Investment Banking Associate | Business Services (Marketing Services)

Houlihan Lokey is seeking an Investment Banking Associate for its Atlanta office, specializing in Business Services, particularly Marketing Services. The role involves creating financial models, preparing marketing materials, conducting due diligence, and supporting M&A transactions. Associates work in four-person deal teams and are responsible for financial analysis and client presentations. The firm is a leading global investment bank known for its expertise in mergers and acquisitions.
Business Unit:

Corporate Finance

Industry:

Business Services

Overview

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) is a global investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Houlihan Lokey serves corporations, institutions, and governments worldwide with offices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. Independent advice and intellectual rigor are hallmarks of the firm’s commitment to client success across its advisory services.

The firm is the No. 1 investment bank for all global M&A transactions for the past two years, the No. 1 M&A advisor for the past 10 years in the U.S., the No. 1 global restructuring advisor for the past 11 years, and the No. 1 global M&A fairness opinion advisor over the past 25 years, all based on number of transactions and according to data provided by LSEG.

Corporate Finance

Houlihan Lokey has extensive expertise in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, activist shareholder and takeover defense, and other related advisory services for a broad range of U.S. and international clients. Our experience in M&A has earned us consistent recognition throughout the industry. In 2024, we were ranked the No. 1 M&A advisor for all U.S. transactions.

Business Services

Houlihan Lokey’s Business Services Group offers M&A advisory, capital raising, valuation, and corporate restructurings to public and private companies. We work with companies providing professional and technology-related services across a number of end markets and regularly collaborate with other Houlihan Lokey industry and product groups to bring the highest level of knowledge, services, and relationships to our clients.

Our team covers a broad array of sectors, with bankers dedicated to each of our primary coverage areas. We maintain deep, senior-level relationships with major strategic and financial buyers of professional and technology-related services companies, as well as large, public, and private company thought leaders within the industry.

As one of the leading M&A advisors in our sector, we help open doors to opportunities—whether our clients are seeking a strategic or financial partner in a change-of-control or minority-investment transaction.

Job Description

Associates are primarily responsible for the creation and oversight of financial models, marketing materials, internal and external presentations, as well as performing research and various analyses in support of new business generation and the execution of M&A transactions. Associates are afforded meaningful responsibility and are generally members of four-person deal teams, comprising a Managing Director, Vice President, Associate, and Financial Analyst.

The Business Services team has a particularly strong sector focus in Marketing Services in our Atlanta office.

As part of our team, you will:
• Prepare, analyze, and explain historical and projected financial information
• Coordinate and perform business due diligence and execute M&A transactions
• Prepare marketing materials, confidential information presentations, management presentations, and other presentations as needed
• Perform valuation and ad hoc financial analyses
• Assist in the marketing and execution of existing engagements
• Build relationships and maintain direct contact with clients, prospective clients, and professional advisors
• Communicate effectively with all members of the team, including the supervision and mentoring of junior staff members

The environment at Houlihan Lokey is both collegial and entrepreneurial. Teamwork is essential to the firm’s success. At the same time, creativity and new ideas are encouraged. Associates are given substantial responsibility and are encouraged to help us grow our business.

Basic Qualifications
• Advanced knowledge of accounting and finance
• Undergraduate degree
• 3+ years of Investment Banking experience
• Strong analytical/technical and qualitative abilities

Preferred Qualifications
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong financial and computer skills (Excel, Word and PowerPoint)
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple project deliverables simultaneously
• Extensive operational financial modeling and valuation experience
• Hands-on M&A experience
• Transaction experience in Business Services is a plus

Compensation And Benefits

Houlihan Lokey is committed to providing its employees with an exciting career opportunity and competitive total compensation package, which may include other components such as discretionary incentive compensation. The firm’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the possible salary range for this role at the time of posting is:

$175,000.00-$225,000.00

Actual salary at the time of hire may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant qualifications, skills, and experience and the location where this position may be filled.

Houlihan Lokey provides a competitive benefits package. Our current benefits offerings can be found here:

2025 Benefits

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.