Associate (Contract)- Strategy, Corporate Finance, M&A Advisory

About Jeffrey Pine Consulting

Jeffrey Pine Consulting is a rapidly growing boutique advisory firm that specializes in strategy, corporate finance and M&A advisory services. We work with founder- and family-owned businesses, delivering proven expertise with continuity across the business lifecycle.

Our team members have led companies as CEOs and CFOs, and backed 80+ private businesses as investors. With backgrounds at firms like Goldman Sachs, Slalom, Blackstone, and NBCUniversal—we bring both financial acumen and operating experience to every client.

About the Role

We are seeking an exceptional Associate to join our team to play a key role in high-impact engagements with founder- and family-owned businesses. This early-career role combines analytical thinking, financial expertise, and client collaboration to help our clients navigate their most critical business decisions and transformative transactions across their entire business lifecycle.

As an Associate, you will work alongside senior advisors, supporting business owners, CEOs, and their leadership teams. You'll contribute to engagements that address complex challenges to deliver sophisticated solutions including formulating growth strategies, optimizing operations, and executing M&A transactions. You will develop into a long-term partner who treats our clients' businesses like your own.

Please note: At this time, we are only considering U.S.-based candidates for this position.

Key Responsibilities

Client Engagement & Delivery

• Support and execute on deliverables for multiple concurrent engagements across strategy, corporate finance, and M&A for small and mid-sized founder- and family-owned businesses
• Assist senior team members in managing client accounts, providing personalized service and hands-on support throughout every phase of a client’s business lifecycle
• Collaborate on creative, tailored solutions to unique business challenges while maintaining uncompromising integrity, and consistent communication with the engagement team 
• Contribute to exceptional quality deliverables and outcomes that align with client objectives

Corporate Finance

• Apply financial and analytical rigor to help solve problems and surface opportunities
• Build and maintain sophisticated financial models
• Conduct unit economics analysis, customer retention analysis, and sales effectiveness studies
• Assist with capital allocation decisions and forward planning with actionable insights

M&A Advisory

• Help senior team members prepare for and execute strategic M&A opportunities, from tuck-ins to extraordinary liquidity events
• Support both buy-side and sell-side M&A advisory engagements with rigorous attention to detail
• Assist senior team members in guiding clients through the entire transaction process — from valuation and CIM development through due diligence, negotiation, and closing
• Support fundraising advisory services to finance growth plans
• Contribute to smooth, efficient transaction processes while clients continue running their day-to-day businesses

Strategy & Operations

• Partner with senior-level team members to create sustainable strategies for our clients’ profitable growth, grounded in data and facts
• Support growth strategy development for new products and markets, strategic reviews, and long-range planning
• Help develop actionable strategic roadmaps that balance quick operational wins with longer-term priorities
• Assist senior team members in implementing strategic initiatives for clients

Team & Culture

• Collaborate with team members to deliver exceptional client outcomes
• Develop skills by working closely with senior advisors on client engagements
• Contribute to a collaborative culture focused on continuity, expertise, and long-term client partnerships

Qualifications

Required

• 2-4 years of progressive experience in strategy consulting, investment banking, corporate development, private equity, or a related field
• Strong foundation in financial modeling, valuation, unit economics, and corporate finance principles
• Exposure to or experience supporting M&A transactions
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to develop trusted client relationships grounded in integrity and results

Preferred

• Experience at a top-tier strategy consulting firm, investment bank, or private equity firm
• Familiarity with founder-led or family-owned businesses and an understanding of their distinct challenges
• Exposure to the business lifecycle — from growth-stage strategy through mature company transformations and exits
• Experience contributing to proposal development to support pursuits of new business opportunities
• Industry knowledge in sectors relevant to founder- and family-owned businesses
• Location in Southern California or the DMV area (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia)

What Makes This Role Different

Continuity Across the Business Lifecycle 

You won't parachute in for a single client project and move on. You'll grow alongside senior team members and clients, building relationships across multiple engagements. 

Focus on Founder- and Family-Owned Businesses 

You'll work exclusively with a traditionally underserved segment of the market, developing deep expertise in the unique opportunities and challenges they face.

Long-term Partnership Model 

You'll contribute meaningfully to client engagements, developing skills across strategy, finance, and M&A faster than you would in a larger firm.

What We Offer

• A collaborative culture built on core values of integrity, respect, client centricity, and execution excellence
• We pursue client engagements that make a double bottom-line (financial and societal) impact where possible
• Opportunity to work as a practitioner, not just an Associate, with businesses that value continuity and quality
• Opportunity to make impactful contributions at a fast-growing boutique firm where personalized service and hands-on guidance define our approach
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial culture with significant autonomy 
• Direct impact on the professionalization of entrepreneurial, double bottom line businesses delivering commercial results and social impact.
• Competitive compensation including bonus potential
• Contract to full-time hire pathway 
• Flexible work arrangements that respect work-life balance