Investment Banking Associate | Consumer

Business Unit:
Corporate Finance
Industry:
Consumer
Overview
Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) is a leading global investment bank recognized for delivering independent strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial sponsors, and governments. With uniquely deep industry expertise, broad international reach, and a partnership approach rooted in trust, the firm provides innovative, integrated solutions across mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Our unmatched transaction volumes provide differentiated, data-driven perspectives that help our clients achieve their most critical goals. To learn more about Houlihan Lokey, please visit HL.com.
Corporate Finance
Houlihan Lokey has extensive expertise in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, activist shareholder and takeover defense, and other related advisory services for a broad range of U.S. and international clients. Our experience in M&A has earned us consistent recognition throughout the industry. In 2025, LSEG ranked our firm the No. 1 investment bank for all global M&A transactions.
Job Description
Associates in the Consumer Group support investment banking engagements and new business development efforts. They work primarily on the execution of mergers and acquisitions transactions, as well as develop expertise and build relationships with clients in one or more sectors within the Consumer coverage universe.


Houlihan Lokey's CFR group is the No. 1 consumer M&A team in the United States, according to data from Refinitiv. Combining extensive market capabilities with in-depth industry knowledge, the Consumer group guides companies on M&A, restructuring, and financial advisory matters and assists in raising debt and equity capital. Houlihan Lokey's Consumer team has helped maximize shareholder value for its clients historically and completed over 135 deals globally throughout 2021 and 2022, solidifying the group's reputation as a trusted advisor to companies in the Consumer industry.

As part of our team, you will:

• Prepare, analyze, and explain historical and projected financial information
• Coordinate and perform business due diligence and execute M&A transactions
• Prepare marketing materials, confidential information presentations, management presentations, and other presentations as needed
• Perform valuation and ad hoc financial analyses
• Assist in the marketing and execution of existing engagements
• Build relationships and maintain direct contact with clients, prospective clients, and professional advisors
• Communicate effectively with all members of the team, including the supervision and mentoring of junior staff members

The environment at Houlihan Lokey is both collegial and entrepreneurial. Teamwork is essential to the firm's success. At the same time, creativity and new ideas are encouraged. Financial Analysts are given substantial responsibility and are encouraged to help us grow our business.

Basic Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have prior investment banking experience, a strong work ethic, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment. While teamwork is essential to the firm's success, creativity and new ideas are encouraged.
• At least 3 years of investment banking experience is required
• Coursework in accounting and finance required
• Strong analytical capabilities and excellent verbal and written communication skills
• A fundamental understanding of valuation theory, methodologies, and application

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong financial and computer (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) skills
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with all levels of staff

Compensation and Benefits
Houlihan Lokey is committed to providing its employees with an exciting career opportunity and competitive total compensation package, which may include other components such as discretionary incentive compensation. The firm's good faith and reasonable estimate of the possible salary range for this role at the time of posting is:
$175,000
Actual salary at the time of hire may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's relevant qualifications, skills, and experience and the location where this position may be filled.
Houlihan Lokey provides a competitive benefits package. Our current benefits offerings can be found here:

2026 Benefits

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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