Senior Associate, Corporate Development

Kiteworks; San Mateo (CA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Healthcare

HSA contributions

401(k) with match

PTO + holidays

In-office amenities

Job summary

Kiteworks is seeking a Corporate Development Manager to drive M&A initiatives, including sourcing targets, building rigorous financial models, and conducting due diligence. You will work with senior leaders to map markets in cybersecurity, compliance, and privacy, and guide complex deal processes with cross-functional teams.

You will partner with founders and executives, structure opportunities, and apply AI-enabled tools to improve productivity and deal insights.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a technical field.
• 3+ years of transaction, investment, or M&A-related experience with exposure to evaluating technology businesses.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to synthesize large data sets in diligence materials.

Responsibilities

• Lead research and identify acquisition opportunities across geographies and strategic/technology areas.
• Own detailed financial and operational models and analyses for target opportunities.
• Manage VDR reviews, disclosures, risk flags, and follow-ups for internal stakeholders.
• Coordinate due diligence with targets, sellers, and internal teams (finance, legal, product, security, IT, GTM).
• Draft and review term sheets and purchase agreements with targets.
• Prepare high-quality reports, memoranda, and executive presentations reflecting deal status and findings.
• Present recommendations to the CEO and executive team; oversee improvements to the development pipeline with AI tools.
• Ensure security and data protection alignment with ISO 27001 controls and confidentiality standards.

Skills

Sourcing

Financial modeling

Due diligence

Executive communication

Cross-functional coordination

Attention to detail

Presentation skills

Excel

Valuation

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance/accounting/economics/technical field

Tools

VDR (Virtual Data Room)

Job description

Job Description

About Kiteworks

Kiteworks empowers organizations by ensuring secure and compliant data exchanges across all channels, including email, file sharing, APIs, and A.I. Agents. To this end, we created a platform that delivers data governance, compliance, and protection to customers. The platform controls, monitors, and protects every data interaction between people, machines, and systems across user collaboration, automated workflows, and enterprise AI.

Job description

Corporate Development is one of the primary ways Kiteworks grows. The Corporate Development Manager joins a small, hands‑on team that runs the full M&A process — sourcing, valuation, diligence, negotiation, and post‑close integration. You'll work directly with our Chief Business Officer and Senior Manager of Corporate Development on a pipeline of targets in cybersecurity, compliance, and privacy.

Hybrid role

This is a hybrid role with at least three days a week in our San Mateo office, with occasional travel to meet target management teams.

About you

Real deal experience — sourcing, modeling, and diligence. You write well, model carefully, and can hold your own with founders, sell‑side advisors, and senior executives. You're comfortable structuring ambiguity into work and are interested in both the strategic questions (which sector, which thesis, which target) and technical ones. You want real ownership and a seat at the table with founders, advisors, and our executive team — a chance to bring your perspective and sharpen it against theirs.

What you'll do

• Lead research and identify acquisition opportunities to support the company’s growth, including market mapping across geographies and strategic/technology focus areas, and participate in outreach and initial discussions with targets
• Own detailed financial and operational models, as well as other analyses on prospective acquisition targets
• Take ownership of virtual data room (VDR) review and analysis, including developing deep familiarity with all diligence materials, understanding key data points and disclosures, identifying risks and value drivers, and proactively flagging issues and follow‑ups to internal stakeholders
• Manage due diligence workstreams including communication with targets, sellers, and third‑party advisors and engagements with internal Kiteworks teams (finance, legal, product, security, IT, go‑to‑market, etc.)
• Contribute to drafting and reviewing terms and agreements with prospective targets, including term sheets and purchase agreements
• Draft high quality written reports, memoranda, and presentation materials for the executive team, investors, and Board of Directors, including slides that accurately reflect deal status, diligence findings, and recommendations with strong attention to detail
• Present recommendations and findings on calls and in meetings, on both overall Corporate Development activity and specific projects, to senior audiences including the CEO and executive team
• Lead improvements to the Corporate Development pipeline, processes, and activities at all stages, including leveraging AI‑enabled tools and testing new software solutions to improve productivity, insight generation, and execution efficiency
• Protect confidential business information and partner data, ensuring secure sharing practices and compliance with data protection agreements and ISO 27001 controls.

What you'll bring

• Bachelor's degree; finance, accounting, economics, or a technical field – a plus
• 3+ years of relevant transaction, investment, or M&A‑related experience, including exposure to evaluating technology businesses. Backgrounds may include investment banking, private equity, venture capital, venture debt, corporate development, transaction advisory, or consulting with significant M&A or diligence exposure.
• Strong attention to detail, with a demonstrated ability to review, synthesize, and analyze large volumes of information in virtual data rooms and other diligence materials.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and strong presentation skills; ability to communicate clearly and confidently with C‑Level executives and external counterparties
• Expertise in Microsoft Excel and advanced financial modeling with ability to dive into technical issues as needed
• Experience leading or coordinating cross‑functional workstreams (finance, legal, product, IT, etc.), without formal authority
• Self‑motivated, intellectually curious, and comfortable operating without direct supervision
• Software industry experience, especially at a SaaS/subscription company – a plus
• Experience, or a high level of knowledge, in cybersecurity, compliance, privacy, or other highly technical software domains – a plus.
• Hands‑on experience building AI Agents and AI‑driven workflows – a big plus

The values that define us

• Execution – We deliver results with focus, ownership, and consistency. Our teams take initiative, solve challenges proactively, and continuously optimize how we work to create meaningful impact for our customers.
• Transparency – We communicate openly and clearly, ensuring stakeholders have the information they need to make informed decisions. We foster a culture of trust, welcome feedback, and embrace accountability in everything we do.
• Integrity – We uphold the highest standards of honesty and responsibility. Our teams act ethically, consistently honor commitments, and build trust through principled, reliable actions.

Compensation range

• Annual Base Salary Range of $160,000 – $175,000
• Base pay depends on many factors, such as location, education, experience, and skills. Base pay is only one part of Kiteworks competitive Total Rewards package that can include benefits, perks, equity, and bonuses. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

Benefits & perks

• Equity - stock options to share in company success
• Healthcare
• 3 Cigna plans (PPO, EPO, HDHP)
• 90% covered (PPO/EPO) + $0 premium HDHP
• $1,200–$2,400 HSA contribution
• Competitive vision and dental coverage
• Savings & retirement
• FSA + Dependent Care FSA
• 401(k) with 100% match (up to $5K), immediate vesting
• Coverage - Fully paid life & disability insurance
• Family benefits
• 16 weeks (birthing) / 8 weeks (non‑birthing)
• $10K lifetime reimbursement fertility benefit
• Care & support - One Medical membership + EAP counseling
• Time off & flexibility
• Unlimited PTO + 10 holidays
• 10 work‑from‑anywhere days
• Perks - Catered lunches + in‑office massage days

Commitment to equal opportunity & inclusion

Kiteworks is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances.

Other requirements

Ability to meet Kiteworks, customer, and/or government security screening requirements for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the following specialized security screenings. Kiteworks Background Check This position requires passing the Kiteworks background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Please note that this role is open to individuals who already have U.S. work authorization. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.