Entry-Level Private Equity Associate: Live Deals & Modeling

Career Launch AI; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Career Launch AI is seeking an entry-level Private Equity Associate to work directly on live deals, portfolio companies, and investment decisions early in your career.

You’ll build operating and transaction models, conduct diligence across financial, commercial, and operational workstreams, and draft memos for the Investment Committee, with exposure to founders and senior management in a hybrid setup across San Francisco, Chicago, and New York.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Engineering, Math, or similar field.
• Very strong Excel skills; able to build & audit complex models.
• Solid foundation in corporate finance, accounting, and valuation.

Responsibilities

• Build detailed operating and transaction models (3-statement models, DCF, LBOs, sensitivity analysis).
• Analyze returns, capital structures, and downside scenarios for potential acquisitions.
• Conduct valuation analyses using comparable companies, precedent transactions, and other relevant methods.
• Support the due diligence process across financial, commercial, operational, and legal workstreams.
• Analyze target company financials, KPIs, customer cohorts, and unit economics.
• Conduct industry and competitive research to understand market dynamics, trends, and risks.
• Draft and refine investment memos and presentations for the Investment Committee.
• Summarize key findings from diligence and articulate the investment thesis clearly.
• Present data-backed opinions on risks, opportunities, and value-creation levers.
• Support portfolio management teams with dashboards, KPIs, and performance tracking.
• Help identify operational improvements, growth initiatives, and strategic priorities.
• Assist in bolt-on acquisition analysis, refinancing considerations, and exit scenarios.

Skills

Excel modeling

Financial analysis

Valuation

Due diligence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Economics/Accounting/Engineering/Math

Tools

Excel

Job description

Career Launch AI is seeking an entry-level Private Equity Associate to work directly on live deals, portfolio companies, and investment decisions early in your career.

You’ll build operating and transaction models, conduct diligence across financial, commercial, and operational workstreams, and draft memos for the Investment Committee, with exposure to founders and senior management in a hybrid setup across San Francisco, Chicago, and New York.