Staff Associate – Mergers & Acquisitions

Ascend Partner Firms•Los Angeles, CA

26d•$62,000 - $75,000•Hybrid

About The Position

At Ascend, we recognize the struggles that accounting & finance professionals face in traditional firms—from rigid hierarchies and overwhelming workloads to the elusive work-life balance. We believe your ambition should not be constrained by outdated practices or opaque career paths. Here, you're not just a number but a valued member of a community that champions both your professional and personal fulfillment. Our mission is to transform the public accounting experience into one where work-life harmony is a reality, and where your career advancement is supported by a nurturing network and robust resources . We partner with regional, entrepreneurial firms and provide them with the resources and support necessary to thrive in today's dynamic market. This includes access to growth capital, robust talent acquisition, top-tier technology, transformative leadership, shared back-office services, & more. Founded in January 2023, Ascend attained revenues to sufficiently qualify as a Top 100 U.S. accounting firm within six months of operation . Explore Ascend, where your career soars without sacrificing your quality of life. About Lucas Horsfall Have you dreamt about a career in public accounting with work-life balance? Enjoying the diversity of clients and the challenging work public accounting offers with the added benefits of professional growth and opportunity for advancement? Have you experienced a culture that is fun and diverse offering an authentic family feel with people that truly care about you and your professional development? Lucas Horsfall is that CPA firm. Celebrating our 68th year anniversary in 2025, we attribute our exceptional growth and low turnover to our appreciation of our people and clients. This growth has provided a need for an audit staff to help deliver personal and experienced service to our vast array of clients. The Role At Lucas Horsfall, a staff associate in the M&A practice is responsible for supporting transaction execution, quality of earnings analysis, client communication, and cross-functional coordination. This position involves working closely with independent sponsors, private equity firms, and corporate buyers across a variety of industries, helping them evaluate acquisition opportunities, identify financial risks, and understand key value drivers throughout the transaction lifecycle. This role will be achieved in a hybrid environment out of our Pasadena, CA or Irvine, CA office locations.

Requirements

2+ years of relevant experience (transaction advisory, audit, accounting, or analytical roles preferred)
BA/BS degree in accounting or business from an accredited university.
Licensed and currently active CPA or working towards CPA designation.
High proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint; experience with data analytics tools is a plus.
Experience working with privately held clients.
Collaborative mindset with a desire to learn and grow within the M&A practice.
Must be able to travel to client locations.
Strategic thinker with strong organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in accounting.
Applied working knowledge of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), U.S. Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).
Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

Assist with buy-side and sell-side financial due diligence engagements, helping identify key risks, unusual trends, and potential deal considerations.
Analyze detailed financial information—including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and operational data—and convert findings into clear, well-organized workpapers.
Support assessments of quality of earnings, working capital, net assets, and cash flows by preparing schedules, reconciliations, tie-outs, and supporting analyses.
Contribute to the preparation of deal-oriented reports, presentations, and exhibits that highlight key financial and commercial observations.
Verify the completeness and accuracy of financial data received from clients and target companies and identify inconsistencies for senior review.
Participate in meetings and conference calls with target company management and clients alongside senior team members.
Support client relationship development through professional communication, responsiveness, and organized follow-up.
Conduct industry, market, and competitor research to support diligence insights and business development materials.
Support marketing and business development initiatives, including but not limited to event participation, event planning, preparation of pitch materials, and general outreach efforts.
Participate in internal and external training to develop technical, analytical, and professional skills.
Support seniors and managers with ad hoc analyses, project-related tasks, and workflow management across multiple engagements.