Business Development Associate
Chicago Atlantic is a private markets alternative investment manager focused on industries and companies where demand for capital exceeds traditional supply. The firm’s investment strategies include opportunistic private credit and equity with focuses on loans to esoteric industries, specialty asset-based loans, liquidity solutions, and growth and technology finance. Chicago Atlantic has closed over $3.3 billion in credit facilities. The team of over 100 professionals has offices in Chicago, Miami, New York, and London.
About the role
We are seeking an experienced Business Development Associate to join our industry-leading cannabis private credit team. As an Associate on the cannabis originations team, you will function as a fully integrated team member in a flat structure that allows for direct client interaction and collaboration with Managing Directors and Vice Presidents across underwriting and originations. You will be an integral part of the cannabis team, driving processes including deal executions, originating pitches, and tracking deal flow. The cannabis originations team is responsible for originating, structuring, and executing credit facilities and syndications. Chicago Atlantic is a leader in cannabis finance and strives to see every deal in the space. This role is ideal for someone with a few years of investment banking experience who wants to transition into private credit and/or private equity.
Responsibilities
- Manage diligence pipeline for deal makers at the firm
- Monitor cannabis rate and credit market dynamics and how they affect our clients’ debt portfolios and funding decisions
- Analyze market data, investment grade deal flow, and thematic events to provide information to internal teams and external clients
- Prepare client pitches that address capital needs
- Participate in the structuring and marketing of bond and loan executions as well as loan amendments and liability management
- Coordinate with deal teams for execution of documentation and moving the deal pipeline further
- Develop industry-specific knowledge of the client base and awareness of key decision makers (e.g., CEOs, CFOs, Treasurers, Capital Markets Directors)
- Maintain direct dialogue with client coverage officers, debt and equity partners, and banking syndicate
Requirements
- 3 years minimum of investment banking experience or equivalent, including roles at ‘Big 4’ Professional Services Firms (e.g., Ernst & Young, PwC) within Transaction/Tax Advisory and Diligence, Financial Services Advisory, or Audit Services
- Excellent accounting, finance, quantitative, and business writing skills
- Familiarity with the banking regulatory landscape and key trends
- A well-rounded academic background with a strong track record of achievement
- Impeccable communication skills with the ability to effectively interact with senior professionals, clients, and key stakeholders
- Comfortable working in a high-pressure environment, possessing superior organizational skills and the ability to efficiently multi-task across various deliverables
Skills
- Excellent Excel modeling skills
- Utilization of AI tools (e.g., Claude) to augment output for presentations and modeling
- Strong written and verbal communication