Operations Analyst, EMEA - Corporate Finance (M&A)

Houlihan Lokey; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Houlihan Lokey is seeking an organised Operations Analyst to support the CF COO Europe, driving strategic initiatives and partnering with bankers on people-related matters.

Responsibilities include performance cycles, talent development, recruitment pipelines, and discreet handling of sensitive data in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years experience in an investment bank, financial services firm, or fast-paced corporate setting.
• M&A background or experience supporting an M&A/Corporate Finance team preferred.
• Strong Excel skills and ability to analyse large datasets.
• High accuracy and meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for senior stakeholders.
• Resilience, adaptability under pressure, and discretion with confidential data.
• 2:1 Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a top university.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational support to CF COO Europe and liaise with bankers on people-related matters.
• Support performance reviews, compensation cycles, and data-driven analyses.
• Coordinate talent development and M&A training logistics and events.
• Assist in recruitment pipelines, campus and lateral hiring oversight.
• Partner with HR to ensure compliance and confidentiality in sensitive matters.
• Help manage capacity trackers and workflow for strategic initiatives.
• Contribute to ad hoc projects and administrative requests for the team.

Skills

M&A background

Excel skills

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Communication

Discretion

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree (2:1) or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) is a leading global investment bank recognized for delivering independent strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial sponsors, and governments. With uniquely deep industry expertise, broad international reach, and a partnership approach rooted in trust, the firm provides innovative, integrated solutions across mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Our unmatched transaction volumes provide differentiated, data-driven perspectives that help our clients achieve their most critical goals. To learn more about Houlihan Lokey, please visit HL.com.

Business Unit

Corporate Finance

Industry

Mergers & Acquisitions

Overview

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) is a leading global investment bank recognized for delivering independent strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial sponsors, and governments. With uniquely deep industry expertise, broad international reach, and a partnership approach rooted in trust, the firm provides innovative, integrated solutions across mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Our unmatched transaction volumes provide differentiated, data-driven perspectives that help our clients achieve their most critical goals. To learn more about Houlihan Lokey, please visit HL.com.

Corporate Finance

The Houlihan Lokey Corporate Finance business has extensive expertise in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, activist shareholder and takeover defense, and other related advisory services for a broad range of clients. In addition, we have the proven ability to engineer and execute financing solutions that are essential for growth and success and offer access to financing in the public and alternative capital markets through the issuance of debt, equity, or hybrid securities. In EMEA, we work with a wide spectrum of companies, from middle-market privately owned enterprises to large multinational organizations. With a growing platform of Corporate Finance professionals and offices across the region, in addition to our global reach and in-depth knowledge across a broad range of industries, we have the breadth and targeted expertise to provide exceptional client service.

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly organised and proactive Operations Analyst to join our Corporate Finance team. Reporting to the SVP - CF Operations EMEA, you will be instrumental in supporting the COO - Corporate Finance, Europe, by driving key strategic initiatives across our European offices. This is a newly created, hands-on role where you will partner directly with our bankers on people-related matters, making a tangible impact on the business.

As a central point of contact, you will support the team on everything from performance and compensation cycles to talent development and pipeline management for strategic recruitment. The ideal candidate will have a background in M&A or investment banking, enabling them to understand the unique demands of our high-performance culture. This is a unique opportunity to shape a new role, contribute to global initiatives, and take ownership of projects that are critical to our success.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Execution: Support operational due diligence and integration for acquisitions. Assist in onboarding new teams and aligning them with the corporate structure.
• Performance Management & Compensation: Help manage performance reviews and compensation calibration. Prepare data models and analyse performance metrics to support salary and bonus allocation.
• Talent Development & Training: Support the end-to-end logistics and coordination for M&A training programmes. Coordinate with external M&A training providers, manage cohort schedules, and ensure flawless execution of on-site training events.
• People Operations: Partner with HR to manage sensitive employee matters with complete discretion and ensuring alignment with relevant legislation and corporate guidelines.
• Strategic Planning & Pipelines: Maintain team capacity trackers, assist in identifying staffing needs, and have oversight of campus and lateral recruitment by monitoring the candidate pipeline.
• Global Collaboration: Liaise with Co-Heads of Corporate Finance in the US, as well as Industry Group Heads on high-level strategic business planning.
• Ad-Hoc Projects: Support the COO and team on ad hoc projects and administrative requests.

Qualifications & Candidate Profile

• Experience: 1–3 years of experience in an investment bank, financial services firm, or high-paced corporate environment.
• M&A Background: Previous experience working in or closely supporting an M&A, Corporate Finance, or investment banking team is highly preferred.
• Analytical Skills: Strong Excel capabilities and a high comfort level analysing large datasets.
• Accuracy: A high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Communication & Stakeholder Management: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging for the most senior stakeholders in the firm. Proven experience in building successful working relationships with senior stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions.
• Resilience & Adaptability: Ability to work and adapt quickly under pressure in a fast-paced and constantly changing environment, appreciating tight deadlines, short turnarounds, and implementing process change where appropriate, with minimal supervision.
• Discretion & Professionalism: Proven ability to handle highly sensitive, confidential data with absolute discretion.
• 2:1 Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required from a top university

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.