Associate - Financial Sponsor Coverage
About The Position
Harris Williams seeks to hire an Associate to join the Financial Sponsor Coverage team in the Richmond, Virginia office. Harris Williams is a global investment bank specializing in M&A and private capital advisory services. Clients worldwide rely on us to help unlock value in their business and turn ambitious goals into reality. We approach every engagement with boundless collaboration, pooling expertise and relationships across industries, service offerings, and geographies. For over 30 years, our clients have trusted us to think strategically, execute precisely, and deliver premium outcomes to help them grow. The Financial Sponsor Coverage ("FSC") Associate helps drive critical marketing content, firm insights, and analyses in support of the private equity ("PE") coverage efforts of FSC senior bankers and Coverage Officers across the firm. The Associate directs, executes, and assures the quality of workstreams across the team's deliverables in close partnership with FSC senior bankers, FSC Analyst(s), and Sponsor Coverage Coordinators ("SCCs"). This is a hands-on role — the Associate is expected to own and produce client-ready analyses and materials as well as seek to build over time long-term private equity relationships and the market presence needed to represent HW's FSC practice. The Associate will work closely with FSC senior bankers and firm leadership to advance HW’s origination priorities and strategic initiatives across its PE client base.
Requirements
- 2-4 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, or a related financial services role; prior exposure to sponsor/financial institutions coverage, origination, or deal teams is a plus.
- Exhibits strong knowledge and understanding of key business and financial markets concepts and terminology needed for sound decision-making in the context of Harris Williams' business, its clients, and the industries it serves.
- Demonstrates deep proficiency across the Microsoft suite (CRM, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) and key industry/banker platforms (e.g., Claude/AI tools, PitchBook, Mergermarket, CapIQ, Upslide), along with strong analytical technique in evaluating proprietary and third-party PE and M&A industry data.
- Understands the requirements of FSC deliverables well enough to independently produce a thoughtful, strategic final product; communicates key insights clearly and succinctly to inform senior banker strategy and, ultimately, to facilitate direct dialogue with HW's private equity client base.
- Thinks independently and strategically while collaborating seamlessly with FSC Analyst(s) and senior bankers, SCCs, deal teams, and industry bankers, to identify practical solutions and deliver client-ready work product.
- Equally comfortable directing workstreams and getting into the details; partners closely with the FSC Analyst(s) to drive projects to completion while upholding to the firm's quality standards.
- Demonstrates the polish, presence, and sound judgment expected of a Financial Sponsor Coverage banker, including the ability to engage directly with senior private equity professionals on behalf of the firm as well as HW bankers and firm leadership.
Nice To Haves
- prior exposure to sponsor/financial institutions coverage, origination, or deal teams is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Workstream Leadership & Hands-On Execution — Directs and prioritizes the team's workstreams, partnering closely with the FSC Analyst(s), Vice President, and senior bankers to ensure deliverables are on schedule and meet the standard required for senior banker and firm leadership consumption.
- Strategic Analyses & Market Insights — Leads the development of HW proprietary data analyses, including buyer performance/behavior, HW deal trends, process dynamics, and pitch activity, alongside tracking of PE industry and macroeconomic trends; ultimately translates into valuable insights for FSC senior bankers and HW deal teams ahead of client meetings, and creation of FSC content for firmwide use.
- Marketing Materials & Origination Support — Owns strategy and idea generation for HW presentations supporting PE client meetings and calls, leveraging existing and new creative content in support of lead pursuit.
- Senior Banker Coordination — Serves as the primary point of coordination between the FSC Analyst(s)/SCCs and the FSC VP, Director, and MDs, keeping senior bankers apprised of deliverable status and surfacing insights and observations for broader firm distribution.
- Market Presence & Client Engagement — Displays fluency, polish, and command of the M&A and Private Capital Markets needed to represent the firm credibly in front of private equity professionals; over time, the Associate is expected to take on a meaningful role in sponsor-facing interactions.
- FSC Reporting — Supports, develops, and owns FSC recurring reporting needs, including internal dashboards, and related standing deliverables.
- CRM and Data Services — Maintains a deep, current understanding of the firm's CRM and partners with HW data services and technology teams to shape new and improved reports, optimize reporting interfaces, and safeguard data integrity.
- Special Projects — Proactively identifies, pursues, and delivers value-adding projects in support of FSC strategy and broader firm needs, partnering closely with senior bankers, Analyst(s), and SCCs, as well as business operations and technology teams as needed.
Benefits
- medical/prescription drug coverage (with a Health Savings Account feature)
- dental and vision options
- employee and spouse/child life insurance
- short and long-term disability protection
- 401(k) with PNC match
- pension and stock purchase plans
- dependent care reimbursement account
- back-up child/elder care
- adoption, surrogacy, and doula reimbursement
- educational assistance, including select programs fully paid
- a robust wellness program with financial incentives
- maternity and/or parental leave
- up to 11 paid holidays each year
- 9 occasional absence days each year, unless otherwise required by law
- between 15 to 25 vacation days each year, depending on career level; and years of service.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
