Senior Associate, PEPI M&A - Professional Services Sector

Alvarez & Marsal; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare plans

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Alvarez & Marsal is seeking a Senior Associate for M&A and Performance Improvement within its Private Equity Performance Improvement practice. The role focuses on support for buy-side/sell-side transactions, integration planning, and value creation across the investment lifecycle. Strong financial modeling, Excel proficiency, and client-facing skills are essential.

Travel up to 75% is expected. The team collaborates with investors, operators, and corporate stakeholders to mitigate risk,

Qualifications

• 4–6+ years of professional experience in management consulting, investment banking, private equity, or corporate development.
• MBA preferred.
• Experience in integration / separation planning and execution is a plus.
• Willingness to travel at least 75% of the time.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and client-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify key client issues, oversee workstreams and deliverables, and support client needs with innovative approaches.
• Leverage advanced financial modeling and Excel to develop client-ready analyses and recommendations.
• Lead client interactions, facilitate sessions, and present findings to senior stakeholders.
• Own and maintain key deliverables across engagement stages, including synergy and performance improvement models, integration trackers, and carve-out analyses.
• Provide informal leadership by coordinating across workstreams and coaching junior team members to align priorities.

Skills

Excel

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

M&A experience

Financial modeling

Education

MBA

Job description

Description

Alvarez & Marsal Private Equity Performance Improvement

Senior Associate, M&A and Performance Improvement – Professional Services sector

About Alvarez & Marsal

Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) is a global consulting firm with over 13,000 entrepreneurial, action and results-oriented professionals in over 40 countries. We take a hands-on approach to solving our clients' problems and assisting them in reaching their potential. Our culture celebrates independent thinkers and doers who positively impact our clients and shape our industry. The collaborative environment and engaging work, guided by A&M's core values of Integrity, Quality, Objectivity, Fun, Personal Reward, and Inclusive Diversity, are why our people love working at A&M.

A&M’s Private Equity Performance Improvement Services (PEPI) practice, with offices throughout the US, focuses on serving upper middle market and large cap private equity firms who have engaged A&M to help improve operating results at their portfolio companies. The companies we assess are upper middle market in the $50M to $1B+ range.

Our professionals are aligned with a PEPI service line to promote the development of deep functional skills & experiences and to maximize our ability to tailor solutions to solve our clients' business issues.

The practice provides operational expertise for both buy-side and sell-side clients throughout the entire transaction lifecycle. A key growth area within the practice is Professional Services sector, where our private equity and corporate clients are navigating rapid industry transformation, evolving business models, and increasing investment activity. The team partners with investors, operators, and corporate stakeholders to assess M&A opportunities, mitigate risks, and drive value creation throughout the investment lifecycle.

Our services include, but not limited to:

• Operational Due Diligence
• Synergy Assessment
• Standalone Cost Assessment
• Target Operating Model Development
• Day 1 and 100 Milestone Planning
• Transition Services Agreements (TSAs)
• Performance Improvement
• Project Management and Governance

Broaden your expertise, build your skillset

This is an opportunity to join the Professional Services sector team within A&M's PEPI practice and support private equity and corporate clients through complex transactions and transformations. Working across the full deal lifecycle, the team helps clients execute integrations, carve-outs, separations, and performance improvement programs that drive sustainable value creation and maximize investment outcomes.

The A&M team employs a structured, results-driven approach to help clients maximize transaction value across mergers, acquisitions, carve-outs, divestitures, joint ventures, and strategic alliances. Leveraging expertise in operational due diligence, Day 1 planning, integration management, synergy capture, carve-out analysis, standalone cost assessments, TSA development and governance, post-close execution, and performance improvement, the team helps clients mitigate risk, accelerate timelines, and realize the full value potential of their transactions.

Within the rapidly evolving Professional Services sector, our team members work on high-profile transactions involving companies in consulting; accounting and tax; legal; staffing; marketing, advertising, and creative; BPO and call centers; engineering and architectural services; technology services; and other knowledge-based services. These engagements address unique industry dynamics and challenges, including talent and utilization management, digital transformation, client retention, service line expansion, organizational design, operating model optimization, and changing client demand. Team members work alongside senior industry leaders and transaction professionals to develop practical solutions that enhance performance and support long-term growth.

As part of a high-growth practice, professionals have the opportunity to work alongside experienced operators and transaction advisors on some of the most complex and high-profile deals in the Professional Services sector. The role offers significant client interaction, accelerated professional development, leadership opportunities, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to high-profile transactions shaping the future of the Professional Services industry.

Senior Associate:

• Senior Associate-level responsibilities include providing service excellence by identifying key client business issues, overseeing workstreams and owning key client deliverables, driving cross-functional collaboration, and supporting client needs by supplementing the standard assessment techniques and tools with innovative approaches, evaluating and validating analysis and developing recommendations for the client in the context of the overall engagement.
• Leveraging a strong technical and analytical toolkit, including advanced financial modeling for client deliverables developed, with expert Excel skills and the ability to structure and analyze large, complex datasets to drive insights and client decision-making.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to lead client interactions, facilitate working sessions, present findings to senior stakeholders, and translate complex analytical outputs into clear, actionable insights and executive-ready deliverables across integration, carve-out, and performance improvement engagements.
• Own and maintain key client deliverables throughout the engagement, including synergy and performance improvement models, separation and one-time cost models, integration and carveout trackers, and other workstream outputs, ensuring accuracy and executive-ready quality at every stage of the transaction lifecycle.
• Provide informal leadership by coordinating across workstreams, ensuring alignment on priorities and execution plans, maintaining consistency in approach and messaging, and supporting team development through coaching, feedback, and on-the-job guidance.

Qualifications

• Excellent fact-gathering, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• 4-6+ years of professional experience in management consulting, investment banking, private equity, corporate development, with a demonstrated track record of M&A ideally with experience within the Professional Services space.
• Experience in integration / separation planning and execution a plus, but not required
• MBA preferred
• Eager to learn about core operations of Professional Services
• A commitment to promoting integrity, leadership and objectivity
• A hunger for a fast-paced environment that places a premium on results
• Initiative and drive
• Critical thinking skills
• Flexibility to travel at least 75% of time

Your journey at A&M

We recognize that our people are the driving force behind our success, which is why we prioritize an employee experience that fosters each person’s unique professional and personal development. Our robust performance development process promotes continuous learning, rewards your contributions, and fosters a culture of meritocracy. With top-notch training and on-the-job learning opportunities, you can acquire new skills and advance your career. We prioritize your well‑being, providing benefits and resources to support you on your personal journey. Our people consistently highlight the growth opportunities, our unique, entrepreneurial culture, and the fun we have together as their favorite aspects of working at A&M. The possibilities are endless for high-performing and passionate professionals.

Benefits Summary

• Full‑time Positions and Part‑time Positions Over 30 hours
• Regular employees working 30 or more hours per week are also entitled to participate in Alvarez & Marsal Holdings’ fringe benefits consisting of healthcare plans, flexible spending and savings accounts, life, AD&D, and disability coverages at rates determined periodically as well as a 401(k) retirement savings plan.
• Provided the eligibility requirements are met, employees will also receive an annual discretionary contribution to their 401(k) retirement savings plan from Alvarez & Marsal.
• Additionally, employees are eligible for paid time off including vacation, personal days, seventy‑two (72) hours of sick time (prorated for part time employees), ten federal holidays, one floating holiday, and parental leave.
• The amount of vacation and personal days available varies based on tenure and role type.
• Click herefor more information regarding A&M’s benefits programs.

The salary range is $100,000 - $170,000 annually, dependent on several variables including but not limited to education, experience, skills, and geography. In addition, A&M offers a discretionary bonus program which is based on a number of factors, including individual and firm performance. Please ask your recruiter for details.