Senior Associate, M&A and Strategic Finance

Lyra Technology Group•Chicago, IL

2d•$120,000 - $140,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Lyra Technology Group is a private equity-backed holding company that invests in and operates industry-leading technology service businesses. Its companies operate independently under the management teams, employees, names, and cultures that made them successful. As part of Evergreen Services Group, Lyra does not divest from its partner businesses and focuses on sustainable, long-term growth. The Senior Associate is a high-impact member of the holding company team, helping build and execute Lyra’s acquisition engine and strategic finance capabilities. The role includes independently managing M&A due diligence, leading financial and operational diligence for acquisitions, conducting financial modeling and analysis of acquisition and portfolio performance, supporting monthly reporting, and partnering with business owners to grow their companies after investment. The Senior Associate works closely with the CFO, President, Vice President, sellers, business owners, and operations leaders. The role is based in Chicago in a hybrid model and may involve travel to acquisition sites and leadership offsites.

Requirements

At least 2 years of full-time work experience in finance, consulting, operations, or a related field.
Ability to work with extreme autonomy and an ownership mindset.
Exceptional emotional intelligence and the ability to build relationships and followership at every organizational level.
Leadership experience and the ability to persevere through adversity.
Strong strategic and analytical skills, including the ability to make sound decisions with incomplete information.
Strong understanding of financial statements and KPIs.
Experience using financial reporting systems, dashboards, and AI tools to drive business insights.
Humble, accountable, and growth-minded disposition.
Positive attitude and competitive intensity.

Nice To Haves

M&A experience and exposure to private-equity-run deal processes.
Management experience.
Undergraduate or graduate education at a top-tier school.

Responsibilities

Work with the Lyra executive team and Vice President to refine and execute the M&A strategy, pursuing opportunities that support organic growth and MOIC goals.
Lead financial and operational due diligence for new acquisitions.
Support monthly board reporting and ad hoc strategic financial analysis of portfolio performance.
Refine the investment thesis through post-mortem analysis and ongoing performance monitoring.
Manage relationships with sellers during diligence to support successful closings.
Work with sellers and Lyra operations leaders after closing to ensure smooth onboarding of acquisitions to the Lyra platform.
Support post-close value-creation initiatives that deliver on the investment thesis.
Partner with the Evergreen sourcing team to evaluate potential acquisitions.
Manage a team of 1–2 analysts and support the global analyst program.