Investment Banking Analyst/Associate

Job Description
Blu Advisors seeks an experienced, entrepreneurial and highly motivated Analyst or Associate to join our advisory team. The Analyst/Associate will play a vital role in supporting all aspects of the firm’s core business. As an Investment Banking Analyst/ Associate, you will source and execute corporate advisory mandates (M&A, Capital Raising, and Strategic Advisory) throughout the entire process, and up to successful closing. This position is ideal for a top performer with several years of finance experience (entry-level or more) who wants to take his/her career to the next level and become a top-notch investment professional. As part of the deal team, you will be involved in preparing the necessary memoranda and analysis and in discussions with the client(s), where appropriate. Responsibilities of the Analyst/Associate include:

Sourcing
- Identify and analyze transaction opportunities in Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Raising and Strategic Advisory and assist in developing a plan for advising companies on these matters
- Research, analyze and develop market intelligence materials to support Blu Advisors’ pipeline of new projects
- Participate in the proposal stage by preparing pitches for clients in order to win new mandates and grow the client base
Execution
- Perform project-specific and general industry research
- Prepare target lists of potential investors/buyers
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the clients, their business and strategic goals
- Assist with drafting relevant materials (press reviews, Q&A) in preparation for meetings with corporate clients
- Prepare effective teasers, information memoranda and investor presentations to reach clients’ goals
- Perform due diligence on behalf of investors relative to the target’s business, its drivers and its key risks
- Create and maintain databases and data-rooms
- Analyze and present historical financial statements. Create financial models (3-statements, M&A, leveraged buyout)
- Form an independent opinion on the quality of cash flows and assets and the reliability of projections of a given company
- Demonstrate the capacity to work directly with clients and prospective clients
Legal
- Prepare drafts of mandate agreements that will be reviewed by the corporate lawyers
- Identify issues that could affect the Sale & Purchase agreement(s)
- Collaborate with legal professionals in order to conclude relevant deal-related agreements
Business Development
- Help in identifying, prioritizing, and engaging new clients
- Track industry developments and identify emerging trends and opportunities
- Develop relationships with companies and industry participants to generate deal-flow
- Prepare materials for speaking engagements and presentations in the context of forums or trainings
Firm Development
- Improve processes, including operations, recruiting, or marketing
- Serve as a mentor to new Analysts and/or interns, helping to develop the team as we grow
- Assist in identifying and recruiting new team members

Candidate Requirements
We seek to hire individuals who are equipped with the right finance and entrepreneurial skills and are motivated for a career in investment banking and/or investment management. The requirements for successful candidates are:
Experience
- 1-4 years of relevant work experience in any of the following: Investment and/or Corporate Banking, Private Equity, Strategic consulting, Transaction Services, Due Diligence, Audit, or other corporate advisory role
- Direct exposure to corporate finance, financial analysis and/or valuation roles
- Direct experience using valuation methodologies (Market Comparables, Discounted Cash Flow, Asset Valuation, etc.)
- University degree preferably in corporate finance, accounting and/or a combination

Skills
- Strong analytical, logical and business diagnostic skills
- Committed, proactive and entrepreneurial
- Ability to communicate effectively in presentations and express complex strategies in an organized and articulate manner
- Effective time management skills in order to meet deadlines
- Collaborative and team-oriented with sound judgment and strong interpersonal skills
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and structured. Able to deal with ambiguity
- Able to work long hours, against tight deadlines and under pressure
- Willingness to learn and develop

Competencies
- Strong MS Office skills (Excel, PowerPoint and Word) and familiarity with Romanian/CEE financial databases
- Experience performing in-depth research and modeling, including experience building models from scratch in MS Excel
- Strong understanding of accounting, financial analysis, including Romanian Accounting Standards and IFRS
- Excellent command of English and Romanian (writing and verbal). Professional command in another foreign language would be an advantage

What we offer you
- Friendly and entrepreneurial working environment, encouraging a high level of responsibility starting day 1
- Work in small teams, which offers exposure on the entire deal cycle (as opposed to exposure on a few tasks in large firms)
- Diverse opportunities for personal and professional development by working hands-on on challenging and diverse projects, including high-profile transactions for strategic investors, private equity funds, and entrepreneurial firms
- Training on financial modeling, creation of investment presentations and other investment banking activities
- Depending on performance, opportunity for remote work and a flexible schedule early after starting
- Competitive compensation based on prior experience + profit sharing from the firm (very rare for a junior position)
- Clear career prospects with opportunities for annual evolutions on both fixed compensation and profit-sharing
- Opportunity to evolve towards an investing role, in public markets or in private markets
- Working directly with the founders of Blu Advisors, offering a unique opportunity to learn about international practices in M&A and private equity investments

If you are interested in this role, please send your CV, cover letter and preferred starting date to Tudor Mafteianu at tudor.mafteianu@bluadvisors.com. Applications without a CV and cover letter will not be considered.
If selected to pursue, candidates will participate in a case study assessment including a pitching & modeling exercise.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or any other category protected by law.