M&A Associate - Specialty Finance

Founded in 1933, Stephens is a privately held family-owned business whose mission is to become a trusted advisor to our clients. We have a long history of identifying and seizing opportunities through economic cycles. Whether executing single transactions or developing holistic solutions, we help to create lasting value for our clients. We don't just focus on transactions; we seek to develop durable relationships. We work with our clients as they interact with the financial markets, analyse strategic alternatives and raise capital.

The men and women of Stephens have the opportunity to cultivate and advance their careers in a collegial and supportive environment. With offices in strategic locations across the U.S. and in Europe, we provide unvarnished advice and skilled assistance with executing mergers and acquisitions, private placements of debt and equity, as well as recapitalisations. We prioritise earning our clients' trust, and we reward the individuals who make that happen.

The exceptional candidates who join our transatlantic team of more than 250 investment banking professionals will participate in our collaborative approach to adding value for middle-market companies, as well as global organisations. Discover why our vibrant and stable atmosphere inspires our bankers to constantly strive for growth while building their futures here over the long term.

Our transatlantic Specialty Finance team represents one of the longest-standing franchises dedicated to the Specialty Finance sector, leveraging expertise built from executing M&A and capital raising advisory transactions for commercial and consumer finance clients across North America and Europe. Our senior bankers work as a team to provide expert market intelligence, advisory and execution services while aligning with our specialty finance clients as teammates and not competitors. We have deep relationships with public and private financing sources. This enables us to develop innovative debt and equity capital raising solutions as well as buy side and sell side strategies.

Associates leverage their knowledge and experience to work with and mentor analysts, continually develop their expertise, and deliver top quality work products to the team and clients. As an Associate, you have a broad array of responsibilities including executing transactions and working with your team to build the business. These tasks include:

• Playing a key role in the transaction execution process in collaboration with other deal team members
• Developing and overseeing the development of detailed financial analyses, and the preparation of models for various types of transactions
• Performing extensive valuation and pricing analyses
• Creating Confidential Information Memorandums, management presentations, marketing pitches and other presentations
• Helping plan and execute live engagements
• Coordinating and performing business due diligence
• Performing industry research and comparable company analysis
• Training and developing analysts
• Building relationships and maintaining direct contact with current and prospective clients

• 3+ years of M&A advisory experience
• Experience advising clients in the Specialty Finance industry is helpful
• Excellent analytical and modelling skills
• High energy with strong interpersonal, accounting and finance skills
• Ability to perform under pressure and tight deadlines
• Strong commitment to respecting and safeguarding confidential information
• High level of personal integrity and work ethic
• Extraordinary focus on work quality and attention to detail
• Adherence to regulatory requirements
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to learn quickly, with a particular focus on accounting rules and financial valuation methodologies
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a team environment