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

Houlihan Lokey, Inc.; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. is seeking a highly organized Operations Analyst to join our Corporate Finance team in Europe.

Reporting to the SVP - CF Operations EMEA, you will support performance management, training logistics, and recruitment pipelines while partnering with bankers on people-related matters. The ideal candidate has 1–3 years in investment banking or a fast-paced corporate setting, strong Excel skills, and excellent communication.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience in an investment bank, financial services firm, or high-paced corporate environment.
• Strong Excel capabilities and a high comfort level analysing large datasets.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging for senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Strategic execution: support operational due diligence and integration for acquisitions.
• Performance management & compensation: help manage performance reviews and compensation calibration; analyze data to support salary and bonus allocation.
• Talent development & training: coordinate M&A training programmes and manage schedules and logistics.
• People operations: partner with HR to handle sensitive employee matters with discretion and in line with policy.
• Strategic planning & pipelines: maintain capacity trackers and monitor recruitment pipelines.

Skills

Excel

Analytical skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Discretion

Stakeholder management

Resilience

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

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.

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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.