5+ years working in M&A advisory, capital markets, or leveraged finance at a bulge-bracket bank, elite boutique, or major financial institution (Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, Evercore, Lazard). Fluency in investment banking tooling, valuation methodologies, and deal-process mechanics, plus understanding of how F500 board approvals, regulatory review (SEC, antitrust), and legal/due diligence processes work.