Associate, Business Valuation - Valuation Advisory

Stout; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 74,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work schedules

Discretionary time off

Wellness options

Professional growth

Job summary

Stout in Irvine, CA seeks an Associate in its Business Valuation practice to support valuation and financial advisory engagements for tax, transaction, corporate planning, and dispute-related purposes.

You will work with senior professionals to analyze businesses, ownership interests, financial instruments, and assets across diverse industries, collaborating with a broad client base including private and public companies, private equity, and law firms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in business valuation, transaction advisory, investment banking, accounting, audit, tax, or related field.
• Progress toward CFA, ASA, CPA, ABV, or CVA preferred.
• Understanding of valuation methods and financial modeling concepts.
• Ability to analyze financial statements, forecasts, tax returns, and other financial information.
• Strong quantitative, research, and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; working knowledge of Word and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with AI tools to enhance productivity, research, and analysis.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple assignments.

Responsibilities

• Perform business enterprise and equity valuations using income, market, and asset-based approaches.
• Develop discounted cash flow, guideline public company, and precedent transaction analyses.
• Support engagements involving tax, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and related matters.
• Assist with ESOP, fairness, solvency opinions, and other transaction-related tasks.
• Analyze valuation discounts for various ownership structures and financial instruments.
• Review financial statements and transaction documents to support valuations.
• Conduct market research across multiple sectors and industries.
• Prepare valuation models, schedules, reports, and presentations.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Analytical skills

Research skills

Problem-solving

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

At Stout, we’re dedicated to exceeding expectations in all we do – we call it Relentless Excellence ® . Both our client service and culture are second to none, stemming from our firmwide embrace of our core values: Positive and Team-Oriented, Accountable, Committed, Relationship-Focused, Super-Responsive, and being Great communicators. Sound like a place you can grow and succeed? Read on to learn more about an exciting opportunity to join our team.

Impact You’ll Make

As an Associate within Stout’s Business Valuation practice, you will support valuation and financial advisory engagements for tax, transaction, corporate planning, and dispute-related purposes. You will work with senior professionals to analyze businesses, ownership interests, financial instruments, and other assets across a broad range of industries.

Your work will support clients including privately held and public companies, private equity and hedge funds, law firms, accounting firms, and high-net-worth individuals.

• Develop valuation analyses that support tax planning, transactions, corporate reorganizations, and litigation matters.
• Perform company, industry, market, and financial research to support valuation conclusions.
• Prepare financial models, reports, and exhibits for complex client engagements.
• Work with senior professionals to evaluate ownership interests, securities, and other financial assets.
• Build technical valuation and advisory skills through exposure to a diverse client base and range of assignments.

What You’ll Do

• Perform business enterprise and equity interest valuations using accepted income, market, and asset-based approaches.
• Develop discounted cash flow, guideline public company, precedent transaction, and other valuation analyses.
• Support engagements involving estate and gift taxation, income tax requirements, buy-sell agreements, mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, and recapitalizations.
• Assist with employee stock ownership plan, fairness opinion, solvency opinion, and other transaction-related assignments.
• Analyze valuation discounts associated with family limited partnerships, limited liability companies, restricted stock, blockage, and undivided interests.
• Support valuations of promissory notes, private equity interests, hedge fund interests, and other complex financial instruments.
• Assist with analyses related to C corporation to S corporation conversions and other tax-related matters.
• Review financial statements, forecasts, tax returns, transaction documents, partnership agreements, and other relevant records.
• Conduct company, industry, economic, and market research across sectors such as manufacturing, distribution, consumer products, retail, food and beverage, automotive, real estate, media and entertainment, engineering, and construction.
• Prepare valuation models, schedules, exhibits, reports, memoranda, and presentations.
• Participate in client calls, management interviews, and internal engagement discussions.
• Maintain clear documentation of assumptions, methodologies, data sources, and analytical procedures.
• Support multiple engagements while meeting client, regulatory, and transaction deadlines.
• Assist with proposals, research publications, presentations, and other practice development efforts.
• Leverage AI-enabled tools and emerging technologies to enhance research, streamline deliverable preparation, and improve overall efficiency and insight.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in business valuation, transaction advisory, investment banking, accounting, audit, tax, or a related professional services field.
• Progress toward a professional designation such as CFA, ASA, CPA, ABV, or CVA preferred.
• Understanding of business valuation methods and financial modeling concepts.
• Ability to analyze financial statements, forecasts, tax returns, and other financial information.
• Strong quantitative, research, and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and working knowledge of Word and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with or interest in using AI tools and technology to enhance productivity, research, and analysis.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• High attention to detail and commitment to producing accurate work.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and changing deadlines.
• Experience working in a client service or professional services environment preferred.

How You’ll Thrive

• Approach valuation questions with curiosity, analytical discipline, and sound judgment.
• Connect financial analysis with the business, tax, transaction, or legal purpose of each engagement.
• Maintain accurate documentation and clearly support analytical assumptions and conclusions.
• Ask thoughtful questions and incorporate feedback from senior team members.
• Manage competing priorities while maintaining work product quality.
• Communicate professionally with clients, colleagues, and external advisors.
• Build productive relationships across engagement teams and contribute to a collaborative work environment.
• Embody Stout’s core values: Positive and Team-Oriented, Accountable, Committed, Relationship-Focused, Super-Responsive, and Great Communicators.
• Deliver Relentless Excellence® through careful analysis, responsiveness, and consistent execution.

Why Stout?

At Stout, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards program with competitive compensation, benefits, and wellness options tailored to support employees at every stage of life.

We foster a culture of inclusion and respect, embracing diverse perspectives and experiences to drive innovation and success. Our leadership is committed to inclusion and belonging across the organization and in the communities we serve.

We invest in professional growth through ongoing training, mentorship, employee resource groups, and clear performance feedback, ensuring our employees are supported in achieving their career goals.

Stout provides flexible work schedules and a discretionary time off policy to promote work-life balance and help employees lead fulfilling lives.

Learn more about our benefits and commitment to your success.

https://www.stout.com/en/careers/benefits

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job.

Stout is an Equal Employment Opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of valid job requirements, qualifications and merit without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.

Stout is required by applicable state and local laws to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. The range for this role considers several factors including but not limited to prior work and industry experience, education level, and unique skills. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

A reasonable estimate of the current range is $74,000.00 - $135,000.00 Annual. This role is also anticipated to be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan. Information about benefits can be found here - https://www.stout.com/en/careers/benefits.