Associate - Strategy & Corporate Finance

McKinsey; Lombardia; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

McKinsey in Italy (Milan or Rome) seeks an experienced Corporate Finance professional to join our Corporate Finance practice. You will work with teams to deliver strategies and financial solutions for clients, enhancing value through rigorous analysis and practical recommendations.

You will grow through formal training, coaching, and mentoring, and contribute to engagements spanning strategy, M&A, due diligence, and ESG-related initiatives in a dynamic, global environment.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required with excellent academic record; MBA or finance-related postgraduate degree is an advantage
• 4+ years of strategy, corporate finance, M&A or due diligence experience in a consulting firm, investment bank, accounting firm or major corporation; experience in a corporate development or strategic finance is preferred
• Intellectual curiosity, creative thinking and problem-solving mindset
• Adaptability and openness to collaborate in a flexible environment
• Sensitivity on social responsibility and ambition to have a real impact on clients and on our communities
• Exceptional analytical and quantitative problem-solving skills
• Strong record of leadership in an academic, professional or extracurricular setting
• Thoughtful, empathic and comfortable communicator
• Ability to communicate complex ideas effectively – both verbally and in writing – in English and Italian

Responsibilities

• You will work in teams of typically 2-3 consultants, playing an active role in all aspects of client engagement.
• You will combine traditional management consulting skills with issues and techniques of applied corporate finance, playing an important role in leading-edge knowledge development in areas relevant to corporate finance and strategy. This includes gathering and analyzing information, formulating and testing hypotheses, and developing and communicating recommendations.
• You’ll also have the opportunity to present results to client management and implement recommendations in collaboration with client team members.
• You will receive exceptional training as well as frequent coaching and mentoring from colleagues on your teams. This support includes a partner from your local office or practice assigned to you to help guide your career as well as up to five weeks of formal training in your first two years as an associate.
• Additionally, you will have a professional development manager who manages staffing to help you choose projects based on your priorities as well as the needs of client service teams.
• You will be based in our Milan or Rome office as part of our Corporate Finance practice.
• Our Corporate Finance practice works on engagements across industries, advising clients on top-management level issues including corporate strategy and restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and alliances, business due diligence, value-based management, ESG strategy and strategy in IPO situations. We close the gap between corporate finance and strategy to have a significant impact on client business and the top-management agenda.

Skills

Intellectual curiosity

Creative thinking

Problem-solving

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Leadership experience

Bilingual English/Italian

Education

Master's degree

MBA or finance postgraduate

Job description

Who You'll Work With

Driving lasting impact and building long-term capabilities with our clients is not easy work. You are the kind of person who thrives in a high performance/high reward culture - doing hard things, picking yourself up when you stumble, and having the resilience to try another way forward.

In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we'll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities you need to become a stronger leader faster than you ever thought possible. Your colleagues—at all levels—will invest deeply in your development, just as much as they invest in delivering exceptional results for clients. Every day, you'll receive apprenticeship, coaching, and exposure that will accelerate your growth in ways you won’t find anywhere else.

When you join us, you will have:

• Continuous learning: Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, is all about helping you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development. The real magic happens when you take the input from others to heart and embrace the fast-paced learning experience, owning your journey.
• A voice that matters: From day one, we value your ideas and contributions. You’ll make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions, all while upholding our unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. We not only encourage diverse perspectives, but they are critical in driving us toward the best possible outcomes.
• Global community: With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 different nationalities, our firm’s diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions for our clients. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• World-class benefits: On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package to enable holistic well-being for you and your family.

Your Impact

You will work in teams of typically 2-3 consultants, playing an active role in all aspects of client engagement.

You will combine traditional management consulting skills with issues and techniques of applied corporate finance, playing an important role in leading-edge knowledge development in areas relevant to corporate finance and strategy. This includes gathering and analyzing information, formulating and testing hypotheses, and developing and communicating recommendations. You’ll also have the opportunity to present results to client management and implement recommendations in collaboration with client team members.

You will receive exceptional training as well as frequent coaching and mentoring from colleagues on your teams. This support includes a partner from your local office or practice assigned to you to help guide your career as well as up to five weeks of formal training in your first two years as an associate. Additionally, you will have a professional development manager who manages staffing to help you choose projects based on your priorities as well as the needs of client service teams.

You will be based in our Milan or Rome office as part of our Corporate Finance practice.

Our Corporate Finance practice works on engagements across industries, advising clients on top-management level issues including corporate strategy and restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and alliances, business due diligence, value-based management, ESG strategy and strategy in IPO situations. We close the gap between corporate finance and strategy to have a significant impact on client business and the top-management agenda.

Your Qualifications and Skills

• Master's degree required with excellent academic record; MBA or finance-related postgraduate degree is an advantage
• 4+ years of strategy, corporate finance, M&A or due diligence experience in a consulting firm, investment bank, accounting firm or major corporation; experience in a corporate development or strategic finance is preferred
• Intellectual curiosity, creative thinking and problem-solving mindset
• Adaptability and openness to collaborate in a flexible environment
• Sensitivity on social responsibility and ambition to have a real impact on clients and on our communities
• Exceptional analytical and quantitative problem-solving skills
• Strong record of leadership in an academic, professional or extracurricular setting
• Thoughtful, empathic and comfortable communicator
• Ability to communicate complex ideas effectively – both verbally and in writing – in English and Italian