Investment Banking Associate | Financial Services

Houlihan Lokey; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 175,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Houlihan Lokey provides leading M&A advisory and financial restructuring services across global clients. Associates create and oversee financial models, craft marketing materials, and support due diligence for new engagements within four-person deal teams.

The role emphasizes client contact, rigorous analysis, and clear communication in a fast-paced environment. The environment is collaborative and entrepreneurial, with substantial responsibility and mentorship from senior bankers, in a role

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of accounting and finance.
• Undergraduate degree required.
• 3+ years of Investment Banking experience.
• Strong analytical/technical and qualitative abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Hands-on M&A sell side experience.
• Transaction experience in FIG is a plus.
• Extensive operational financial modeling and valuation experience.
• Strong financial and computer skills (Excel, Word and PowerPoint).

Responsibilities

• Prepare, analyze, and explain historical and projected financial information.
• Coordinate and perform business due diligence and execute M&A transactions.
• Prepare marketing materials, confidential information presentations, management presentations, and other presentations as needed.
• Perform valuation and ad hoc financial analyses.
• Assist in the marketing and execution of existing engagements.
• Build relationships and maintain direct contact with clients, prospective clients, and professional advisors.
• Communicate effectively with all team members and mentor junior staff.

Skills

Investment Banking experience

Analytical abilities

Communication skills

Public speaking

Fast-paced environment

M&A sell side experience

Financial modeling and valuation

Excel/PowerPoint/Word proficiency

Education

Undergraduate degree

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Overview

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) is a leading global investment bank recognized for delivering independent strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial sponsors, and governments. With uniquely deep industry expertise, broad international reach, and a partnership approach rooted in trust, the firm provides innovative, integrated solutions across mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Our unmatched transaction volumes provide differentiated, data-driven perspectives that help our clients achieve their most critical goals. To learn more about Houlihan Lokey, please visit HL.com.

Business Unit:

Corporate Finance

Industry:

Financial Institutions

Overview

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) is a leading global investment bank recognized for delivering independent strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial sponsors, and governments. With uniquely deep industry expertise, broad international reach, and a partnership approach rooted in trust, the firm provides innovative, integrated solutions across mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Our unmatched transaction volumes provide differentiated, data-driven perspectives that help our clients achieve their most critical goals. To learn more about Houlihan Lokey, please visit HL.com.

Corporate Finance

Houlihan Lokey has extensive expertise in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, activist shareholder and takeover defense, and other related advisory services for a broad range of U.S. and international clients. Our experience in M&A has earned us consistent recognition throughout the industry. In 2025, LSEG ranked our firm the No. 1 investment bank for all global M&A transactions.

Financial Services Group

Houlihan Lokey’s Financial Services Group is a recognized leader in M&A, financial advisory, valuation, and financial restructuring services to the financial services industry. With more than 80 investment bankers, Houlihan Lokey’s Financial Services Group is the largest dedicated financial services investment banking group of any independent investment bank. As a leading M&A advisor, Houlihan Lokey’s Financial Services Group covers virtually every segment of financial services, including: (i) specialty finance, (ii) insurance, (iii) asset and wealth management, (iv) broker-dealers and capital markets, (v) banking and depositories, and (vi) mortgage and related services.

Job Description

Associates are primarily responsible for the creation and oversight of financial models, marketing collateral, and client presentations, in addition to performing research and various analyses in support of new business generation and the execution of M&A transactions. Associates are afforded meaningful responsibility and are generally members of four-person deal teams comprising a Managing Director, Vice President, Associate, and Financial Analyst.

• Prepare, analyze, and explain historical and projected financial information
• Coordinate and perform business due diligence and execute M&A transactions
• Prepare marketing materials, confidential information presentations, management presentations, and other presentations as needed
• Perform valuation and ad hoc financial analyses
• Assist in the marketing and execution of existing engagements
• Build relationships and maintain direct contact with clients, prospective clients, and professional advisors
• Communicate effectively with all members of the team, including the supervision and mentoring of junior staff members

The environment at Houlihan Lokey is both collegial and entrepreneurial. Teamwork is essential to the firm’s success. At the same time, creativity and new ideas are encouraged. Associates are given substantial responsibility and are encouraged to help us grow our business.

Basic Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of accounting and finance
• Undergraduate degree
• 3+ years of Investment Banking experience
• Strong analytical/technical and qualitative abilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong financial and computer skills (Excel, Word and PowerPoint)
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple project deliverables simultaneously
• Extensive operational financial modeling and valuation experience
• Hands-on M&A sell side experience
• Transaction experience in FIG is a plus

Compensation And Benefits

Houlihan Lokey is committed to providing its employees with an exciting career opportunity and competitive total compensation package, which may include other components such as discretionary incentive compensation. The firm’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the possible salary range for this role at the time of posting is: $175,000 - $225,000. Actual salary at the time of hire may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant qualifications, skills, and experience and the location where this position may be filled. Houlihan Lokey provides a competitive benefits package. Our current benefits offerings can be found here:

2026 Benefits

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.