M&A Strategy Intern: AI-Driven Deal Research

ICF; Reston (VA); Hybrid; USD 47,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF is seeking a highly motivated student for a 10-week, full-time internship in Corporate Development to support live deal processes and strategic projects. The role emphasizes analytical research, due diligence support, and AI-enabled productivity improvements, with a hybrid schedule from Reston, VA.

Ideal candidates have strong analytical, research, and communication skills, and demonstrate interest in Corporate Development, finance, and technology.

Qualifications

• By start date, a minimum of 30 completed college level credit-hours in finance, accounting, economics, business analytics, data science, computer science, information systems, engineering, or a related field.
• Completed bachelor’s degree and enrollment verification or 9 credit hours completed in a master’s degree program in finance, accounting, economics, business analytics, data science, computer science, information systems, engineering, or related field.
• Demonstrated interest in Corporate Development, M&A, strategy, finance, consulting, technology, or business transformation.
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills; comfort with financial statements, basic corporate finance concepts, structured research, and data organization.
• Experience using AI tools for research, summarization, analysis, productivity, or workflow improvement is strongly preferred.
• Ability to use AI responsibly, including validating outputs, protecting confidential information, and applying sound judgment before relying on AI-generated work.
• Analytical, detail-oriented, highly organized, and comfortable handling confidential information in a fast-moving environment.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to summarize complex information into concise, decision-ready outputs.
• Curiosity, initiative, and willingness to learn new tools and apply them to practical business problems.

Responsibilities

• Research target companies, competitors, and market segments; prepare company profiles, screening summaries, market maps, and market overviews.
• Support due diligence by tracking requests, organizing materials, summarizing findings, and helping the deal team identify key issues and follow-up items.
• Prepare and update presentation materials for internal dal reviews, leadership updates, and strategic discussions.
• Assist with pipeline tracking, data organization, comparable company research, and other ad hoc analyses.
• Use approved AI tools, where appropriate, to improve the efficiency of research, summarization, data organization, and presentation development.
• Help identify practical AI use cases for the Corporate Development team, such as improving company profiles, diligence trackers, meeting summaries, pipeline management, or knowledge sharing.
• Support other internal projects of the Corporate Development team, including strategic initiatives where research, analytics, process improvement, or AI-enabled tools can add value.

Skills

Analytical skills

Research abilities

Communication skills

AI tools familiarity

Education

30 college credit-hours in related fields

Bachelor’s degree in progress or related field preferred

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

ICF is seeking a highly motivated student for a 10-week, full-time internship in Corporate Development to support live deal processes and strategic projects. The role emphasizes analytical research, due diligence support, and AI-enabled productivity improvements, with a hybrid schedule from Reston, VA.

Ideal candidates have strong analytical, research, and communication skills, and demonstrate interest in Corporate Development, finance, and technology.