Investment Banking Associate – Consumer & Retail

Job Description

Our client, a full-service investment bank with more than 125 years of history and a global platform spanning securities brokerage, trading, research, underwriting, and corporate advisory services, is seeking an Associate to join their Investment Banking team in Boston, focused on the Consumer & Retail sector.

Associates are primarily responsible for acting as the keystone of all project teams, serving as a project manager taking guidance from senior bankers and managing and mentoring Analysts. Associates work on small, client-focused teams within the Corporate Finance and M&A disciplines, in a unique environment that combines a highly entrepreneurial platform focused on emerging growth companies with significant analytical rigor.

Key Focus Areas

The team provides deep advisory expertise across several major consumer and retail segments:

• Food & Beverage: Supporting product brands, supply chain businesses, and manufacturing lines
• Restaurants: Advising fast-casual, quick-service, and full-service dining concepts
• Household, Beauty, and Personal Care: Partnering with cosmetics, wellness, and consumer goods labels
• Apparel, Footwear, & Accessories: Serving both direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands and traditional brick-and-mortar retailers
• Automotive Aftermarket: Delivering strategic banking across the extensive automotive parts and service supply chain
• Cannabis & Entertainment: Assisting growth-stage companies navigating evolving regulatory and media markets

Key Responsibilities

• Play a critical role as the project manager on teams, managing the deal process from origination to close
• Develop integrated financial models and related valuation analyses
• Participate in M&A, corporate finance (debt, public, and private equity), and restructuring assignments across Consumer & Retail segments
• Prepare valuations, write memorandums for M&A and private placement processes, conduct M&A analyses, and participate in due diligence and drafting sessions for public and private offerings
• Mentor junior staff and identify areas for their development
• Work on multiple projects and transactions at any given time

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Strong ability to work in an entrepreneurial culture
• Ability to manage, from start to finish, financing and M&A transactions
• Excellent analytical, modeling, and client management skills
• Exercises good judgment in assessing the risks and rewards of new business opportunities

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance or a related field required
• 3–5 years of post-undergraduate work experience in Investment Banking or Private Equity
• No specific licenses required
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook

What Our Client Offers

• Highly competitive compensation, including base salary and discretionary bonus (commensurate with experience)
• Health, dental, vision, and prescription insurance
• Total health and wellness programs, flexible spending accounts
• Tuition and certification assistance programs
• Paid time off and additional benefits

Location: Boston, Massachusetts (in-office position)

Timeline: Applications accepted until the position is filled.

About Our Client

Our client is a full-service investment bank with a 125+ year history, offering securities brokerage, trading, research, underwriting, and corporate advisory services globally. Their expertise spans sectors and products across both public and private markets, driven by relationships rather than transactions, with a focus on earning long-term client trust.

Their investment banking division provides a broad range of industry-leading services, including M&A advisory, debt and equity financings, balance sheet restructuring, and mutual thrift & insurance company conversions. With more than 600 bankers across the platform, they deliver solutions tailored to clients' evolving needs.

Our client fosters an entrepreneurial environment that rewards collaboration and hard work, and is committed to engaging talented candidates from all backgrounds who want to expand their skills and pursue ambitious goals.