Senior Associate, Ankura Capital Advisors

Ankura is a team of excellence founded on innovation and growth.

Practice Overview

Ankura Capital Advisors partners with family-owned, founder-led, and PE-backed companies to deliver outcome-oriented M&A advice across the full deal lifecycle. We support buy-side and sell-side processes, capital raises, carve-outs, and 363 sales, leveraging deep investor and strategic buyer relationships to run competitive processes, strengthen positioning, and drive value-maximizing terms.

Role Overview

The Ankura Capital Advisors investment banking team is actively looking for a Senior Associate. The candidate will work closely with senior members of the Capital Advisory Group to advise companies, creditors, and other stakeholders on strategic alternatives with an emphasis on M&A execution (sell-side, buy-side, and carve-out transactions), as well as special situations financing, liability management, and restructuring. The Senior Associate will help drive rigorous, data-driven decision-making and will leverage AI-enabled tools and automation to accelerate research, diligence, financial analysis, and the production of client-ready materials. This role is based in New York City.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day M&A transaction execution under the direction of Managing Directors (sell-side and buy-side processes, carve-outs, and special situations)

• Build and oversee fully integrated financial models (3-statement, LBO, merger/accretion-dilution, and scenario/sensitivity analysis)

• Own valuation and returns workstreams, including trading/transaction comps, DCF, precedent transactions, and synergy/standalone analyses

• Coordinate and perform business, financial, and operational due diligence; manage data room workflows, diligence trackers, and Q&A processes

• Create and refine pitch and marketing materials (teasers, CIMs, management presentations, board materials, and IC memoranda)

• Prepare industry and company research and bespoke analysis; translate findings into clear investment/strategic narratives

• Leverage AI-enabled tools to accelerate research and diligence (e.g., document summarization, extraction of key terms, benchmarking, and first-draft content creation), while applying professional judgment and quality control

• Use automation to improve repeatable workflows (model checks, comps updates, KPI normalization, and formatting), ensuring auditability and version control

• Develop and maintain knowledge of capital structures and credit products relevant to M&A and special situations

• Build relationships and maintain direct contact with clients, prospective clients, and professional advisors; support negotiation and process management

• Support new business development and marketing initiatives, including identifying targets/buyers and maintaining buyer and sponsor landscapes

Qualifications

• 3+ years of investment banking experience with meaningful M&A transaction exposure

• Prior restructuring, debt advisory, or leveraged finance experience at an investment bank, credit fund, or M&A advisory firm preferred

• Bachelor’s Degree required (strong GPA preferred). MBA preferred

• Advanced financial modeling, valuation, and analytical skills; demonstrated aptitude for quantitative and qualitative analysis

• Comfort leveraging AI-enabled tools and automation to enhance productivity and insight (e.g., research synthesis, diligence document review, and drafting), with strong judgment, data integrity focus, and attention to confidentiality

• Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills; experience with data providers (e.g., Capital IQ, FactSet, PitchBook) and/or workflow tools is a plus

• Exceptional communication skills and executive presence, both verbal and written

• Elevated attention to detail and consistency in work product

• High degree of maturity, integrity, demonstrated leadership skills, and work ethic

• Self-starting team player who excels in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, challenging work environment

• SIE 7, 79, 63 licenses required at time of hiring or shortly thereafter

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For individuals assigned and/or hired to work in California, Colorado, New York or other states with relevant pay transparency laws, Ankura is required to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This compensation range is specific to the said markets and considers a broad range of factors including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.  The range does not include additional benefits outside of salary. At Ankura, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each role. A reasonable estimate of the current base pay range is between $65,000 to $155,000; this range is not a promise of a particular wage.

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Ankura is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against based on disability. Equal Employment Opportunity Posters, if you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening, submit an online application, or participate in an interview/assessment, please email [email protected] or call toll-free +1.312-583-2122. This email and phone number are created exclusively to assist disabled job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Only messages left for this purpose will be returned. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or technical issues unrelated to a disability, will not receive a response.