AVP/VP, BMO Corporate Advisory

Bank of Montreal • Chicago, IL

1d

About The Position

The BMO Corporate Advisory team advises commercial banking clients and prospects on liquidity to shareholders, buy-side mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate finance engagements. The team is made up of professionals with backgrounds in investment banking, private equity, management consulting, corporate development, and commercial banking. This role provides specialized corporate advisory services to Commercial Banking clients and to Commercial and Corporate Relationship Management teams during complex, non-routine business events. It supports transaction-driven engagements such as ownership transitions, mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, capital allocation, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) structures, and strategic reviews.

The position provides independent analysis and advisory recommendations but does not own ongoing client relationships, portfolios, or credit decisions. The advisor is a key member of deal teams, leads components of engagements, participates in client discussions, and advises Relationship Management teams on approach and scope. The role also coordinates with internal and external stakeholders, manages multiple concurrent engagements, and coaches junior advisors. Advisory work must comply with applicable policies, regulatory requirements, and governance standards, and be performed within BMO’s Risk Management Framework and approved Risk Appetite. The role primarily focuses on its business group, with the potential for broader enterprise-wide scope.

Requirements

• Typically 5–7 years of relevant experience and a post-secondary degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Expertise in data analysis tools and financial analysis.
• Must meet licensing and certification requirements for the team, branch, and jurisdiction where the mandate is fulfilled.
• SIE Exam, Series 63, and Series 79 (Investment Banking Representative) licenses are typically required.
• Deep knowledge and technical proficiency gained through extensive education and business experience.
• Ability to exercise judgment to identify, diagnose, and solve problems within applicable rules, work independently, and handle non-routine situations.

Nice To Haves

• Undergraduate or graduate degree in business, finance, or accounting.
• ESOP and M&A Markets expertise, including buy-side and sell-side transactions.

Responsibilities

• Provide corporate advisory support for transaction-driven client events, including mergers and acquisitions, ownership transitions, capital allocation, recapitalizations, ESOP structures, and strategic reviews.
• Analyze complex financial, structural, and strategic information and develop recommendations aligned with client objectives and BMO’s risk appetite.
• Participate in and support deal teams, collaborating with Relationship Managers and internal partners such as Credit, Risk, Legal, and Capital Markets.
• Lead components of advisory engagements, including analysis, recommendations, and participation in client discussions.
• Advise Relationship Management teams on approach and engagement scope for complex client situations and transaction considerations.
• Deliver advisory engagements with defined scope, timelines, and deliverables, managing multiple concurrent assignments.
• Support strategic initiatives and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to align Relationship Managers, internal partners, and deal team members.
• Break down complex advisory problems, analyze data, and provide actionable insights that support decision-making and advisory judgment.
• Apply independent judgment to non-routine advisory situations and escalate issues as required.
• Ensure advisory activities comply with policies, regulatory requirements, and internal governance standards.
• Apply BMO’s Risk Management Framework and Risk Culture, making sound, risk-informed decisions within the approved Risk Appetite.
• Build change management plans and lead or participate in readiness assessments, planning, stakeholder management, execution, evaluation, and sustainment activities.
• Coach and mentor junior advisors, providing technical guidance and feedback.
• Nurture and grow a pipeline of corporate advisory opportunities that exceed return-on-equity thresholds.
• Deliver responsive, expert customer service and work with specialists to support successful engagement outcomes.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Accident and life insurance
• Retirement savings plans
• Performance-based incentives and discretionary bonuses may be included in total compensation.

What This Job Offers

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