2027 M&A Summer Associate (SF)

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

About the Role

Harris Williams is hiring 2027 M&A Summer Associates for our San Francisco team. As an associate, you will have a high level of exposure to clients and senior bankers, who will place value in your ideas and unique perspective. Associates are responsible for driving work forward, in partnership with analysts. With an industry-leading pitch win rate, you will see the full lifecycle of multiple client engagements, enabling you to develop into a well-rounded, trusted advisor.

Join a leading firm in the most dynamic segment of investment banking: M&A and private capital advisory services are among the most intellectually rigorous and strategically important segments within banking. In this role, your work will directly shape the trajectory of the clients we serve.

• Meaningful impact from the start: High exposure to clients and senior bankers, with your ideas and perspective valued.
• Learn from invested leaders: 83% of our managing directors were promoted from within the firm, ensuring they are uniquely invested in your career growth.
• Collaborative work environment: We value diverse backgrounds and expertise, fostering an environment where every individual can confidently contribute.
• Professional development: New associates convene in our Richmond headquarters for a robust training program, followed by an extensive, structured learning experience.

Compensation and Benefits

• Highly competitive compensation
• Pension plan
• 401(k) matching
• Eligibility for performance bonus
• Comprehensive benefits program (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability protection, and more)
• Paid time off: up to 11 paid holidays, 9 occasional absence days, and 15–25 vacation days per year
• Maternity and/or parental leave
• Dependent care reimbursement account
• Adoption, surrogacy, and doula reimbursement
• Educational assistance, including select fully paid programs
• Robust wellness program with financial incentives

What We Look For

As a Summer Associate, you will learn the deal process through live transaction work alongside seasoned banking professionals. Our goal is to provide a robust and realistic experience that closely simulates the role of a full-time associate at Harris Williams.

We hire individuals who are motivated by challenge, demonstrated through academic performance and prior work experience. While no specific academic concentration is required, the following skillsets are desired:

• Learning agility: Curious and proactive in learning, applying new information, and incorporating feedback to develop quickly.
• Communication: Able to articulate ideas clearly and tailor messages to different audiences, both verbally and in writing.
• Excel and PowerPoint: Skilled in MS Office, including advanced Excel (formulas, data validation, tables, conditional formatting) and PowerPoint, to produce accurate, client-ready work.
• Accounting and finance: Working understanding of how the income statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet connect, with a willingness to deepen expertise over time.
• Problem solving and data analysis: Able to identify trends in complex data sets (using tools such as Capital IQ and FactSet) and articulate their impact.
• AI literacy: Comfort using and directing AI tools to improve output while retaining full ownership of quality, accuracy, and judgment.

Core Competencies

Summer Associates who thrive at Harris Williams lead multiple workstreams while maintaining focus on quality. Our associate profile is built around seven core competencies:

• Ownership: Drive work forward and own outcomes from start to finish, advancing tasks with accountability for the end result.
• Collaboration and Relationships: Build trusted relationships across deal teams and firm colleagues, prioritizing collective success.
• Communication: Articulate ideas clearly and confidently to all audiences, including clients and C-suite executives.
• Execution Excellence: Deliver accurate, high-quality, client-ready work products with sound deal judgment and attention to detail.
• Growth Mindset: Seek feedback and mentorship, and deepen industry, market, and technical knowledge continuously.
• Planning and Organization: Manage workstreams and deadlines to deliver consistent, on-time execution without sacrificing quality.
• Strategy: Translate data and analysis into actionable insights and a clear point of view that contributes to deal strategy and client recommendations.

Qualifications

• Ability to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
• Roles at this level are filled by recent university/college graduates with little or no professional experience but possessing relevant skills.
• In lieu of a degree, a comparable combination of education, job-specific certifications, and experience (including military service) may be considered.
• No specific degree or certifications required.

Pay

Base Salary: $175,000.00. Salaries may vary based on geographic location, market data, and individual skills, experience, and education.

Application Process

To be considered for the 2027 M&A Summer Associate position, you must:

• Submit your resume, cover letter (combined into one PDF), and complete a Suited assessment profile by 9am EST on Friday, October 30, 2026.
• Apply through Harris Williams’ website: www.harriswilliams.com/careers.
• Complete the Suited profile here.

For questions, contact Jessica Fox at jfox@harriswilliams.com.

Early Action Process

Candidates can apply to interview earlier than the traditional recruiting timeline. A limited number of merit-based fellowships are awarded to candidates who apply and participate in this early interview process. Fellowship selection is based on essay quality, engagement with Harris Williams, and interview performance.

• Deadline for early action consideration: 9am EST on October 2, 2026.
• Submit a supplemental essay via this form in addition to the standard application and Suited profile.

For questions, contact Jessica Fox at jfox@harriswilliams.com.

About Harris Williams

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 businesses and turn ambitious goals into reality. For over 30 years, our clients have trusted us to think strategically, execute precisely, and deliver premium outcomes.