Investment Banking Associate 1, Fund Placement

Job Summary & Responsibilities:

The William Blair Fund Placement team advises private market managers throughout the capital raising process. Transaction execution and the delivery of fundraising services to clients and prospects. Perform extensive fundraising advisory services and complete due diligence activities. Work closely with the project management and distribution teams to advance projects, gather necessary information, convey relevant investor updates and present findings to clients. Provide training and mentorship to less experienced staff.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide advice to clients on fundraise strategy, structuring, timing, investors and legal terms. Utilize creative approaches to analyze and illustrate key fundraising concepts/messages. Carefully review and provide guidance to Analysts’ work


• Demonstrate thorough knowledge of the various private market strategies. Assimilate information to perform insightful analyses


• Anticipate potential deal issues and pass concerns through to team members in real time


• Actively participate in development of all materials related to the fundraising process. Respond to prospective investor due diligence questions


• Demonstrate an understanding of broader fundraising markets and potential implications to each client process


• Manage fundraising process, include investor tracking and client communications


• Engage, with analysts, in the development of marketing materials that highlight the competitive advantage of William Blair Private Capital Advisory


• Actively participate in client meetings and internal discussions


• Identify improvements to processes and propose solutions to complete tasks more efficiently


• Take ownership of client relationships. Foster effective dialogue with finance and accounting staffs to facilitate processes. Anticipate needs and challenges and provide seamless solutions


• Act as "on the job" trainer for analysts, providing constructive feedback. Focus on improving the quality of analyst and summer intern work product. Ensure senior team knows the valuable contributions of all team members


• Ensure all activities are in compliance with applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures


• Additional responsibilities as requested

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required


• Prior fundraising, investor relations or private placement experience required


• Prior investment banking experience preferred


• Detail oriented with strong analytical abilities


• Excellent writing, verbal and computer skills, including ability to create materials


• Critical thinking with problem-solving skills


• Ability to adapt to new tasks with little notice


• Ability to manage expectations of senior bankers while working on multiple projects simultaneously


• Effective leadership and coaching skills


• Strong desire to win


• Sound judgement


• Deep, sophisticated understanding of private markets and the fundraising process


• Commitment to satisfying internal and external customers


• Travel required: approximately 10% to 30%

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