Corporate Finance Research Associate

Corporate Finance Research Associate

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Corporate Finance Research Associate to join our research team. This is an entry-level / junior opportunity for someone interested in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and business research.

The successful candidate will support live corporate finance assignments and business development activity by researching companies, sectors, investors, transactions and valuation benchmarks. You will work closely with the Deal Advisory team, receiving training and feedback while developing a strong understanding of the M&A process.

Department Corporate Finance Employment Type Permanent Location Johannesburg Workplace type Onsite

Key Responsibilities

• Identifying potential strategic buyers, private equity investors and other relevant counterparties for corporate finance assignments
• Researching potential acquisition targets based on agreed financial, geographic and sector criteria
• Producing company profiles covering activities, ownership, locations, scale, investment history and strategic fit
• Researching precedent M&A transactions and comparable publicly listed companies
• Gathering valuation information, including enterprise value, revenue, EBITDA and relevant valuation multiples
• Supporting sector and market research, including market size, growth drivers, competitive landscapes and M&A trends
• Building and maintaining structured buyer, investor, target and transaction lists in Excel
• Supporting the preparation of pitch documents, buyer presentations, market reports and other client materials
• Recording research findings clearly, consistently and with appropriate sources
• Updating internal databases, CRM records and research trackers
• Checking company names, financial information, ownership data and contact details for accuracy
• Managing multiple research requests and meeting agreed deadlines
• Highlighting data limitations, conflicting information and potential research gaps to senior team members
• Meeting online with and discussing research results with clients
• Supporting other ad hoc research and analytical projects as required

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

Previous corporate finance experience is not essential (but beneficial), but it would be helpful to have:

• Previous experience in business research, financial research, consulting, professional services or data analysis
• Familiarity with financial statements and terms such as revenue, EBITDA, enterprise value and valuation multiples
• An understanding of mergers and acquisitions, private equity or capital markets
• Experience using company information, transaction or financial databases
• Experience producing professional research in Excel or PowerPoint

We Are Looking For Someone Who Can Demonstrate:

• A relevant tertiary level qualification would be beneficial
• Strong desk-based research and information-gathering skills
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Good numerical ability and confidence working with financial information
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Clear, concise and professional written communication
• Strong organisational and time-management skills
• Confidence using Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word
• The ability to assess the quality and reliability of different information sources
• Intellectual curiosity and an interest in understanding how businesses operate
• The ability to work independently while following established processes
• A willingness to ask questions and respond positively to feedback
• Confident taking part in online meetings and discussing results with clients
• Reliability when working remotely and handling time-sensitive assignments

About Sumer Offshore Services

We are dedicated to being the champions for SME businesses. Working together with our colleagues in the UK we are able to remotely deliver a range of accounting, tax, audit, advisory and business services to clients across the UK and Ireland.

Whether its to free up time so that businesses can focus on the things that matter, help grow the business, or work through the trickiest of problems, we are here to help you succeed.

Our Hiring Process

Stage 4

Offer

Stage 5

Background Checks

Stage 1

Review

Stage 2

Screening Call

Stage 3

1st Stage Interview

Stage 5

Background Checks

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