Senior Associate – M&A

Jobtailor; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a senior corporate development professional based in the United States to lead and coordinate M&A initiatives. You will contribute across all phases of the deal process, build financial models, and prepare memos for investment committees.

You will coordinate cross-functional diligence, perform market research, and help structure deal terms, including earnouts and working capital considerations. Travel up to 20% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent; MBA or CFA welcome but not required
• Open to candidates in Eastern or Central time zones
• Hybrid office policy if located in proximity to an Embark office
• Approximately 20% travel
• 3 to 6 years of M&A experience at an investment bank, private equity firm, or corporate development team
• Strong Excel modeling skills, including full three-statement forecasting and LBO/returns analysis
• Solid accounting fundamentals
• Familiarity with the full transaction lifecycle, including due diligence, financial and business analysis, and negotiation
• Professional or business services M&A experience is a plus, but not required
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deals and projects simultaneously
• Self-starter with strong work ethic
• Executive presence and ability to build trust with management teams
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
• Must successfully complete background check and drug screen upon offer; additional screening may be required during employment

Responsibilities

• Contribute across all phases of the M&A deal process
• Identify, evaluate, and advance acquisition opportunities
• Own financial modeling, valuation, and returns analysis
• Coordinate diligence workstreams across finance, legal, IT, compliance, and operations
• Support target identification and deal sourcing through market research, founder meetings, and cold outreach
• Maintain a detailed acquisition target database
• Conduct market, financial, and competitive research
• Coordinate cross-functional workstreams and external advisors throughout transactions
• Draft letters of intent, investment committee memos, deal recommendations, and Board materials
• Review quality of earnings findings and evaluate net working capital pegs, purchase price adjustments, and closing mechanics
• Model deal structures including earnouts, seller notes, and rollover equity
• Support negotiation of key economic terms
• Partner with business leaders on integration and onboarding of acquired companies
• Support financing workstreams and prepare lender and sponsor reporting materials
• Apply AI tools to pipeline screening, diligence review, and deal reporting
• Report to the Head of Corporate Development

Skills

M&A Experience

Financial Modeling

Due Diligence Coordination

Market Research

Excel Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree

MBA

CFA

Tools

Excel

AI Tools

Job description

Responsibilities

• Contribute across all phases of the M&A deal process


• Identify, evaluate, and advance acquisition opportunities


• Own financial modeling, valuation, and returns analysis


• Coordinate diligence workstreams across finance, legal, IT, compliance, and operations


• Support target identification and deal sourcing through market research, founder meetings, and cold outreach


• Maintain a detailed acquisition target database


• Conduct market, financial, and competitive research


• Coordinate cross-functional workstreams and external advisors throughout transactions


• Draft letters of intent, investment committee memos, deal recommendations, and Board materials


• Review quality of earnings findings and evaluate net working capital pegs, purchase price adjustments, and closing mechanics


• Model deal structures including earnouts, seller notes, and rollover equity


• Support negotiation of key economic terms


• Partner with business leaders on integration and onboarding of acquired companies


• Support financing workstreams and prepare lender and sponsor reporting materials


• Apply AI tools to pipeline screening, diligence review, and deal reporting


• Report to the Head of Corporate Development

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent; MBA or CFA welcome but not required


• Open to candidates in Eastern or Central time zones


• Hybrid office policy if located in proximity to an Embark office


• Approximately 20% travel


• 3 to 6 years of M&A experience at an investment bank, private equity firm, or corporate development team


• Strong Excel modeling skills, including full three-statement forecasting and LBO/returns analysis


• Solid accounting fundamentals


• Familiarity with the full transaction lifecycle, including due diligence, financial and business analysis, and negotiation


• Professional or business services M&A experience is a plus, but not required


• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deals and projects simultaneously


• Self-starter with strong work ethic


• Executive presence and ability to build trust with management teams


• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills


• Must successfully complete background check and drug screen upon offer; additional screening may be required during employment

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in M&A deal processes, including financial modeling, valuation, and due diligence. Proficient in managing cross-functional workstreams and communicating effectively with stakeholders throughout the transaction lifecycle.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• M&A Experience


• Financial Modeling


• Due Diligence Coordination


• Market Research


• Excel Skills

Hard Skills

• Financial Modeling


• Valuation Analysis


• Returns Analysis


• Due Diligence


• Transaction Lifecycle Familiarity


• Accounting Fundamentals


• LBO Analysis


• Deal Structuring


• Negotiation Skills


• Pipeline Screening

Soft Skills

• Organizational Skills


• Self-Starter


• Executive Presence


• Trust Building


• Communication Skills

Certifications & Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree


• MBA


• CFA

Industry Keywords

• M&A


• Investment Banking


• Private Equity


• Corporate Development


• Market Research


• Financial Analysis


• Business Services

Tools & Technologies

• AI Tools


• Excel