Corporate Development Manager

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Develop and sustain a proprietary pipeline of acquisition candidates that align with Ascend’s growth objectives.

• Conduct outbound business development through direct outreach to owners and founders while fostering relationships with M&A intermediaries, brokers, and investment bankers.

• Represent Ascend in initial discussions with sellers and advisors.

• Monitor and prioritize targets via a structured pipeline, providing status updates to leadership.

• Evaluate targets based on revenue quality, margin profile, recurring revenue composition, and client concentration.

• Construct valuation models and deal economics including multiples, synergies, and integration cost estimates.

• Facilitate financial, legal, and operational diligence in collaboration with the CFO, legal counsel, and external advisors.

• Compile deal summaries and recommendations for Letter of Intent (LOI) and closing decisions.

• Collaborate with Acquisition Integration to transfer findings from the deal stage into post-close integration strategies.

• Engage in pre-close integration planning.

• Maintain a playbook of lessons learned to enhance target criteria and diligence checklists.

• Work alongside the Chief Integration and Transformation Officer, CEO, CFO, and Finance and Acquisition Integration teams.

⛳️ Requirements

• 3–6 years of experience in corporate development, investment banking, private equity/growth equity, or FP&A, with direct involvement in deal execution.

• Proven financial modeling and valuation capabilities, encompassing comparables, DCF, and deal economics.

• Experience in sourcing or assessing deals directly, including outbound business development.

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline.

• Previous M&A experience in MSP, IT services, or broader B2B services is preferred.

• CFA, MBA, or equivalent credentials preferred.

• Direct experience collaborating with sell-side advisors, brokers, or investment banks is preferred.

• Familiarity with post-merger integration is preferred.

• Capability to sit, stand, and bend throughout the duration of the shift.

• Occasional lifting of up to 50 lbs.

• U.S. citizenship or eligibility for employment options is required in the application form.

🏝️ Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Retirement savings options.

• Flexible time off (FTO).

• Professional development opportunities.

• Competitive salary.