Associate, U.S. Real Estate Equity

Ares Management; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Medical/Rx

401(k) with company match

Flexible Savings Accounts

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Ares Management is seeking an Associate in its real estate equity team in Los Angeles. The role involves assessing and underwriting real estate investments, including various property sectors across the U.S. As a key team member, you will analyze opportunities and conduct due diligence to support our diversified investment funds.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree, 2-4 years of relevant finance experience, and proficiency in Excel, with a strong attention to detail. Competitive base salary between $155,000 – $175,000, plus performance-based bonus.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of finance experience, preferably in real estate investment banking or private equity.
• Self-motivated and driven, effective in fast-paced environments.
• Willingness and ability to travel.

Responsibilities

• Create detailed financial underwriting models.
• Perform asset-level and market-level due diligence.
• Identify demand drivers and conduct market research.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Analytical skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Creative problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance, Real Estate or related field

Tools

ARGUS

Job description

Job Description

Our real estate equity team, with over 310 investment professionals and over 385 operating professionals, has extensive real‑estate private equity experience globally. Our team primarily acquires standing assets and improves them through renovating, repositioning, and re‑tenanting and selectively developing assets in supply‑constrained markets. As of December 31, 2025, our real‑estate equity team managed approximately $90 billion of AUM in over 80 investment vehicles.

Strategies

Real Estate Core/Core‑Plus: Our U.S. core/core‑plus real‑estate strategy focuses on the acquisition of assets with strong long‑term cash flow potential and durable tenancy diversified across end‑user industries and geographies. We deploy capital across all major property types, with a strong focus on industrial and multifamily assets located in top‑tier primary and regional distribution markets across the U.S.

Real Estate Value‑Add: Our U.S. value‑add real‑estate strategy focuses on undermanaged and underfunded income‑producing assets across various property sectors in the U.S. The strategy seeks to create value and generate stable and growing distributions to investors by buying properties at attractive valuations, implementing asset management initiatives to increase income, and identifying multiple exit strategies upfront.

Real Estate Opportunistic: Our U.S. opportunistic real‑estate strategy capitalizes on increased investor demand for developed and stabilized assets by focusing on the repositioning of assets, capitalization of distressed and special situations, and risk‑mitigated developments across all major property types, as well as select and adjacent sectors, across the U.S.

Position Summary

This position will be a key member of Ares’ real‑estate private equity team. The Associate will assist in assessing real estate investments for our diversified real‑estate investment funds, including the acquisition and development of industrial, multifamily, office, retail, hotel, and adjacent property sectors throughout key markets in the United States. The Associate will be primarily responsible for underwriting and financially analyzing each opportunity, as well as performing property and market due diligence and playing an active role in the asset management and sale of the Fund’s investments. We are seeking someone who understands the importance of the technical skills relative to underwriting and asset analysis but will also eventually be able to take a front seat in sourcing new deals and building/maintaining relationships within the real estate industry across various markets.

Essential Duties

• Create detailed and complex financial underwriting models for the acquisition and development of real‑estate investments across the risk spectrum
• Perform asset‑level and market‑level due diligence
• Develop thorough understanding of a deal’s capital structure and business plan and key risks to performance through discussions with sponsors, market participants and investment professionals.
• Understand physical characteristics of properties, and the related competitive advantages and disadvantages
• Understand and critically evaluate the existing and potential operating characteristics of a project (Revenue, expenses, capital expenditures, tenant credit, leases)
• Identify a project’s demand drivers; gather market information through independent field work and direct contact with brokers, appraisers, and developers. Synthesize information and draw a conclusion on future market rent, absorption, vacancy, and liquidity in the investment market
• Critically assess the execution ability of the development team for a project
• Communicate conclusions into a comprehensive narrative to be presented to senior management for consideration and approval. Participate in Underwriting and Investment Committee discussions
• Participate in and provide support for the ongoing asset management of each investment, including financing and refinancing, major asset‑level decisions, and the eventual sale of each property.
• Review legal documentation in concert with team and counsel throughout the negotiation process

Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Bachelor’s Degree or international equivalent in Business, Finance, Real Estate, or related field with exceptional academic credentials
• 2–4 years of finance experience. Previous experience in real estate investment banking or real estate private equity preferred
• High level of expertise in Excel; ARGUS proficiency helpful but not required
• Self‑motivated and driven; ability to work effectively in a collegial, fast‑moving, demanding, and dynamic environment
• Willingness and ability to travel required
• Expertise in PowerPoint
• Creative problem solver
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail
• Impeccable integrity and trustworthiness

Reporting Relationships

Managing Director, Real Estate Equity

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance‑based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.

$155,000.00 – $175,000.00

Benefits

The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long‑Term Disability (LTD) and Short‑Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP); and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit.

Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world‑class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more.

Application Process Note

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.