Investment Banking Associate - Biotechnology

Solutions for today’s challenges. Vision for tomorrow’s opportunities. Join William Blair, the premier global partnership.

About the role

Execute in-depth analyses to support new business development, transaction execution, and the delivery of investment banking products and services to clients and prospects. Perform extensive research and financial modeling, apply valuation methods, and complete due diligence activities. Work closely with client staff to advance projects, gathering necessary information, conveying complex financial modeling outcomes, and presenting analysis results. Provide training and mentorship to less experienced staff.

Responsibilities

• Perform extensive financial/valuation analyses to value debt and equity for mergers, acquisitions, and capital-raising transactions.
• Utilize creative approaches to analyses that illustrate key concepts/messages.
• Carefully review and provide guidance to Analysts’ work.
• Build advanced financial models to value potential and actual clients and/or industries, leveraging a broad understanding of valuation and finance/accounting topics.
• Demonstrate thorough knowledge of multiple client sectors and assimilate information to perform insightful analyses.
• Lead due diligence, research, analysis, and documentation of potential and live transactions. Anticipate potential deal issues and communicate concerns to team members in real time.
• Actively participate in presentation development and hypothesis testing to highlight financial analysis and research results.
• Develop, produce, and deliver proposals and presentations to clients and prospects, exhibiting broad knowledge of investment banking product solutions and underlying components.
• Engage in the development of marketing materials that highlight the competitive advantage of William Blair.
• Actively participate in client meetings and drafting sessions.
• Research and expand expertise in industries and/or sectors. Leverage knowledge to target certain clients or industries, monitor key industry drivers, and offer insights into business trends.
• Evaluate and improve best-in-class (BIC) content.
• Identify improvements to processes and propose solutions to complete tasks more efficiently.
• Take ownership of client relationships. Foster effective dialogue with finance and accounting staff to facilitate processes, anticipate needs and challenges, and provide seamless solutions.
• Demonstrate an understanding of macro factors related to the client industry, investment banking products, and potential implications.
• Act as an “on-the-job” trainer for analysts, providing constructive feedback and focusing on improving the quality of analyst and summer intern work product.
• Ensure senior team members are aware of the valuable contributions of all team members.
• Ensure all activities are in compliance with applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Additional responsibilities as requested.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Prior investment banking experience required; 1+ years as an Investment Banking Associate covering biopharma strongly preferred.
• Science background or prior experience working in biotechnology and/or related life sciences industry and/or life sciences consulting preferred.
• Internship or prior work experience in the financial services industry preferred.
• SIE Exam, Series 79, and Series 63 must be acquired within 150 days of employment (for U.S. only).
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical abilities.
• Excellent mathematical, writing, verbal, and computer skills.
• Ability to adapt to new tasks with little notice.
• Ability to manage expectations of senior bankers while working on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Effective leadership and coaching skills.
• Strong desire to win.
• Sound judgment.
• Deep, sophisticated understanding of accounting and finance.
• Commitment to satisfying internal and external customers.
• Travel required: approximately 10% to 30%.
• Willing to join our offices in Chicago or New York.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability and life insurance.
• 401(k) and profit sharing.
• Paid time off.
• Maven family & fertility benefit.
• Parental leave (including adoption, surrogacy, and foster placement).
• Other voluntary benefits.

Pay

Salary Range: $175,000—$175,000 USD. This role is eligible for either a discretionary annual bonus (based on company, business unit, and individual performance) and/or commission-based incentives.

About Our Firm

William Blair strives to attract qualified candidates who specialize in investment banking, investment management, private wealth management, and other strategic resource groups. We are committed to empowering our colleagues to deliver client success and engage in our communities. Our firm has delivered trusted advice for nine decades, continuing to deepen our expertise and relationships across asset classes and markets throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. We provide advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet clients’ evolving needs amid dynamic market conditions and varying industries. What sets us apart is that we are an independent partnership, with colleagues who have unique experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. We empower our people to bring their best thinking so we can deliver the tailored, thoughtful work and problem-solving abilities that our clients expect.