Associate, Transaction Advisory Services About Palm Tree: Join an elite team of respected experts who approach the needs of M&A differently, in a demanding, yet supportive and collaborative culture. Founded in 2010, Palm Tree is the modern M&A advisor. We are the single source for integrated investment banking and financial consulting services that enable businesses to better prepare for and execute on transactions, transitions, and transformations.
Palm Tree approaches strategic events from the perspectives of owners and operators. Our processes and deliverables enable our clients to make critical business decisions efficiently and to create value in strategic events. Strategic events include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, carve-outs, recapitalizations, refinancings, restructurings, and growth and performance improvement initiatives.
We were born out of private equity. It gives us the resilience, flexibility, and perspective of owners and operators. Our team comes from private equity, Big-4 accounting, investment banking, and business operations experience. We understand the time-sensitive, uncompromising demands of M&A to deliver advantageous outcomes for private equity firms and business operators alike.
What we offer: Accelerated, merit-based career advancement compared with more rigid, bureaucratic firms An opportunity to have an impact with a rapidly scaling, entrepreneurial, collaborative culture centered on growing people's skills inside of fast-paced M&A environments Working with top private equity firms, M&A advisors, and corporations Experience with multiple facets of M&A and investment banking projects that require engagement and communication at all levels of the organization A principled culture that lives its core values through the actions of the firm and its individuals High-performing yet supportive and interconnected teams throughout the organization Highly competitive salary, bonus, and benefits structure A flexible, hybrid work environment with access to open office plans in strategic markets Who we are seeking: Ideal Associate candidates should have 4+ years of prior work experience in Financial Due Diligence with a Big 4 Accounting firm or the equivalent. Responsibilities & Duties: The general execution of Quality of Earning and Working Capital Adjustment engagements, providing management, direction, and assignment of tasks to colleagues, and leading communication with clients throughout the process. Design and develop work streams, often involving complex quantitative analysis and detailed financial models at various granularity levels, to drive operational and transactional insight Review and finalize financial due diligence on key areas of the Income Statement and Balance Sheet Provide final quality control of client deliverables (including Quality of Earnings reports) that highlight the key financial, commercial, and other findings Formulate adjustments based on accounting concepts, as well as observations of trends in financial statements and interactions with management Review and finalize analysis on key operational data, cashflow, net working capital, debt, and debt-like items Assist junior team members with analysis of core financial due diligence Provide guidance to clients as to how to incorporate our reports and other deliverables into the client's valuation and sale, purchase agreement, and other negotiating points Lead meetings and conference calls in financial and business due diligence to assist with various investment and growth decisions Perform detailed analyses and synthesize actionable insights from data sets and unstructured information sources Assist with thoughts on deal structure, terms, and working capital targets Effectively and efficiently communicate with senior team members in status updates of engagements Begin to participate in developing new client relationships and other business development functions Be actively involved in building and maintaining client relationships and other business development opportunities Qualifications & Requirements:
Associate candidates should have an undergraduate degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or other related fields; any postgraduate degrees, including MAC or MBA, are preferred but not required. Ideal Associate candidates should have 4+ years of prior work experience in Financial Due Diligence with a Big 4 Accounting firm or the equivalent.
Candidates who strongly align with our core values and are interested in private equity, entrepreneurship, M&A, and transaction services will do well at Palm Tree.
In addition to demonstrating a strong work ethic, candidates should have sound technical skills and proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. Experience with BI technologies and other data manipulation tools is a plus but not required.
Other qualities we look for in a candidate:
Is dedicated to delivering high-quality work products and always pushing themselves to do their best Is committed to a "team first" atmosphere and has the will to support their teammates and learn from those around them in each engagement Is proactive, motivated, and has a self-starter attitude with a desire to improve continuously Has an inquisitive personality that enjoys puzzles, combining strong analytical and critical thinking skills with attention to detail Has an ability to "stay cool" under pressure and thrive in demanding work environments Has excellent written, presentation, leadership, and interpersonal communication skills Is highly organized with strong project management skills Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, & Access Our people are our greatest asset. As skilled professionals faced with complex challenges, we value unique and creative ideas that help us grow stronger, smarter, and more adaptable for tomorrow. At Palm Tree, we view inclusion, diversity, equity, and access as critical to achieving excellence and belonging to foster an authentic culture where creative solutions flourish.
We believe that our work for clients and the well-being of our company are strengthened by the diversity of our people. We recognize the systemic barriers that have limited opportunities, access, and representation for women and minorities in the financial services industry. We are committed to developing a new paradigm to create a diverse and inclusive financial services firm of the future. We actively seek and welcome people of differences in background, from culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and age to gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, ability, neurodiversity, political views, veteran status, and more.
Together, we strive to create an environment that values diversity, promotes an inclusive culture, and establishes a profound sense of belonging for each member of our team.
Compensation: The base salary for this position ranges from $100k-$125k with a top-of-industry bonus. The final title and compensation will be based on the candidate's experience and day-1 capabilities, as determined in the interview process. Palm Tree offers top medical, dental, and vision premium coverage, a competitive 401k program, an unlimited paid time off (PTO) policy (no formalized limits; take as needed), a robust maternity/paternity leave program, and many other fringe benefits.
*Palm Tree requires 5% - 35% travel with the ability to work remotely and with offices in the L.A., Chicago, Detroit, and Dallas markets*
