VP / Senior Associate, M&A Advisory

Leadervest; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Leadervest, a boutique M&A advisory, seeks a VP / Senior Associate to execute transactions and help build the business. You will work directly with the Managing Director, owning components of transactions and serving as the primary day-to-day client contact on sell-side engagements.

The role offers exposure across preparation, buyer engagement, due diligence, negotiation and closing, with a lean team and senior transaction support as needed.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated M&A or transaction experience.
• Experience across the transaction lifecycle with client exposure.
• Strong financial modeling, valuation, and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Support and increasingly lead sell-side M&A transactions from mandate through closing.
• Serve as a key day-to-day client contact throughout transactions.
• Prepare CIMs, teasers, financial summaries and transaction presentations.
• Perform financial analysis, valuation and financial modeling.
• Conduct industry, market and buyer research.
• Coordinate due diligence, information flow and transaction documentation.
• Participate in discussions with clients, buyers, investors and advisors.
• Manage transaction timelines, deliverables and process milestones.

Skills

Investment banking

Transaction advisory

Corporate finance

Deal-focused consulting

Job description

Our client is a growing boutique M&A advisory firm seeking a VP / Senior Associate, M&A Advisory to play a meaningful role in executing transactions and helping build the business.

The firm advises founder- and owner-led businesses on sell-side M&A transactions, primarily in the lower middle market.

This opportunity suits an M&A professional seeking greater responsibility, direct client exposure, and involvement across the full transaction lifecycle.

Working directly with the Managing Director, you will own meaningful components of transactions and increasingly serve as the primary day-to-day client contact, with senior transaction support as needed.

The intentionally lean team offers exposure to every stage of the transaction process, from preparation and positioning through buyer engagement, due diligence, negotiation and closing.

The firm also works with owners before a formal sale process begins, helping them prepare their businesses, address potential transaction challenges and clarify their objectives. This preparation supports smoother execution, stronger buyer engagement, and value protection through closing.

For the right candidate, this is an opportunity to gain meaningful transaction ownership, work directly with senior leadership, participate in the economics of completed deals, and help shape an entrepreneurial advisory firm.

Responsibilities

Support and increasingly lead sell-side M&A transactions from mandate through closing, working directly with the Managing Director.

Responsibilities include:

• Serve as a key day-to-day client contact throughout transactions
• Own transaction workstreams and help drive deals forward
• Prepare Confidential Information Memorandums (CIMs), teasers, financial summaries and transaction presentations
• Perform financial analysis, valuation and financial modeling
• Conduct industry, market and buyer research
• Develop strategic and financial buyer lists
• Support and increasingly manage buyer outreach and communication
• Coordinate due diligence, information flow and transaction documentation
• Participate in discussions with clients, buyers, investors and professional advisors
• Manage transaction timelines, deliverables and process milestones
• Identify issues that could affect valuation or transaction execution
• Support negotiations and closing activitiesInvolve the Managing Director and other senior transaction support as required
• Attend client and transaction meetings as needed
• Help improve the firm’s processes, capabilities, and client experience

Broader Advisory Exposure

The firm’s relationships with owners often begin before a sale process, providing exposure to:

• Pre-transaction planning and positioning
• Valuation considerations
• Succession planning and ownership transition options
• Leadership and organizational considerations
• Identifying diligence issues before going to market
• Ongoing advisory work with founders and leadership teams

This provides an opportunity to understand both transaction execution and the preparation required to achieve stronger outcomes.

Ideal Candidate

We are seeking someone with demonstrated M&A or transaction experience. Title and scope of responsibility will reflect the candidate’s experience and capabilities.

Relevant backgrounds include:

• Investment banking
• Transaction advisory
• Corporate finance
• Deal-focused consulting

The successful candidate will bring:

• Hands-on transaction experience
• Strong financial modeling, valuation, and analytical skills
• Experience preparing transaction and financial materials
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Confidence interacting with founders, executives, buyers and investors
• Excellent organization and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously
• Ability to operate independently while knowing when to involve the Managing Director
• Strong commercial judgment
• Interest in developing relationships that lead to new transactions

The role suits someone ready to take on greater transaction ownership and client responsibility, whether stepping into a Senior Associate position or bringing the experience required for a VP appointment.

Join a boutique where you can contribute directly to its continued development, with opportunities to:

• Work directly with and learn from the Managing Director
• Help shape the firm’s culture
• Improve transaction processes
• Develop client relationships
• Originate transactions
• Take increasing ownership of deals
• Grow responsibilities as the firm expands

The firm seeks someone who wants to build the judgment, relationships, and commercial capabilities required to become a trusted M&A advisor and deal leader.

Compensation & Upside

In addition to base salary, compensation includes:

• 20% of net closing fees on transactions you support
• An additional 15 percentage points on transactions you personally originate, bringing total participation to 35% of net closing fees

Transaction compensation is calculable, non-discretionary, and payable as the firm receives the applicable transaction fees. There is no cap on transaction compensation.

As the relationship progresses, the firm is open to discussing alternative compensation structures, including higher transaction participation in exchange for a lower fixed salary component.

Economic participation can grow alongside contribution, responsibility, and business development.

Location & Working Model

Greater Toronto Area — primarily remote

The position includes approximately two in-person team meetings per month in the GTA, with additional meetings at client sites or other locations as transactions require.

Travel is required as needed for active transactions.