Investment Banking Associate

ABOUT OLIVEWOOD ADVISORS

Olivewood Advisors is a sell-side M&A advisory firm serving owners of privately held businesses through one of the most consequential decisions of their lives: the sale or transition of their company.

We combine institutional investment banking experience with a more personal, senior-led advisory model. Our clients are typically founder-, family- and closely held businesses, and our work extends beyond maximizing transaction value to understanding the priorities that matter to an owner, including people, culture, legacy and what comes next.

We intentionally work with a limited number of clients so our senior bankers can remain deeply involved throughout every engagement.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Olivewood is seeking an Investment Banking Associate to join our growing team. The Associate will work directly with the Firm’s founders and senior bankers and will play a central role in the execution of sell-side M&A engagements.

The Associate position is designed for a banker who has developed a strong technical foundation and is ready to take greater ownership of transaction processes, client deliverables and junior team execution. Associates are expected to move beyond producing analyses to interpreting them, identifying issues early and helping senior bankers drive the process forward.

In Olivewood’s senior-led model, Associates have direct exposure to business owners, management teams, buyers and outside advisors, and are expected to develop the judgment and communication skills required to become trusted transaction professionals.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the day-to-day preparation and coordination of transaction materials, including CIMs, management presentations, teasers, financial analyses and buyer-facing materials.
• Develop and review financial models, valuation analyses, transaction scenarios, EBITDA adjustments and other financial work products.
• Synthesize financial, operational and market information into clear transaction positioning and key messages for buyers.
• Drive company, industry and market research and translate findings into actionable insights for the deal team and client.
• Lead development and refinement of buyer lists, including strategic buyers, private equity firms, family offices and other potential acquirers.
• Evaluate buyer fit, strategic rationale, acquisition history, financial capacity and likely transaction considerations.
• Coordinate buyer outreach and maintain disciplined tracking of buyer engagement, feedback, indications of interest and letters of intent.
• Prepare analyses comparing bids, valuation, structure, rollover, earn-outs, financing conditions and other transaction terms.
• Help manage due diligence, virtual data room activity, buyer requests and coordination among clients, buyers, attorneys, accountants and other advisors.
• Participate actively in client calls, management presentations, buyer meetings and transaction workstreams.
• Identify emerging transaction issues, diligence risks and process bottlenecks and escalate them with proposed solutions.
• Review Analyst work product for accuracy, completeness and consistency before senior banker review.
• Provide day-to-day guidance, coaching and feedback to Analysts while helping manage team workload and deadlines.
• Support senior bankers in pitch preparation, valuation work, prospective client analysis and other business development activities.
•  Develop increasing familiarity with selected industries, buyer ecosystems and transaction dynamics relevant to Olivewood’s clients.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

Successful Associates at Olivewood combine strong technical execution with judgment, initiative and the ability to manage both workstreams and people.

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, business or a related discipline; MBA or other advanced degree may be relevant but is not required.
• Typically 2–5 years of investment banking, transaction advisory, private equity, corporate development or closely related transaction experience.
• Strong command of financial statement analysis, valuation methodologies and M&A transaction mechanics.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, with the ability to independently create and review transaction analyses and presentation materials.
• Ability to synthesize complex information and communicate conclusions clearly in writing and in discussion.
• Strong project-management skills and the ability to coordinate multiple transaction workstreams under tight deadlines.
• High attention to detail while maintaining perspective on the broader transaction objective.
• Confidence and professionalism in interactions with business owners, management teams, buyers and external advisors.
• Ability and willingness to coach junior team members and provide constructive review of their work.
• High agency, sound judgment, discretion and a team-first mindset.

HOW WE WORK

Olivewood operates as a flat, apprenticeship-driven organization. Associates work closely with the Firm’s founders and senior bankers and are expected to take meaningful ownership of transaction execution.

The role requires someone who can operate comfortably between detail and strategy: understanding the financial model, the buyer list and the diligence tracker while also recognizing what those inputs mean for positioning, leverage, risk and the client’s objectives.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

Because our clients are business owners rather than institutional sellers, successful execution also requires empathy, maturity and clear communication. Associates are expected to understand the owner’s priorities and help the team deliver an organized, thoughtful process.

At a larger institution, Associates can spend much of their time managing production through layers of a deal team. At Olivewood, the Associate sits much closer to the client and the senior bankers making the decisions. The role offers a clear progression from technical execution toward transaction leadership, client advisory and the development of junior bankers.

Olivewood Advisors is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic