Associate

Founders Advisors LLC•Birmingham, AL

About The Position

At Founders Advisors, we’ve dedicated over 21 years to helping family-owned businesses exit successfully. Relationships and results are the heart of everything we do. We deliver our Gold Standard services to private companies with deep sector knowledge and expertise in industries including Business Services, Consumer, Healthcare, Industrials, and Technology. We prioritize building authentic relationships with our clients to deeply understand their specific goals, allowing us to achieve the “WOW” outcomes they deserve. Position Overview The Associate on the Industrials Practice Group serves as the project and execution manager for deal teams supporting M&A transactions across the industrials sector, including power & infrastructure, building materials, facility services and and industrial services. This individual owns the day-to-day management of live transactions, coordinating internal team members and external advisors, driving timelines, and ensuring high-quality execution. Associates are trusted leaders who combine strong technical expertise, sector knowledge, and the ability to manage people and processes effectively. This role is a key pipeline position for future Vice Presidents at Founders Advisors.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
4–6 years of investment banking experience, with some exposure to industrials transactions preferred but not required
Demonstrated experience serving as a deal quarterback, execution lead, or project manager
Strong interpersonal skills especially in client-facing situations
Strong technical skills in financial modeling, valuation, and transaction execution
Proven ability to manage teams, timelines, and competing priorities
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
High attention to detail, strong judgment, and a service-oriented mindset

Responsibilities

Deal Execution & Project Leadership Serve as the project manager for active deal teams, owning timelines, workflows, and execution plans
Coordinate Analysts, Vice Presidents, Directors, Managing Directors, and external advisors throughout the transaction lifecycle
Proactively manage deliverables, deadlines, and priorities across multiple workstreams
Anticipate execution risks and escalate issues with proposed solutions
Ensure consistency, accuracy, and quality across all deal materials
Transaction Execution & Client Delivery Lead day-to-day execution of M&A transactions within the industrials group
Oversee complex financial modeling, valuation analyses, and transaction structuring
Prepare, review, and refine client-facing materials, including CIMs, management presentations, and board materials
Manage diligence processes, management meetings, data rooms, and interactions with legal, accounting, and other advisors
Lead selected conversations with Industrials clients as needed
Depending on deal complexity and team structure, may assume expanded client-facing responsibilities
Industrials Sector Focus Develop deep expertise across industrials subsectors, including manufacturing, distribution, logistics, and industrial services
Apply sector-specific operating metrics and value drivers in analysis and valuation
Support buyer identification, market mapping, and industry research
Contribute to internal knowledge sharing and best practices within the Industrials Team
Team Leadership & Development Manage and mentor Analysts and Associates, providing clear direction, coaching, and feedback
Review work product to ensure technical accuracy, clarity, and alignment with Founders Advisors' standards
Help train junior bankers on modeling, transaction execution, and sector knowledge
Model servant leadership, professionalism, and accountability
Firm & Practice Support Support Vice Presidents and Managing Directors in client preparation and practice development
Contribute to internal execution processes and continuous improvement initiatives
Uphold Founders Advisors’ values and culture in all client and internal interactions