Investment Banking Analyst - Strategic Finance and Shareholder Engagement & Activism Advisory

Shareholder Engagement & Activism Advisory (SEAA) and Strategic Finance Group (SFG)

SEAA advises public companies, Boards of Directors, and senior executives on activism preparedness and response strategies, shareholder engagement, governance matters, and complicated M&A situations. The team provides strategic insights and analysis needed to support the critical advice it provides to clients as they navigate complex shareholder dynamics and seek to drive long-term value creation.

SFG partners with Boards of Directors, and senior executive teams on high-impact strategic decisions, including valuation analysis, strategic alternatives reviews, portfolio optimization, corporate transformations, capital deployment, M&A capital markets, and capital structure design. Known for its analytical rigor and proprietary frameworks, SFG helps clients unlock sustainable shareholder value.

The Role

Jefferies is seeking a driven and intellectually curious Analyst to join our growing M&A Advisory platform in New York, supporting both the Shareholder Engagement & Activism Advisory and Strategic Finance Groups. The scope of work will be multi-disciplinary, extending across M&A, capital markets and legal areas of expertise, as well as typical investment banking core competencies such as financial modeling and data analysis. This role offers a rare opportunity to work directly with senior leaders and subject matter experts on high-impact, board-level strategic and financial advisory engagements.

As an Analyst, you will collaborate across industry coverage and product teams to deliver strategic advice to corporate clients. You will play a key role in developing shareholder defense materials, building complex financial models, and creating intellectual capital that supports governance, M&A, and corporate finance engagements.

Key Responsibilities

• Support SEAA and SFG teams in live engagements and business development initiatives
• Build and maintain complex financial models and valuation analyses
• Perform shareholder register assessments and analysis of investor portfolios
• Evaluation of activist shareholder past performance and provide insights into potential tactics and strategies
• Develop shareholder engagement and activism defense materials
• Conduct strategic alternatives reviews and capital structure assessments
• Analyze corporate governance frameworks, bylaws, board structures, and takeover defenses
• Contribute to proprietary tools, databases, and knowledge assets
• Collaborate with senior bankers and cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment
• Prepare client presentations and participate in internal and external meetings

Skills & Attributes

• Strong foundation in M&A, capital markets, valuation, and corporate strategy
• Advanced proficiency in Excel (including data analysis) and PowerPoint; strong financial modeling skills required
• Experience with financial databases (e.g., DealPointData, Bloomberg, Capital IQ, Refinitiv, FactSet, Diligent, ISS)
• Ability to interpret financial statements, investor presentations, and governance documents
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; confident presenting to senior stakeholders
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to thrive in team-based environments
• Creative problem-solving skills and comfort with ambiguity
• High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Mathematics, or related field with strong academic performance
• Must have one plus year of investment banking experience
• Prior internship or work experience in investment banking, consulting, law, or corporate finance preferred
• Demonstrated interest in corporate finance, shareholder activism, governance, and M&A advisory

The salary range for this role is $110,000- $125,000