Mergers and Acquisitions Associate

M&A ASSOCIATEBrooks Safety Solutions | Charlotte, NC Compensation:$120,000 - $140,000 per year +bonusABOUT THE ROLEThe M&A Associate is a newly created role reporting directly to the Director of Corporate Development, sitting at the center of BSS's active buy-and-build strategy. You will be a hands-on deal team member across the full acquisition lifecycle – from pipeline origination through close and integration.A meaningful part of this role involves travel to meet prospective acquisition targets in person. These are often founder-owned businesses, and you will have a front-row seat engaging with accomplished entrepreneurs who have built successful companies from the ground up. It is a rare opportunity to build authentic relationships with business owners at a pivotal moment in their journey.This is a high-visibility role for an analytically strong, driven professional with investment banking, corporate development, or private equity experience who is ready to take ownership in a fast-moving, PE-backed environment.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESPipeline Development & Target Screening•      Support the Director of Corporate Developing in building and maintaining a robust acquisition target pipeline across BSS's priority product and geographic expansion categories•      Conduct industry research, competitive landscape analyses, and market mapping to identify actionable targets•      Prepare target screening materials including company profiles, preliminary financial summaries, and strategic fit assessments•      Support proactive outreach and relationship management with intermediaries, bankers, and direct targetsFinancial Modeling & Valuation•      Build and maintain detailed acquisition models including LBO, accretion/dilution, and return scenario analyses•      Synthesize quality of earnings (QoE) findings and diligence outputs into refined financial models•      Support deal pricing and structuring recommendations in coordination with the Director and H.I.G. deal team•      Maintain and continuously improve BSS's financial modeling templates and analytical frameworks  Due Diligence & Deal Execution•      Coordinate end-to-end diligence workstreams across financial, operational, commercial, legal, and HR tracks•      Manage the virtual data room (VDR), diligence tracker, and third-party advisor workstreams•      Support LOI drafting, negotiation processes, and preparation of investment memorandums and Board approval materials•      Assist with closing deliverables and coordination with legal counsel through signing and closePost-Close Integration•      Serve as an active contributor in post-close integration and synergy realization efforts•      Support organic growth initiatives and other strategic projects as directed by BSS leadershipQUALIFICATIONSRequired•      2–4 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, or corporate development•      Strong financial modeling skills – LBO, DCF, and M&A transaction analysis•      Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting to C-suite and PE sponsor audiences•      High attention to detail with strong organizational and project management capabilities•      Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; experience with data room platforms a plus•      Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a related fieldPreferred•      Exposure to distribution, industrial products, safety, or B2B services sectors•      Experience supporting or leading due diligence processes end-to-end•      Familiarity with quality of earnings (QoE) analyses and working capital adjustment mechanics•      Comfort with AI tools and a genuine interest in streamlining workflows — leveraging technology to move faster, stay organized, and surface insights more efficiently is a plusWHAT WE OFFER•      Competitive base salary and performance-based annual bonus•      Direct mentorship from the Director of Corporate Development and BSS senior leadership•      Travel to meet founder-owners across the country, unique access to successful entrepreneurs at a pivotal moment in their businesses•      Front-row seat to the full M&A lifecycle – origination, diligence, close, and integration – at a PE-backed platform actively executing deals•      High-visibility role with a clear path to grow within the corporate development function•      Collaborative, performance-oriented culture in a lean, entrepreneurial team environment