What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mergers and Acquisitions Associate position at Connect Search, LLC?
Our client is a privately held family office with a long-term investment horizon focused on acquiring and growing lower-middle-market manufacturing and industrial companies across North America. The firm partners closely with management teams, emphasizes operational improvement and disciplined capital allocation, and takes a patient, owner-operator approach rather than a short-term exit strategy.
Position Overview
The M&A Associate will play a key role in evaluating, executing, and supporting acquisitions of manufacturing businesses. This individual will work directly with senior investment professionals and operating partners across the full transaction lifecycle—from deal sourcing and diligence through closing and post-acquisition integration support.
This is a highly analytical, execution-oriented role with meaningful exposure to business owners, management teams, lenders, and advisors.
Key Responsibilities
Deal Evaluation & Execution
- Build and maintain detailed financial models (3-statement, cash flow, returns, and scenario analyses)
- Analyze target company financials, quality of earnings, working capital, and capital expenditures
- Prepare investment memos, valuation analyses, and acquisition recommendations
- Support LOI negotiation, due diligence coordination, and transaction execution
Industry & Market Analysis
- Conduct deep-dive analysis of manufacturing subsectors (industrial products, engineered components, specialty manufacturing, value-added distribution)
- Assess competitive positioning, customer concentration, supplier dynamics, and margin drivers
- Evaluate operational improvement and value-creation opportunities
Transaction Support & Diligence
- Coordinate with third-party advisors (accounting, legal, tax, environmental)
- Review CIMs, data rooms, and diligence materials
- Assist in structuring transactions, financing analyses, and lender interactions
Portfolio & Post-Acquisition Support
- Support integration planning and KPI tracking post-close
- Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and performance monitoring for portfolio companies
- Work with operating leaders on strategic initiatives and add-on acquisitions
Qualifications & Experience
- 2–4 years of experience in investment banking (M&A), private equity, corporate development, or transaction advisory
- Strong financial modeling and valuation skills
- Experience analyzing manufacturing, industrial, or asset-heavy businesses strongly preferred
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Engineering, or related field
- High attention to detail, strong work ethic, and ability to manage multiple workstreams
Salary : $110,000 - $130,000