Corporate Finance Associate

Corporate Finance Associate - Investment Banking

Location: Charlotte, NC

A leading middle‑market investment banking platform is seeking an experienced Corporate Finance Associate to support senior professionals across its Defense & Government, Engineering, Construction, and Industrial Services coverage teams. This role offers a rare opportunity to gain broad exposure across M&A, Debt Capital Markets (DCM), and Equity Capital Markets (ECM) while working in a sector‑focused coverage model.

This position is ideal for candidates who understand both transaction execution and capital markets, and who thrive in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment supporting complex advisory and financing solutions.

Position Overview

The Corporate Finance Associate will play an integral role in both the origination and execution of transactions, working directly with senior bankers and clients throughout the full deal lifecycle. The platform is well known for its strong franchise in middle‑market corporate and sponsor‑backed transactions, complemented by a robust public equity research capability.

The Corporate Finance Associate will be responsible for:

• Support the evaluation and execution of investment banking transactions, including M&A, leveraged finance, capital restructurings, refinancings, dividend recapitalizations, and equity raises
• Perform extensive financial modeling and valuation analysis for a wide range of transaction scenarios
• Prepare pitch materials, marketing presentations, and strategic advisory content for corporate clients and financial sponsors
• Draft confidential information memoranda (CIMs), management presentations, board materials, lender and roadshow presentations
• Conduct detailed company, industry, and comparable transaction analysis
• Analyze financial model outputs and synthesize insights to support transaction structure, pricing, and strategic recommendations
• Coordinate with senior bankers to provide indicative financing structures and market guidance
• Manage transaction screening, credit and underwriting approval processes, and related documentation
• Participate in accounting, business, and legal due diligence processes
• Work closely with legal counsel, clients, and sponsors to draft and negotiate transaction documentation
• Supervise and mentor analyst‑level bankers, playing a visible leadership role during deal execution
• Collaborate closely with M&A, DCM, ECM, Sponsor Coverage, and Corporate Banking teams to develop new business ideas and pitch strategies

The Corporate Finance Associate should have:

• 3-5 years of relevant experience in Investment Banking, M&A, Corporate Finance, Leveraged Finance, or Capital Markets
• Proven experience interacting with clients and supporting live transactions
• Strong understanding of both M&A execution and capital markets products
• Undergraduate degree with a strong academic record from a leading university
• MBA preferred but not required given relevant experience
• Formal investment or corporate banking training program preferred
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Experience with financial databases such as S&P Capital IQ, Bloomberg, FactSet, Thomson One, or similar platforms
• FINRA Series 79 (or 7) and Series 63, or willingness to obtain required licenses promptly

Additional Considerations

• Industry experience within defense, government services, engineering, construction, or industrial services is a plus but not required
• Candidates from other sector backgrounds (e.g., consumer, healthcare, industrials) are welcome
• The team is flexible on title for the right Associate‑level candidate, with openness across experience levels
• Charlotte, NC is a core hub for this role; candidates must be interested in building their career in the Charlotte market