Consultant, M&A, 2027

Investor Group Services (IGS); San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 167,000 - 204,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan with employer contribution

Paid time off

Job summary

Investor Group Services (IGS) seeks MBAs for the Consultant role in private equity, due diligence, and investment opportunity analysis. Hybrid work in Boston, San Francisco, and New York, with a Summer/Fall 2027 start and a 30 September 2026 application deadline.

Consultants will lead case teams, develop client-ready insights, and support business development while working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. Travel is rare, and hours exceed 50/week.

Qualifications

• MBA is required (2nd year graduating in 2027).
• Strong project management and leadership abilities.
• Ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative data into insights.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; client-facing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead case teams and assume early client-facing responsibility.
• Assess investment opportunities and validate theses across industries.
• Work with middle-market PE and corporate clients, including senior management.
• Lead teams of 1–4 associates and manage tight timelines.
• Design and conduct research to answer clients' key questions and growth drivers.

Skills

Project management

Data synthesis

Client communication

Education

MBA

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

JOB DETAILS

Investor Group Services (IGS) invites MBAs with an interest in private equity, due diligence, analyzing investment opportunities, and creating value for clients to apply for the Consultant role.

• Start Date: Summer or Fall 2027
• Eligibility: MBA 2nd Years graduating in 2027
• Work Location (Hybrid): Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY

Application Deadline: 30 September 2026

Department: M&A Consulting

Location: San Francisco

Compensation: $185,000 / year

Private Equity Consulting

Investor Group Services (IGS) invites MBAs with an interest in private equity, due diligence, analyzing investment opportunities, and creating value for clients to apply for the Consultant role.

• Start Date: Summer or Fall 2027
• Eligibility: MBA 2nd Years graduating in 2027
• Practice Area: M&A Commercial Due Diligence
• Work Location (Hybrid): Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY

As a Consultant, you'll be part of a collegial and entrepreneurial environment. Our work is fast-paced and provides opportunities for rapid skill and knowledge development. Consultants quickly gain in-depth knowledge of diverse markets when evaluating a broad range of industries for private equity firms and corporate clients, while building team and client management skills and taking on a high level of responsibility for their projects and teams early in their tenure.

Key Responsibilities

• Your role includes leading case teams and taking on significant client-facing responsibility early in your tenure.
• Assess investment and growth opportunities for private equity firms and corporate clients, and validate investment theses and market risks across a broad range of industries.
• Work directly with middle market private equity, M&A, and corporate clients, including senior management.
• Lead case teams of 1-4 associates, managing and motivating your team through tight timelines.
• Design, conduct, and analyze research to answer clients' key questions, including:
  • How large is the company's market, and at what rate is it growing?
  • What drives growth in this market?
  • How is the company positioned in the competitive landscape?
  • How do customers rate the company relative to competitors?
  • How realistic are the new market opportunities?
  • What factors drive the company's ability to generate profits?
  • How might the company accelerate growth and/or improve profitability?
  • What opportunities exist to drive growth and profitability through pricing?
  • What unique value does the company have or need to build to move up the market?
• Analyze, synthesize, and present complex data, including market size and share, competitive landscape dynamics, and margin/profitability analysis.
• Design and conduct company- and market-specific informational interviews.
• Build client-ready communication skills, including executive presentation development and delivery.
• Build business development and client management skills while gaining in-depth knowledge across diverse industries.
• Work from an IGS office location; because client work is conducted virtually, travel is rare.
• IGS Consultants are regularly required to work more than 50 hours/week.

What Defines a Successful Candidate

• Strong project management skills, with comfort quickly assuming a high level of responsibility as a project leader — both within case teams and within the firm more broadly.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative data into actionable insights.
• Intellectual curiosity and hypothesis-driven thinking to identify the best research and data to answer clients' questions.
• Comfort with ambiguity, tight timelines, and leading multiple workstreams in parallel.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop and deliver executive-level presentations.
• Working knowledge of AI tools in a business setting.
• Specific experience in consulting, private equity, or market assessment is beneficial but not requires for post-MBA roles.

Individuals interested in partnering with clients to evaluate business strategies and assess investment opportunities will find the IGS Consultant role exciting and challenging. IGS offers Consultants the opportunity for advancement within the firm and helps them shape their own professional development. Consultants who demonstrate strong client and team management skills typically advance to Senior Consultant within 2-3 years, with continued paths to Partner for top performers. Partners have the opportunity to own equity in the firm and participate in the growth and development of the firm.

Consultant Program Details

Hard Skills

• Design and execute complex quantitative analysis, including market size and share analyses, through the interpretation primary and secondary research.
• Develop proprietary interview guides and presentations to effectively address clients' key issues.
• Analyze margin and cost information and evaluate relative profitability.
• Create client presentations, from storyboard to final deliverable.

Soft Skills

• Operate in a team-based working and learning environment.
• Refine formal presentation skills through client presentations.
• Manage and motivate teams of associates.
• Learn to work effectively under tight time frames and to stay focused under pressure.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Upon joining the firm, Consultants participate in a hands‑on orientation program. More seasoned members of the firm provide an overview of the case process from start to finish, including designing and conducting research, data analysis, and Excel and PowerPoint training.

ONGOING TRAINING

In addition to “on‑the‑job” training, the firm delivers training sessions throughout the year, led by members of the management team and more experienced team members. Topics cover skill development areas including market modeling and more complex analyses, software tools tips and tricks, research strategies, and presentation skills.

PEER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

IGS pairs new Consultants with a peer mentor from the previous year’s Consultant class to provide practical, real‑time guidance and training.

DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENTS

Consultants receive frequent feedback on their progress and development. These assessments provide coaching and actionable suggestions for the improvement of an individual’s skill and career development.

Benefits & Additional Information

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Professional development opportunities and mentorship
• Collaborative, collegial work environment
• And more!

Compensation

• Pay range expected for the position: $185,000 USD annually(the position level and compensation for this role may vary and will be determined based on the candidate’s experience, skills, and qualifications)
• Pay is issued on a semi‑monthly basis
• IGS also offers an annual discretionary bonus tied to individual and company performance, along with a comprehensive benefits package and a potential starting bonus

Additional Information

IGS sponsors employees for H‑1B visas, subject to the annual lottery and other USCIS requirements. Candidates must have or be eligible for STEM OPT work authorization to remain eligible for employment while pursuing H‑1B sponsorship.

IGS has four U.S. offices located in Boston, MA; New York, NY; Chicago, IL; and San Francisco, CA.

IGS is an EEO employer.

APPLICATION REVIEW TIMELINE

We review applications in batches rather than on a rolling basis. Applications received by August 31 will be reviewed in early September, and applications received by September 30 will be reviewed in early October. Candidates selected to move forward will be contacted after each review period. Due to the high volume of applications, only candidates selected to move forward in the interview process will be contacted.