Corporate Development Analyst (Senior Associate)

Grant Thornton - Americas•Chicago, IL

35d•$96,000 - $155,500

About The Position

Grant Thornton is seeking a Corporate Development Analyst to join the team. Approved office locations can be found below. We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Corporate Development Analyst to join our dynamic team within a leading, private equity-backed professional services firm. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in financial analysis, M&A execution, and strategic project management, and will play a critical role in supporting the firm’s growth initiatives, including acquisitions, partnerships, and other strategic projects.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Economics, or a related field; advanced degree or relevant certification preferred.
2–4 years of experience in corporate development, investment banking, private equity, or consulting, preferably within professional services or knowledge-based industries.
Strong financial modeling, valuation, and analytical skills.
Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
Proven ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with M&A due diligence and integration is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Independently conduct advanced market research and competitive analysis to identify acquisition targets and strategic opportunities.
Synthesize complex industry data and trends into actionable insights for senior leadership.
Contribute to the development and refinement of long-term strategic plans and growth initiatives.
Build and maintain sophisticated financial models for potential acquisitions and investments, including scenario analysis and sensitivity testing.
Lead valuation analyses using multiple methodologies (DCF, comparables, precedent transactions), and present findings to senior team members.
Coordinate and support comprehensive due diligence processes, including liaising with cross-functional teams (legal, finance, operations, HR) to gather and analyze relevant information.
Draft and review investment memos and presentations for executive leadership and board review.
Manage multiple concurrent corporate development projects, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, timelines, and deliverables.
Track project progress, proactively identify risks or bottlenecks, and recommend solutions to ensure successful execution.
Prepare and deliver high-quality presentations, reports, and dashboards for internal and external stakeholders.
Communicate complex analyses and recommendations clearly and concisely to senior management and cross-functional teams.
Identify opportunities to improve processes, tools, and methodologies within the corporate development function.
Mentor junior analysts and contribute to team knowledge sharing and professional development.