M&A Associate

Merger Circle; Paris; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

MergerCircle is seeking an M&A Associate to own client project delivery, lead conversations with clients and targets, and supervise analysts. You will drive end-to-end execution from search to introductions, and manage timelines and expectations to ensure high-quality outcomes with cross-border exposure.

You will engage with managing directors and portfolio clients, overseeing a small team, and continually refining sourcing and outreach processes in a fast-growing, entrepreneurial

Qualifications

• Background: 1 to 3 years of experience in M&A, private equity, transaction services, strategy consulting or audit.
• Client-facing: comfortable leading a call with a client, a founder or a CEO.
• Strong execution: deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines and be proactive.
• Analytical and rigorous: problem solving with attention to detail; data-driven sourcing is a plus.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: proactive, hands-on and interested in shaping how things are done.

Responsibilities

• Own the delivery of client mandates end to end, from search criteria to longlist and introductions.
• Lead ongoing conversations with clients during projects: updates, reviews and next steps.
• Supervise one or two analysts on projects: brief, review, give feedback and train.
• Identify bottlenecks and propose fixes to internal processes and tools.
• Work with the Tech team to improve sourcing and outreach stack used daily.

Skills

English proficiency

Multilingual

Analytical thinking

Project coordination

Job description

MergerCircle is a tech-enabled buy-side M&A advisory firm specialising in proprietary deal sourcing and off-market origination.

We identify, qualify and approach acquisition targets for our clients, and we support them through to introduction and engagement with management teams. Our clients include leading private equity investors, large corporates, family offices and entrepreneurs. Around 80% of our projects are cross-border.

We are hiring an M&A Associate who will own the delivery of client projects, lead conversations with clients and targets, and supervise a small team of analysts and data specialists.

ROLE OVERVIEW

As M&A Associate, you will sit at the centre of project execution. You will be the day-to-day point of contact for clients during their mandates, you will run outreach and qualification conversations with target management teams, and you will supervise one or two analysts or data specialists on your projects.

This is a role with client exposure and ownership from the start, in a fast-growing company where the quality of your judgement has a direct commercial impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Client Project Execution & Delivery

• Own the delivery of client mandates end to end, from search criteria definition to target longlist, qualification and introductions.
• Lead recurring conversations with clients during projects: progress updates, target reviews, prioritisation decisions and next steps.
• Ensure the accuracy and relevance of screening work before it reaches the client.
• Structure your projects so that timelines, deliverables and client expectations stay aligned.

Outreach & Target Engagement

• Run outreach campaigns to target companies and manage the pipeline of responses.
• Lead qualification conversations with owners, founders and management teams of target companies.
• Assess strategic fit, willingness to transact and readiness for a process, then present a clear recommendation to the client.
• Manage the introduction and follow-up between clients and qualified targets.

Team Supervision

• Supervise one or two analysts or data specialists on your projects: brief them, review their work and give direct feedback.
• Contribute to their training and progression on research, data and outreach work.

Process Improvement

• Identify what slows delivery down and propose concrete fixes to our internal processes and tools.
• Work with the Tech team to improve the sourcing and outreach stack you use every day.

WHO YOU ARE

Background: 1 to 3 years of experience in M&A, private equity, transaction services, strategy consulting or audit. Prior exposure to deal sourcing, origination or a high-growth environment is a plus.

Client-Facing: You are comfortable leading a call with a client, a founder or a CEO, and you can hold a substantive conversation about a business and its strategic options.

Strong Execution Skills: You deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines and you do not need to be chased.

Analytical & Rigorous: You have strong problem-solving skills and an eye for detail. Exposure to market screening tools or data-driven sourcing is a plus.

Entrepreneurial Mindset: You are proactive, hands-on and motivated by joining a company where you can shape how things are done.

Languages: Business proficiency in English is required. Speaking several languages among French, German, Spanish, Italian and Dutch is a strong plus given the cross-border nature of our projects.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Client Ownership Early: You will lead client relationships and target conversations from your first projects.
• Fast-Track Career Growth: As we scale, you will have the opportunity to take on larger mandates and a larger team.
• Direct Exposure to Clients & Management: You will work with private equity investors, corporate development teams and business owners across Europe.
• Dynamic & Collaborative Culture: We value smart execution, continuous learning and an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Compensation & Benefits: Salary aligned with the m&a deal sourcing market, bonus structure and growth incentives.