
Graduate Trainee - Credit Rating Sales

Summary

The Scope Ratings Sales Graduate Programme is a twelve-month programme designed to develop analytical sales talent with a genuine commercial foundation in the credit ratings industry. Associates learn the product, the market, and how to sell before being embedded in a sales team — producing commercially ready professionals who can contribute from day one of their permanent role.

This is a pilot cohort of two associates placed across two of Scope’s core sales areas: Fundamental Ratings (Sovereign, Financial Institutions, Corporates) and Transactional Ratings (Structured and Project Finance). The programme is tailored to the commercial, client-facing functions of a Credit Rating Agency (CRA), with strict adherence to CRA independence, compliance, and ethics throughout.

The fixed-term contract of 12 months is based in Germany. If the associate is offered a permanent role at the end of the programme, the position may be based anywhere in Western Europe depending on where Scope has a business need at the time and the associate' preferences.

What we offer

  • Fixed-term contract of 12 months based in Germany, with the possibility of a permanent contract at the end of the programme — which may be based anywhere in Western Europe depending on business need and the associate' preferences.
  • Competitive base salary, reviewed at permanent placement
  • CFA Level 1, CAIA, FRM, or equivalent sponsored by Scope — study materials and examination fees covered
  • Full access to Scope Academy with structured learning paths throughout the programme
  • Leadership lunches and senior issuer/investor meeting participation from day one
  • Dedicated programme coordinator from HR and bi-weekly mentor check-ins
  • Quarterly feedback and performance reviews
  • Option to travel to Scope offices in Western Europe during the programme
  • Relocation and living allowance for the location change between Berlin and Frankfurt

Duties & responsibilities

What you will gain

  • A deep understanding of capital markets and credit ratings as a product.
  • Commercial skills in sales and relationship management within a CRA context, including issuer and arranger engagement, pipeline management, and client communication
  • Exposure to real client situations from day one — calls, meetings, and leadership interactions across both Fundamental Ratings and Transactional Ratings
  • Training on how to pitch Scope’s value proposition to different counterpart types — issuers and arrangers
  • A permanent role at the end of the programme in the area that best fits your profile and the business need

Professional & personal qualifications

Who we are looking for

We are looking for analytically sharp, commercially minded graduates who understand financial and debt markets and are eager to build a career in the commercial side of credit ratings. You do not need prior ratings experience — but you do need the intellectual rigour to absorb a complex product quickly and the interpersonal skills to represent it credibly in front of clients and turn into revenue.

Background & education

  • Degree in finance, economics, business, engineering, data analytics, or a comparable quantitative field
  • Master’s degree preferred
  • Strong understanding of financial and debt markets — how they work, who the key players are, and how credit fits in
  • 0-5 years of professional experience; 2-3 years desirable; internships and work placements count

Skills & qualities

  • Analytically strong — comfortable with data, financial models, and quantitative reasoning
  • Data analysis experience desirable — good working knowledge of data tools and how to turn data into insight
  • Relationship-oriented — you build trust naturally and invest in professional relationships for the long term
  • Commercially minded — you care about how the business creates value, you are drawn to the market side of finance, and you want to understand what drives a client’s decisions.
  • Clear and confident communicator — written and verbal; you will be in front of senior stakeholders from the early weeks
  • Self-driven and proactive — you take ownership without being asked and do not need to be managed to perform
  • Curious and fast-learning — you absorb new frameworks quickly and apply them in practice

Languages & certifications

  • English required — full professional proficiency
  • At least one additional European language required

Compensation: EUR 50,400
Benefits: Scope offers an extensive range of benefits, please check our benefits page for more details.

Interested?
If this sounds like a journey for you, please contact f.klinke@scopegroup.com to receive additional information. We look forward to learning more from your convincing application. Please note: For non-EU applicants, a valid work and residence permit is a prerequisite for this job position. Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor relocation from outside of the EU at this time.

What we want to see

  • Current English CV (Mandatory)
  • Motivational Letter (Mandatory)
  • Copy of your university degrees and certificates
  • Criminal record certificate (can be provided at a later date)

About Scope Ratings 
Scope Ratings GmbH is part of the Scope Group with headquarters in Berlin and offices in Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan, Oslo and Paris. As the leading European credit rating agency, the company specialises in the analysis and ratings of financial institutions, corporates, structured finance, project finance and public finance. Scope Ratings’ credit risk analysis is opinion-driven, forward-looking and non-mechanistic, an approach that adds to a greater diversity of opinion for institutional investors. Scope Ratings is a credit rating agency registered in accordance with the EU rating regulation and operating in the European Union with ECAI status.

At Scope Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with respect and fairness. We embrace people from all backgrounds, regardless of culture, ethnicity and gender. We ensure that our application processes are free from discrimination. By valuing each individual's unique background and perspectives, we strive to create an environment where all employees can thrive and contribute their best. Our dedication to equality and inclusivity reflects our belief that diversity drives innovation and success.