M&A Analyst

Chicago, IL, USA Req #289

The Firm

Founded in 2008, Hightower is a wealth management firm that provides investment, financial and retirement planning services to individuals, foundations and family offices, as well as 401(k) consulting and cash management services to corporations. Hightower's capital solutions, operational support services, size and scale empower its vibrant community of independent-minded wealth advisors to grow their businesses and help their clients achieve their vision of "well-th. rebalanced." Based in Chicago with advisors across the U.S., the firm operates as a registered investment advisor (RIA).

The Role

Hightower is looking to add a high-performing M&A Analyst to its Mergers & Acquisitions team to help support all aspects of its M&A process. The role offers professional development opportunities and exposure at all phases of a deal process, from sourcing to structuring to close. This individual will have several strategic & quantitative responsibilities including prospect evaluation, financial modeling and analysis, valuation and risk analyses, due diligence, and deal structuring. The analyst will also analyze industry prospects and acquisition targets by gathering information about growth, competitors, and market share possibilities.

Our Analyst position offers a unique opportunity for ambitious professionals seeking to play a meaningful role in our continued growth, while gaining significant experience in M&A transactions. This position is a highly visible role within the organization that offers significant responsibility and broad exposure to senior management and many aspects of the business. Given the nature of the work, the candidate must be very well-organized, self-motivated, intellectually curious, display a strong attention to detail and a desire to work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and summarize M&A prospect information discovered through marketing materials, public filings, meetings & calls, and various other sources
• Build pro-forma financial statements, financial models, and financial analyses
• Perform quality of earning analyses or manage external consultants who will perform those analyses on potential opportunities
• Clearly articulate financial information to internal management as well as sellers and their representatives
• Assist in prospect screening, diligence, valuation, and deal structuring, among other areas of the M&A process
• Utilize cross-functional information to assist in the analyses of prospects
• Assess and articulate acquisition targets' financial states both from a pre-transaction and post-transaction perspective
• Assess acquisition target metrics including but not limited to financial performance and operational fit
• Help compile proposal decks for internal management and Investment Committee approval and potential external proposals

Required Skills/Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance or related business field
• 2-4 years of related transaction experience in transaction advisory, M&A, corporate development, investment banking, management consulting, private equity or other highly analytical finance roles; experience in the financial services industry is a plus
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including proficiency in financial statement analysis and valuation modeling (proficiency with Microsoft Excel is a must)
• Proficiency and experience in financial analysis including but not limited to trending analysis, NPV, IRR, ROI, etc.
• Results-driven and detail-oriented with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
• Team player with a positive attitude and intellectual curiosity to learn new things
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal) with ability to communicate at all levels within an organization, with external partners and potential targets
• Ability to prioritize tasks, communicate expectations, and adhere to deadlines while managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to work independently and liaise amongst various functional groups within the firm
• Must maintain confidentiality at all times, as this position requires high level of responsibility regarding confidential information