Investment Banking Senior Analyst | Consumer

Lateral; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. in Chicago seeks an Experienced Analyst to join its Corporate Finance team.

You will support industry-aligned teams with investment banking services and transactions, contributing to client engagements across valuations, due diligence, and deal execution. The role offers exposure to high-profile M&A activity, close collaboration with senior bankers, and meaningful responsibility in a fast-paced environment within the Consumer Group.

Qualifications

• 2 years of prior investment banking experience
• At least one year of investment banking experience is required
• Coursework in accounting and finance required
• Strong analytical capabilities and excellent verbal and written communication skills
• A fundamental understanding of valuation theory, methodologies, and application
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with all levels of staff
• Strong financial and computer (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) skills

Responsibilities

• Prepare, analyze, and help explain historical and projected financial information
• Perform valuations of companies and businesses
• Coordinate and perform business due diligence and execute M&A transactions
• Prepare confidential memoranda, management presentations, marketing pitches, and other presentations
• Assist in the marketing and execution of existing engagements
• Build relationships and maintain direct contact with clients, prospective clients and professional advisors

Skills

Analytical skills

Verbal and written communication

Valuation theory understanding

Education

Accounting coursework

Finance coursework

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Business Unit:

Corporate Finance

Industry:

Consumer

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.

Consumer Group

Houlihan Lokey's Consumer Group is a leading advisor to consumer companies across a broad range of sectors, including franchise and multi-unit services, consumer health, food and beverage, consumer products, active lifestyle, out of home entertainment, pet, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer businesses.

Recognized as one of the most active consumer M&A practices in the industry, the group combines deep sector expertise, extensive buyer relationships, and global execution capabilities to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients. Professionals on the team work closely with senior bankers and clients on complex, high-profile transactions, benefiting from significant responsibility, meaningful client exposure, and a collaborative, entrepreneurial culture.

Job Description

Experienced Analysts are an integral part of Houlihan Lokey’s business activities and play a key role in the delivery of exceptional service to our clients around the globe. Houlihan Lokey hires Analysts to work specifically as part of industry aligned teams, assisting with a variety of investment banking services and transactions.

As part of our team, you will:

• Prepare, analyze, and help explain historical and projected financial information
• Perform valuations of companies and businesses
• Coordinate and perform business due diligence and execute M&A transactions
• Prepare confidential memoranda, management presentations, marketing pitches, and other presentations
• Assist in the marketing and execution of existing engagements
• Build relationships and maintain direct contact with clients, prospective clients and professional advisors

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. Financial Analysts are given substantial responsibility and are encouraged to help us grow our business.

Basic Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have 2 years of prior investment banking experience, a strong work ethic, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment. While teamwork is essential to the firm’s success, creativity and new ideas are encouraged.
• At least one year of investment banking experience is required
• Coursework in accounting and finance required
• Strong analytical capabilities and excellent verbal and written communication skills
• A fundamental understanding of valuation theory, methodologies, and application

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong financial and computer (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) skills
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with all levels of staff

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:

$120,000 - $130,000

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.