Investment Banking Associate - Shareholder Engagement and Activism Advisory

Location: New York, NY

About Jefferies

Jefferies is a leading global, full-service investment banking and capital markets firm, providing advisory, financing, sales and trading, research, and wealth management services to clients worldwide. Our Shareholder Engagement & Activism Advisory team advises corporate boards, management teams, and investors on matters involving shareholder relations, activism and hostile takeover preparedness and response, value creation initiatives, strategic transactions, and corporate governance.

Position Summary

Jefferies is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Associate to join its Shareholder Engagement & Activism Advisory team in New York. The Associate will play a critical role in advising public company clients on live activist campaigns, activist defense and hostile M&A preparedness programs, shareholder engagement strategies, investor sentiment analysis, strategic alternatives, governance matters and special situations.

The successful candidate will work closely with senior bankers, corporate executives, boards of directors, legal advisors, and institutional investors while contributing to some of the most complex and high-profile shareholder and activism and hostile M&A-related engagements in the market.

Key Responsibilities

Client Advisory & Execution

• Support senior bankers in advising public company clients on activism and hostile M&A preparedness and response strategies, as well as shareholder engagement strategies and programs.


• Conduct analysis of shareholder bases, ownership trends, investor behavior, governance structures, and voting patterns.


• Analyze the activism landscape and prepare insightful analyses to help clients understand the dynamics shaping the activism universe and how it could impact their business. 


• Assist in developing strategic recommendations related to shareholder communications, governance enhancements, capital allocation, and value creation initiatives.


• Support execution of activism and M&A defense assignments, contested M&A, proxy campaigns, and special shareholder matters.

Financial & Strategic Analysis

• Analyze activist investment theses and prepare assessments of strategic, operational, and financial implications.


• Evaluate shareholder concerns, voting dynamics, and market perceptions impacting clients.


• Investigate trading patterns of securities and implications on investor sentiment


• Monitor activism trend developments, activist campaigns, governance trends, and regulatory changes.


• Understand shareholder rights and market practices across different geographic regions

Presentation & Marketing

• Prepare high-quality client presentations, board materials, investor communications, and strategic reviews.


• Assist in the development of business development materials and thought leadership initiatives.


• Develop rebuttal decks for live proxy fights or contested M&A


• Coordinate internal resources and contribute to pitch processes and client meetings.

Project Management

• Manage multiple workstreams across active client engagements.


• Coordinate with legal counsel, proxy solicitors, public relations advisors, governance consultants, and other external advisors.


• Mentor and oversee Analysts, ensuring high-quality execution and professional development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Economics, Accounting, Business, or a related field.


• 3–5 years of relevant experience in investment banking, shareholder advisory, activism defense, corporate governance advisory, M&A, strategic consulting, proxy advisory, or related fields.


• Strong financial modeling and valuation skills.


• Exceptional analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving abilities.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.


• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.


• Advanced proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, AI and financial databases.

Preferred

• MBA, JD or similar advanced degree 


• Experience advising public company boards and executive teams.


• Knowledge of corporate governance, proxy mechanics, shareholder engagement, and activist investing.


• Understanding of institutional investor behavior and stewardship trends.


• Experience with contested M&A, activist campaigns, or special situations advisory.

Salary Range: $175,000 - $225,000

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