2028 Summer Financial Analyst – Capital Solutions (Class of 2029) - Chicago Private Debt Advisory

US.020 Houlihan Lokey Financial Advisors, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 99,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

Houlihan Lokey is seeking Summer Financial Analysts for our Capital Markets & Advisory team in Chicago, IL. The role focuses on private capital markets, M&A-related finance, and financing solutions.

You will work alongside professionals on live deals and gain hands-on experience in modeling, investor outreach, and capital structure discussions.

Qualifications

• Pursuing bachelor’s and/or master’s degree with a graduation date between December 2028 and June 2029.
• Basic knowledge of and a keen interest in corporate finance.
• Strong qualitative analysis skills and ability to own a workstream end-to-end.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong work ethic and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist with cash flow and three-statement modeling.
• Support investor outreach processes.
• Learn capital structure and private markets.

Skills

Corporate finance basics

Qualitative analysis

Verbal communication

Written communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's/Master's degree

Tools

Excel

Job description

Business Unit: Capital Solutions Industry: No Industry 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.

Capital Solutions Houlihan Lokey’s Capital Solutions Group was named World’s Best and Europe’s Best for Capital Markets Advisory at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026. The group comprises more than 235 professionals globally and offers clients a broad range of tailored financing alternatives and strategic financial advice. Our team has raised ~$37bn across over 140 transactions in the last twelve months*and has a presence in 18 offices and 8 countries globally. With deep expertise in both private and public markets, we are committed to delivering innovative, value-enhancing solutions that support long-term success for our clients.

U.S. Private Capital Markets & Advisory Houlihan Lokey’s U.S. Private Capital Markets & Advisory team provides capital-raising services across industries and for various capital needs. We are the largest and most active capital raising and advisory team at a non-balance sheet bank, with ~25 deals in market at any given time and approximately $9bn successfully raised in the twelve months ending June 2025. The team engages with a wide variety of clients, including private equity-backed companies, public, and, family and management-owned businesses. We achieve outlier results for our clients by leveraging direct relationships with various types of private market asset managers, including private credit funds, mezzanine debt and structured equity funds, pension funds, insurance companies, family offices and special situations investors. The group specializes in structure-agnostic capital solutions across the capital structure, including unitranche and second lien term loans, asset-backed facilities, and junior debt and minority equity instruments. We are uniquely positioned to address our client’s most complex capital structure needs. The team has an unparalleled track record of delivering bespoke financing solutions for companies at various stages of the corporate lifecycle. We leverage deep industry expertise and real-time knowledge of / insight into viable private capital markets solutions based upon significant volume of recently-closed transactions and active deals in market. In a capital markets environment that is rapidly changing and increasingly complex, it is critical for clients to hire trusted advisors to help them optimize capital structure with tailored solutions.

Job Description

Job Description Private Capital Markets transaction processes involve similar stages to M&A deals, e.g. creating marketing materials (CIM, three-statement financial model), spearheading counterparty diligence, coordinating management meetings, and ultimately structuring/negotiating the financing to close. Summer Financial Analysts will gain valuable experience with respect to (i) technical proficiency in cash flow and three-statement modeling, (ii) organizational skills and experience running investor outreach processes, and (iii) superior understanding of capital structure and the private credit and private equity capital markets. During the summer, candidates will work alongside full-time professionals on live deals across a variety of transaction types, including acquisition financing for leveraged buyouts, dividend recapitalizations, refinancings, growth capital and distressed and special situations.

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree with a graduation date between December 2028 and June 2029
• Possess basic knowledge of and a keen interest in corporate finance
• Strong qualitative analysis skills and ability to own a workstream end-to-end
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong work ethic and leadership skills

Preferred Qualifications

• A fundamental understanding of valuation theory, methodologies, and applications
• Strong analytical and computer skills (Excel)
• Ability to work cooperatively with all levels of staff

Compensation and Benefits

Houlihan Lokey is committed to providing its employees with an exciting career opportunity and competitive total compensation package. The firm’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the possible salary range for this role at the time of posting is: $110,000 - $110,000 Actual salary at the time of hire may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant qualifications, skills, and experience and the location where this position may be filled. Houlihan Lokey provides a competitive benefits package. Our current benefits offerings can be found here: 2026 Benefits

Equal Opportunity Employer

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. #LI-98172 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.