IB Associate: M&A & Capital Markets (Chicago, On-site)

Connect Search, LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Connect Search, LLC invites an Investment Banking Associate to lead critical M&A and capital markets work from our Chicago Center. You will build financial models, analyze earnings quality, and prepare materials for client meetings and investor presentations with senior bankers.

The ideal candidate holds 3–6 years of relevant finance experience, strong modeling skills, and the ability to manage multiple deal workstreams in a fast-paced environment. On-site engagement in Chicago is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related discipline.
• Approximately 3–6 years of relevant investment banking, transaction advisory, corporate development, private equity, or closely related transaction experience.
• Prior investment banking experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or executing M&A and/or capital-raising transactions.
• Advanced financial modeling and valuation capabilities.
• Strong understanding of financial statements, corporate finance, capital structures, and transaction mechanics.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to create polished, executive-level presentations and transaction materials.

Responsibilities

• Execute sell-side and buy-side M&A assignments, capital raises, recapitalizations, and other strategic advisory engagements.
• Build and maintain detailed financial models incorporating historical performance, operating assumptions, forecasts, transaction scenarios, and capital structures.
• Perform company and transaction valuations using discounted cash flow analysis, comparable company analysis, precedent transactions, and other relevant methodologies.
• Analyze company financial statements, operating metrics, industry trends, competitive positioning, and key value drivers.
• Prepare confidential information memoranda, management presentations, pitch books, valuation materials, buyer presentations, and other transaction documents.
• Coordinate transaction processes and maintain timelines, diligence requests, data rooms, buyer communications, and other critical deal workstreams.
• Work directly with client management teams to gather financial and operational information and translate it into transaction analysis and marketing materials.
• Support senior bankers during management presentations, buyer meetings, investor discussions, and other client interactions.
• Evaluate potential strategic and financial buyers and conduct research on private equity sponsors, corporations, investors, and relevant industry participants.
• Assist with indications of interest, letters of intent, transaction structures, financing alternatives, and other deal-related analyses.
• Coordinate with attorneys, accountants, consultants, lenders, and other external advisors throughout the transaction process.
• Identify and research potential clients, acquisition targets, industry trends, and transaction opportunities to support business-development initiatives.
• Review work completed by Analysts and provide guidance on financial modeling, valuation, research, and presentation materials.
• Help manage junior team members across transaction assignments while ensuring accuracy and timely completion of deliverables.
• Contribute to internal initiatives designed to strengthen the investment banking platform and improve transaction execution.

Skills

Financial modeling

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Deadline-driven

Executive presentations

Education

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

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Connect Search, LLC invites an Investment Banking Associate to lead critical M&A and capital markets work from our Chicago Center. You will build financial models, analyze earnings quality, and prepare materials for client meetings and investor presentations with senior bankers.

The ideal candidate holds 3–6 years of relevant finance experience, strong modeling skills, and the ability to manage multiple deal workstreams in a fast-paced environment. On-site engagement in Chicago is required.