Investment Banking Associate - Business Services M&A
Location: Chicago (with national and international deal exposure)
Level: Associate (post‑Analyst promote or MBA equivalent)
The Opportunity
We are partnered with a rapidly growing, entrepreneurial investment banking platform that is actively expanding its Business Services practice. The team advises private equity sponsors and founder‑owned businesses on sell‑side M&A, with a focus on high‑growth, tech‑enabled and services‑driven sectors.
This is an opportunity to join a lean, execution‑focused group that has scaled quickly, maintains an exceptionally high pitch‑to‑mandate conversion rate, and continues to attract senior talent as transaction volume accelerates. Associates receive meaningful responsibility, consistent senior banker exposure, and a clear long‑term growth path.
Sector Focus
The team is broadly focused on services businesses at the intersection of commercial, professional, and technology‑enabled models, including:
• Tech‑enabled and outsourced services
• Consulting and implementation businesses
• White‑collar professional services (e.g., advisory, compliance, accounting‑adjacent, legal‑adjacent)
• Services layered around enterprise and cloud platforms (ERP, data, HR, analytics, etc.)
Rather than pure software, the group specializes in services businesses enhanced by technology, often supported by strategic partnerships and recurring revenue characteristics.
Responsibilities
• Execute financial analysis and valuation work to support sell‑side advisory engagements
• Lead diligence, research, analysis, and transaction documentation for live and prospective mandates
• Drive development of CIMs, management presentations, diligence materials, and marketing artifacts
• Manage and review analyst work product, providing direct guidance and real‑time feedback
• Anticipate transaction issues and proactively surface risks, valuation dynamics, and structure considerations
• Build subsector expertise by monitoring industry trends, macro drivers, and buyer behavior
• Contribute to internal tools, frameworks, and intellectual property supporting business development
• Participate in client meetings, drafting sessions, and senior‑level discussions
• Identify process improvements to enhance team efficiency and execution quality
• Support recruiting, training, and mentorship of junior bankers
Candidate Profile
• Bachelor's degree required
• 4+ years of total professional experience
• 1-3 years of prior investment banking or equivalent M&A experience
• Sell‑side advisory experience strongly preferred
• Strong accounting, financial analysis, and transaction process knowledge
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and comfortable operating in fast‑paced, unstructured environments
• Polished communicator with the maturity to interface with senior bankers and C‑suite clients
• Player‑coach mentality with interest in mentoring analysts
• Entrepreneurial mindset and desire to help build a growing platform
Additional Requirements
• SIE, Series 79, and Series 63 licensing to be obtained within required regulatory timelines
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint
