Sr. Corporate Development Associate

As a member of the Corporate Development team, you will work collaboratively with senior Corporate Development leaders, staff and operational leadership to evaluate and execute acquisition opportunities to achieve the company’s growth objectives and to maximize shareholder value. You will assess new and existing markets, as well as specific targets against the company’s growth strategy. In addition, you will support senior members of the team with: 1) develop trusting relationships with sellers, 2) assess a target quantitatively and qualitatively, 3) determine valuation 4) negotiate transactions and, 4) complete financial and risk due diligence. The Corporate Development Sr. Associate will also play a key role within the Corporate Development team – onboarding, training, and providing guidance and support to junior members of the team, as well as setting a high standard in financial/due diligence best practices. You will take a lead role in executing the growth strategy that propels the company forward.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Obtain initial business and financial information and financials from target
• Perform preliminary commercial, operational, and financial DD on target
• Prepare and facilitate investment overview with operations leaders and senior members of the Corporate Development team to finalize preliminary investment thesis, valuation, deal terms, and overall attractiveness of the target. 
• Draft offer (LOI) based on outcome of investment overview.
• LOI sign to close – Lead financial DD, lead preparing and presenting analysis and findings to management, business case and IC memo preparation, mitigate risks, solve important ad-hoc deal issues.
• Independently solve deal issues with minimal supervision, while escalating more complex issues to Operations and Corporate Development leaders.
• Influence best corporate development practice initiatives including recruitment and training.
• Support Corporate Development leaders with execution of other strategic projects and analyses.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, or a Related Field.
• Approx. 3-5 years of overall experience, a minimum of 1 year of experience in M&A, Investment Banking, Corporate development and other related fields.
• Experience in high performing, challenging environments and teams, as well as strong direct deal experience will be considered an asset.

• Advanced Excel skills, particularly in financial and business modeling.
• Understanding of financial statements as well as finance and accounting concepts. Experience interpreting and communicating financial and business information.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. 
• Strong project management skills, including demonstrated ability to think holistically, manage short and long term projects/milestones and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Responsible and trustworthy, constantly delivers above and beyond.

Other Requirements (i.e., physical requirements, travel, etc. that is not covered above).

• Preference for Chicago-based candidates, however remote candidates would be considered as well.
• Ability to work from the office ~3 days/week if based in Chicago. Ability to travel up to ~15% of the time in the US.