Elena is a corporate credit specialist whose career spans accounting, transaction advisory, and ratings leadership, culminating in her current role as a trainer at GICP and Fitch Learning. With a master’s in economics and business and qualifications as a Chartered Accountant and Statutory Auditor, she blends rigorous technical analysis with practical, market-aware judgment.

What inspired you to pursue a career in credit?

“My interest in credit took shape during my years in consulting, where I worked on financial due diligence – analyzing financial statements and key performance indicators – for both corporate and private equity clients,” Elena says. That foundation led to a rating agency role where she could deepen her focus on creditworthiness and apply both her academic grounding and practical experience. “The move allowed me to bring together my academic background in economics and business with the practical experience I had gained in consulting, effectively closing the circle in my professional journey. In this field, the ability to combine technical analysis with real-world decision making has been a major draw.”

Advice for aspiring professionals

Elena advocates a disciplined, holistic approach, where curiosity and continuous learning are central. “Develop a methodical approach that goes beyond just processing numbers. It is essential to integrate quantitative analysis with an understanding of market contexts and sector-specific factors. Examining qualitative aspects is key to uncovering issues that may not be immediately evident from the financial statements alone.” Her advice: “Focus on strengthening your analytical skills, remain curious about the market context, and continuously update your knowledge on economic developments. This balanced perspective will help you build a solid foundation in credit analysis and lead to more thoughtful and effective evaluations.”

What qualities, characteristics and skills are important?

“A career in credit demands a blend of technical expertise and interpersonal skills,” Elena notes. Analytical and quantitative capabilities are essential for evaluating financial statements, business plans, and risk metrics—paired with the ability to synthesize qualitative insights. “It’s crucial to go beyond the numbers by also considering market trends, sector-specific dynamics, and macroeconomic developments. This holistic approach supports more nuanced and informed decision-making.”

Continuous learning is another hallmark: “Adapting to market changes and incorporating new approaches, such as integrating ESG into traditional credit evaluation, keeps analysts relevant. Attention to detail, structured thinking, and clear communication are core. Finally, teamwork, leadership, and the ability to manage challenges under pressure round out the skill set needed to succeed.”

Career highlights

Elena’s master’s degree in economics and business and qualification as a Chartered Accountant and Statutory Auditor anchored early roles in accounting and audit at Azimut Group and KPMG, where she honed analytical discipline. She then moved into KPMG’s advisory/transaction services division, focusing on financial due diligence for private equity and corporate clients. Here she gained exposure to international transactions and complex financial assessments, strengthening her grasp of profitability drivers and risk factors.

“One of the most significant roles in my consulting career was supporting two major groups during their listing process,” Elena recalls. “I conducted detailed financial analyses, working closely with various teams from different divisions.” The cross-functional collaboration offered deep exposure to the complexities of going public: “It allowed me to learn from experts in other areas while ensuring that our work effectively addressed the challenges of going public.”

She later joined Cerved Rating Agency, becoming Vice President of the Rating Committee, leading the retail sector coverage team. “In this role, I balanced traditional quantitative analysis with emerging considerations such as ESG factors, contributing to more comprehensive credit evaluations.”

“I used to interact directly with CFOs, CEOs and key stakeholders, which provided valuable insights into the strategic and operational aspects of the analysis. As Vice President of the Rating Committee, I validated all ratings before they were published and sent to regulatory authorities, such as ESMA, ensuring that analysts adhered to procedures and methodology correctly and transparently. I particularly enjoyed contributing to the integration of ESG factors into the credit analysis and developing further methodologies for the international ratings.”

Final reflections

In reflecting on her journey, Elena underscores the value of pairing technical excellence with curiosity and integrity. Credit analysis, she notes, is ultimately about making sound, practical decisions amid uncertainty—linking hard numbers to market context and communicating judgments with clarity and fairness. She is clear that it sits at the intersection of data discipline, market context and effective communication. The experiences that shaped her reinforce a simple principle: stay disciplined, keep learning, and collaborate openly.

For her, the most rewarding impact comes from helping others make balanced, thoughtful decisions that stand up in real-world conditions.