2027 M&A Summer Associate (RIC)

Harris Williams 2027 M&A Summer Associate

Harris Williams is hiring 2027 M&A Summer Associates for our Richmond team. In order to be considered, you must complete all requirements listed below.

Note: You must submit your resume, cover letter, and Suited assessment for your candidacy to be considered. Please see the "Application Requirements" section for additional directions.

Why Harris Williams

We are ambitious in our goals and steadfast in the belief that clients deserve our very best. We invest in world-class, team-oriented individuals who are smart, driven, and principled those who are eager to be part of something bigger than themselves. When you join Harris Williams, you are welcomed into a collegial environment where every individual has the opportunity to make an impact.

• Meaningful impact from the start: 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 in this role, 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.
• Learn from invested leaders: 83% of our managing directors were promoted from within the firm. They build their careers here, meaning they are uniquely invested in building yours.
• Collaborative work environment: Our goal is to unlock value in great businesses, and it starts by unlocking greatness in each other. We value a range of backgrounds and expertise, and we know our work is better when our teams inspire every individual to confidently contribute.
• Professional development: Your professional development is our top priority. New analysts and associates convene in our Richmond headquarters for a robust training program designed to build relationships, provide baseline knowledge of M&A, and prepare you for your first client engagement. This initial program is just the beginning of an extensive, structured learning experience.
• Comprehensive compensation and benefits program: Highly competitive compensation, pension, 401(k) matching, and eligibility for performance bonus amongst many other robust benefits.

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 for summer associates to have a robust and realistic experience that closely simulates the role of a full-time associate at Harris Williams.

Harris Williams hires 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 message, tone, and detail to the audience, 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 accounting, valuation, and modeling expertise over time
• Problem solving and data analysis Able to identify trends in complex data sets, including through tools such as Capital IQ and FactSet, and articulate the impact of those patterns
• AI literacy Comfort using and directing AI tools to improve output while retaining full ownership of quality, accuracy, and judgment.

What Makes a Harris Williams Summer Associate

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 on tasks big and small.
• Collaboration and Relationships Build trusted relationships across deal teams and firm colleagues, and model our One Firm culture by prioritizing the firm's collective success.
• Communication Articulate ideas clearly and confidently to every audience including in internal discussions and client and C-suite settings.
• Execution Excellence Deliver accurate, high-quality, client-ready work products that reflect sound deal judgment and a high level of attention to detail.
• Growth Mindset Grow continuously by seeking feedback and mentorship and deepening industry, market, and technical knowledge.
• Planning and Organization Manage workstreams and deadlines to deliver consistent, on-time execution without sacrificing quality.
• Strategy Translate data and analysis into actionable insight and a clear point of view that contributes to deal strategy and client recommendations.

Application Requirements

• Ability to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
• Submit application through Harris Williams' website, Submit your cover letter and resume (You must combine your resume with your cover letter into one PDF and upload to the "Resume" section). Your application will not be considered if you do not submit all materials by 9am EST on Friday, October 30, 2026.
• Complete a profile with Suited which will cover your academic background, prior work experience, employment preferences, and ask a series of suitability questions. Your Suited score will be considered as a data point in addition to your resume, interactions with the firm, etc. Please click the following link to proceed: Your application is not complete until you submit the Suited profile.
• If you attend a school based in the south/west coast, please reach out to Jessica Fox (View email address on click.appcast.io), with any questions. If you attend a school based in the north east/Midwest, please reach out to Sydney Freeman (View email address on click.appcast.io) with any questions.

Early Action Process

• Candidates can apply to interview earlier than the traditional recruiting timeline. We award a limited number of merit-based fellowships to candidates that apply and participate in this early interview process. Fellowship selection will be based on a variety of factors including quality of essay, engagement with HW, and interview performance.
• The deadline to apply for our early action process and ensure consideration for a fellowship is 9am EST on October 2, 2026.
• To be considered, candidates are required to submit a supplemental essay through this form: 2027 Summer Associate Job | Early Action Application Supplement Fill out form in addition to completing the application and Suited profile detailed under "Application Requirements."
• If you attend a school based in the south/west coast, please reach out to Jessica Fox (View email address on click.appcast.io), with any questions. If you attend a school based in the north east/Midwest, please reach out to Sydney Freeman (View email address on click.appcast.io) with any questions.

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 business and turn ambitious goals into reality. We approach every engagement with boundless collaboration, pooling expertise and relationships across industries, service offerings, and geographies. For over 30 years, our clients have trusted us to think strategically, execute precisely, and deliver premium outcomes to help them grow.

Disclaimer: Harris Williams will not accept unsolicited resumes from contingency recruiters. Any such resumes received will not be considered as legitimate submissions, and Harris Williams will not pay for the placement of a candidate resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Furthermore, Harris Williams strictly forbids any contingency recruiter from representing the firm in the market without prior consent.