Lead Investment Banker (Partner)

Job Description

Lead Investment Banker

Tampa, FL

Southeast Region

About Now Exit

Now Exit is a founder-focused investment banking and M&A advisory firm dedicated to helping business owners maximize value and successfully transition their companies. We specialize in advising privately held businesses through mergers and acquisitions, exit planning, and strategic transactions, helping entrepreneurs achieve life-changing outcomes.

As we continue to expand throughout the Southeast, we are seeking an experienced Lead Investment Banker to lead business development efforts, advise clients on complex transactions, and build a high-performing regional team.

This is a unique opportunity for a proven investment banking professional who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment and wants to play a key role in building the premier lower middle-market investment banking platform in the Southeast.

Position Summary

The Investment Banker will serve as leader responsible for originating and executing M&A transactions, developing strategic client relationships, and hiring and leading a team of remote Market Presidents throughout the Southeast.

This role is ideal for a proven investment banking rainmaker with a strong network of business owners, private equity groups, attorneys, accountants, wealth advisors, and professional referral sources. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated history of winning mandates, generating transaction revenue, and successfully closing deals within the lower middle market.

The Managing Director will play a significant role in shaping the future growth of Now Exit while helping business owners navigate one of the most important events of their lives, the successful sale of their company.

Key Responsibilities

Transaction Origination & Business Development

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• Source and originate new M&A advisory engagements throughout the Southeast region.
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• 5-10 years’ experiences with M&A transactions
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• Develop and maintain relationships with business owners, private equity firms, family offices, attorneys, CPAs, wealth advisors, and other referral partners.
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• Build a sustainable pipeline of sell-side and buy-side opportunities.
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• Represent Now Exit at certain industry conferences, networking events, and community organizations.
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Client Advisory & Transaction Leadership

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• Advise privately held business owners on exit planning, valuation, and strategic alternatives.
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• Lead transactions from sourcing engagement through closing.
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• Provide executive-level guidance during negotiations and transaction execution.
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• Partner with internal deal teams to deliver exceptional client outcomes.
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Leadership & Team Development

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• Lead and mentor a team of remote Market Presidents throughout the Southeast.
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• Establish performance goals and accountability measures for business development efforts.
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• Support recruiting, onboarding, and growth of future team members.
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• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on client success.
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Required Qualifications

Experience

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• 7 to 10+ years of investment banking experience.
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• Proven history of originating and closing sell-side transactions.
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• Significant experience working with privately held businesses within the lower middle market.
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• Comfortable working with founder-led businesses generating $10 million to $100 million in annual revenue .
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• Demonstrated success building and maintaining executive-level relationships.
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Licensing

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• Active FINRA Series 79 license required.
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• Active FINRA Series 63 license required.
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• Additional securities licenses are a plus.
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Location

Candidates must reside within one of the following markets:

Tampa, FL

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is:

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• A proven investment banking producer with a strong personal network. Can originate and has a network of business owners, PE sponsors, or lenders.
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• Track record of closing, not just material preparation and running processes.
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• Will protect the client relationship always.
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• Entrepreneurial, self-motivated, and growth oriented.
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• Comfortable operating in a fast-growing environment.
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• Experienced across multiple industries and transaction types.
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• Passionate about helping business owners achieve successful exits.
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• A strong leader capable of managing and inspiring distributed sales and advisory organization.
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• Skilled at balancing revenue generation, client advisory services, and leadership responsibilities.
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Compensation & Benefits

Competitive base salary plus participation in success fees.

Incentive Compensation

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• Significant upside tied directly to production and firm growth
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• Opportunity to build long-term equity value within a rapidly growing platform
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Why Join Now Exit?

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• Opportunity to help build a premier lower middle-market investment banking platform.
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• Great firm built by operators without egos.
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• High degree of autonomy and entrepreneurial freedom.
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• Access to a growing network of business owners throughout the Southeast.
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• Direct influence on the firm's growth strategy and leadership team.
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• Competitive compensation with substantial earnings potential.
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• Meaningful work helping founders realize the value of their life's work.
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Join Us

If you are a high-performing investment banking professional who has successfully advised business owners, originated transactions, and built trusted relationships throughout the Southeast, we would welcome a confidential conversation.