Associate - Financial Sponsor Coverage

Position Overview

Harris Williams seeks to hire an Associate to join the Financial Sponsor Coverage team in the Richmond, Virginia office.

Harris Williams will not provide sponsorship for employment visas or participate in STEM OPT for this position.

We are a global investment bank specializing in M&A and private capital advisory services. Clients worldwide rely on us to help unlock value in their business and turn ambitious goals into reality. We approach every engagement with boundless collaboration, pooling expertise and relationships across industries, service offerings, and geographies. For over 30 years, our clients have trusted us to think strategically, execute precisely, and deliver premium outcomes to help them grow.

• Workstream Leadership & Hands-On Execution — Directs and prioritizes the team's work streams, partnering closely with the FSC Analyst(s), Vice President, and senior bankers to ensure deliverables are on schedule and meet the standard required for senior banker and firm leadership consumption.
• Strategic Analyses & Market Insights — Leads the development of HW proprietary data analyses, including buyer performance/behavior, HW deal trends, process dynamics, and pitch activity, alongside tracking of PE industry and macroeconomic trends; ultimately translates into valuable insights for FSC senior bankers and HW deal teams ahead of client meetings, and creation of FSC content for firmwide use.
• Marketing Materials & Origination Support — Owns strategy and idea generation for HW presentations supporting PE client meetings and calls, leveraging existing and new creative content in support of lead pursuit.
• Senior Banker Coordination — Serves as the primary point of coordination between the FSC Analyst(s)/SCCs and the FSC VP, Director, and MDs, keeping senior bankers apprised of deliverable status and surfacing insights and observations for broader firm distribution.
• Market Presence & Client Engagement — Displays fluency, polish, and command of the M&A and Private Capital Markets needed to represent the firm credibly in front of private equity professionals; over time, the Associate is expected to take on a meaningful role in sponsor-facing interactions.
• FSC Reporting — Supports, develops, and owns FSC recurring reporting needs, including internal dashboards, and related standing deliverables.
• CRM and Data Services — Maintains a deep, current understanding of the firm's CRM and partners with HW data services and technology teams to shape new and improved reports, optimize reporting interfaces, and safeguard data integrity.
• Special Projects — Proactively identifies, pursues, and delivers value-adding projects in support of FSC strategy and broader firm needs, partnering closely with senior bankers, Analyst(s), and SCCs, as well as business operations and technology teams as needed.

• Experience — 2-4 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, or a related financial services role; prior exposure to sponsor/financial institutions coverage, origination, or deal teams is a plus.
• Business Acumen — Exhibits strong knowledge and understanding of key business and financial markets concepts and terminology needed for sound decision-making in the context of Harris Williams' business, its clients, and the industries it serves.
• Business Analytics — Demonstrates deep proficiency across the Microsoft suite (CRM, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) and key industry/banker platforms (e.g., Claude/AI tools, Pitch Book, Mergermarket, CapIQ, Upslide), along with strong analytical technique in evaluating proprietary and third-party PE and M&A industry data.
• Judgment & Communication —…