Corporate Development Senior Associate – M&A

Embark (verb) to make, start or begin

We are a financial consulting firm founded by a non-accountant, entrepreneur challenging the status quo. We believe people can actually love their jobs, work hard, AND enjoy having a life. Our mission is to provide peace of mind to corporate finance & business leaders, and we take it very seriously. As we strive to bring a new twist to the professional services work, our people and culture REALLY do determine our decisions and our future.

We're growing quickly, but not at the expense of our culture or people.

Who we’re looking forTo excel in this role, you’ll need to be a self-starter who is ready to perform on day one. You’ll need to be adaptable, and come in with ideas, suggestions, and the attitude that you’re willing to try just about anything. In a small team like ours, everyone wears a lot of hats, and nothing is “not your job.”  

The environment is dynamic, so you’ll also need to be flexible and adaptable to change as we grow.

What you’ll be doing

We're looking for a high-performing M&A Senior Associate to join our team. This is an excellent opportunity to work at a fast-paced, private equity-backed organization with a dedicated, passionate team. Given the small, tight-knit nature of the M&A team, this person will be an integral contributor helping execute Embark's rapid growth plans.

Job Summary The Corporate Development team at Embark is a high-impact, entrepreneurial function advancing Embark’s growth through acquisitions and strategic investments. Reporting to the Head of Corporate Development, you will contribute across all phases of the deal process and apply your strategic and analytical skills to the identification, evaluation, and advancement of acquisition opportunities.

Responsibilities Own financial modeling, valuation, and returns analysis

Coordinate diligence work streams across finance, legal, IT, compliance, and operations

Support target identification and deal sourcing (market research, founder meetings, cold outreach), and maintain a detailed acquisition target database

Conduct market, financial, and competitive research to identify opportunities that enhance long-term enterprise value

Coordinate cross-functional work streams and external advisors throughout the transaction process

Draft letters of intent, investment committee memos, deal recommendations, and Board materials that clearly articulate rationale and impact

Review quality of earnings findings and evaluate net working capital pegs, purchase price adjustments, and other closing mechanics

Model deal structures including earnouts, seller notes, and rollover equity, and support negotiation of key economic terms

Partner with business leaders to ensure successful integration and onboarding of acquired companies and achievement of investment objectives

Support financing work streams and prepare lender and sponsor reporting materials

Support broader corporate development initiatives, including applying AI tools to pipeline screening, diligence review, and deal reporting

The Ideal Candidate Self-starter with a strong work ethic who holds themselves and others to high standards

Executive presence, comfortable in founder and owner conversations, and capable of building trust with management teams of closely held businesses

Excellent communicator, able to distill complex concepts concisely in writing, speech, and presentations

Qualifications / Requirements Bachelor's degree or equivalent; MBA or CFA welcome but not required

Location:

Open to candidates in Eastern or Central time zones;
Hybrid office policy if located in proximity to an Embark office

Travel: approximately 20%, primarily for management meetings, site visits, and post-close integration3 to 6 years of M&A experience at an investment…