EY-Parthenon - Deals - Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) Advisory - Associate

EY • New York, NY

16h • $70,800 - $132,800

About The Position

EY-Parthenon’s Deals Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) Advisory team advises clients on M&A pricing mechanisms and the accounting aspects of sales and purchase agreements. The team works with investment banks, lawyers, deal teams, and diligence teams to provide end-to-end support from initial diligence through signing, closing estimates, and post-closing adjustments.

As an Associate, you will identify and articulate value points related to deal closing mechanics, helping clients negotiate M&A pricing and transaction documents. You will engage with deal teams and clients during planning, negotiation, signing, closing, and post-closing, working on transactions across sectors and markets and on both buy-side and sell-side engagements. The role offers opportunities to develop specialized advisory expertise, analytical and negotiation skills, and relationships across EY’s global deal network.

The work includes advising on deal price adjustment mechanisms, analyzing cash, debt, and working capital adjustments, preparing pricing schedules, reviewing financial provisions in SPAs, assisting with closing accounts, and conducting leakage reviews for locked-box transactions. You will contribute client recommendations and deliverables, support negotiations, manage quality and risk, and build relationships with clients and colleagues. The position requires a hands-on, rigorous, highly motivated team player who can communicate clearly and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance and at least 1 year of related work experience, or a graduate degree and approximately 6 months of related work experience.
• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to translate complex data into meaningful insights.
• Ability to prioritize effectively and adapt quickly to new challenges and concepts.
• Solid negotiation and influencing skills, and ability to develop long-lasting internal and external relationships.
• Strong skills in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Team-oriented mindset.
• Confident interpersonal skills, positive attitude, and ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Analytical thinking and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to meet tight project deadlines and handle diverse, pressing assignments and sensitive or adversarial situations.
• Must reside within or be commutable to the office location.
• Ability and willingness to travel and work beyond standard hours when necessary; travel may extend beyond the work location based on client and project needs.

Nice To Haves

• Proven record of excellence in a role directly supporting or providing familiarity with merger or acquisition transactions.
• Active CPA certification or formal accounting training.
• Experience at another large professional services organization.
• Established networking skills in a relevant industry.
• Knowledge of leveraging firm-approved AI tools in a business setting, including Microsoft Copilot.
• Hands-on and rigorous working style, motivation as a team player, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Work with clients, their bankers and legal advisers, transaction diligence teams, and SPA Advisory colleagues to advise on deal price adjustment mechanisms in M&A transactions.
• Analyze cash, debt, and working capital adjustments.
• Prepare pricing schedules and review and comment on the financial aspects of SPAs.
• Assist clients in preparing or reviewing closing accounts and perform leakage reviews on locked-box transactions.
• Develop insightful, deal-relevant points of view and recommendations for clients, working with peers and senior professionals.
• Support client negotiations with counterparties.
• Draft detailed and compelling client outputs.
• Take ownership of Quality and Risk Management to ensure consistent delivery in compliance with EY quality standards.
• Build relationships with external clients and internal colleagues and develop a portfolio of projects by focusing on high-value opportunities.
• Communicate with partners and senior directors in a flat team structure.

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Pension plans
• 401(k) plans
• Flexible vacation policy
• Paid holidays
• Winter and summer breaks
• Personal and family care time off
• Other leaves of absence to support physical, financial, and emotional well-being

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level