Associate

CenterGate Capital; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

CenterGate Capital in Austin, TX seeks an Associate with at least two years of post-undergraduate experience to join our growing investment team for a Summer 2027 start date. You will perform detailed financial, industry, and data analysis, build financial models, and work with portfolio company management and senior bankers.

As part of a three‑person deal team, you will participate in diligence, investment memo writing, financing, and post‑close operational initiatives.

Qualifications

• Requires a strong academic background with relevant professional experience in consulting, investment banking, or private equity.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data and build investment‑quality models.
• Ability to communicate investment theses clearly and quantify risks.

Responsibilities

• Review and diligence opportunities
• Prepare investment memos, two‑pagers, and business plan summaries
• Research a potential investment target’s competitive position, market size, and industry dynamics
• Help arrange debt financing with lenders
• Work with third party diligence providers (legal, accounting, consultants)
• Perform detailed financial analysis and modeling
• Collaborate with portfolio company management on reporting and initiatives
• Execute ad hoc value creation analyses

Skills

Financial modeling

Analytical thinking

Team player

Verbal and written communication

Entrepreneurial mindset

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Associate (Summer 2027 Start Date), Private Equity

CenterGate Capital | Austin, TX

Firm Overview

CenterGate Capital is a private equity firm headquartered in Austin, Texas, focused on improving and growing lower-middle market companies. To realize their potential, these companies need flexible capital, strategic guidance, and strong management teams. We combine transactional and operational experience with a network of advisors and strategic relationships to give our portfolio companies exceptional resources.

CenterGate's goal is to build long-term shareholder value for our investors and every stakeholder in our portfolio companies. Our holistic approach to value creation applies proven best practices to identify market opportunities, structure tailored investments, and serve as active board members. We advise our portfolio companies on team building, strategic acquisitions, geographic expansion, operations improvement, KPI management, and financial reporting.

Role Summary

The firm is seeking to hire an Associate with at least two years of post-undergraduate experience (as of the time of the expected start date in summer 2027) to join our growing investment team. The candidate should be comfortable with and capable of performing detailed financial, industry, and other data analysis, including constructing financial models and working with invoice‑level data cubes. The Associate will work directly with management teams of portfolio companies and with the Vice Presidents and Managing Directors of the firm. As CenterGate is a lower‑middle market-focused private equity firm, the candidate must be comfortable working with companies and in situations with imperfect information, conducting a significant portion of due diligence in‑house and helping to manage complex processes and situations.

The Associate will work collaboratively with management teams at portfolio companies to help build value through efficient operations, organic growth, and add‑on acquisitions. This individual will also play a role in all parts of the transaction process, including: initial review and diligence, industry research, writing investment memos, securing financing, and supporting post‑close operational and strategic initiatives.

Deal teams at the firm typically consist of three investment professionals (Associate, Vice President, and Managing Director), requiring Associates to be extremely proactive in a fast‑paced environment. The ideal candidate will have investment transaction experience and will possess the ability to evaluate, analyze, and synthesize investment opportunities. He/she should also effectively communicate and quantify an investment thesis along with its related risks and mitigating factors.

This candidate must thrive in an entrepreneurial private equity culture and ideally have the potential to grow into a larger role at the firm over time.

Key Responsibilities

• Review and diligence opportunities
• Prepare investment memos, two‑pagers, and business plan summaries
• Research a potential investment target’s competitive position, market size, and industry dynamics
• Help arrange debt financing with lenders
• Work alongside the deal team with third party diligence providers, including legal, accounting, and industry‑specific consultants
• Detailed financial analysis and modeling
• Work with portfolio company management teams on reporting and other initiatives
• Execute other ad hoc and value creation analyses and initiatives

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of post‑undergraduate experience (as of the expected start date in summer 2027) including a strong academic background and relevant professional experience in consulting, investment banking, and/or private equity
• Team player with proven ability to work in a collaborative environment
• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills
• Exceptional interpersonal and quantitative skill set
• Entrepreneurial orientation, able to work in less structured environments with minimal oversight
• Analytical thinking and problem‑solving skills with strong attention to detail
• Strong integrity and professionalism

Location & Reporting

Based in CenterGate's Austin, TX office. Reports to the firm's Vice Presidents