Investment Banking Vice President - ESOP

Vice President - ESOP Investment Banking

Location: Denver, CO

About the Firm

Our client is a rapidly growing middle-market investment banking advisory firm with a strong presence in the United States. The firm specializes in providing strategic advisory services to privately held businesses, with particular expertise in ownership transition solutions, including Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, and capital raising transactions.

The team is known for its entrepreneurial culture, collaborative environment, and commitment to delivering tailored solutions to business owners across the AEC industry. Due to continued growth and an active transaction pipeline, the firm is seeking to add a Vice President to its ESOP Advisory practice in Denver.

Position Overview

The Vice President will play a key role in leading the execution of ESOP-related transactions while supporting business development efforts and managing junior team members. This individual will serve as a primary point of contact for clients throughout the transaction process and will work closely with senior leadership to deliver high-quality strategic advice to founder- and family-owned businesses considering employee ownership solutions.

This position offers significant client exposure, leadership responsibility, and the opportunity to contribute to a growing advisory platform focused on ownership transition and middle-market transactions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day execution of ESOP transactions, including sell-side advisory engagements, recapitalizations, fairness opinions, and strategic ownership transition assignments.
• Manage financial analyses, valuation work, transaction marketing materials, and client presentations.
• Serve as a primary liaison between clients, legal counsel, trustees, lenders, accounting firms, and other transaction participants.
• Oversee due diligence processes and coordinate transaction timelines through closing.
• Review and mentor Analysts and Associates on financial modeling, valuation analyses, and transaction deliverables.
• Support senior bankers in originating new business opportunities and developing relationships with business owners, referral sources, and professional advisors.
• Participate in client meetings, industry events, and business development initiatives.
• Contribute to the continued growth and strategic development of the firm's ESOP advisory practice.

Requirements

• 6+ years of investment banking ESOP advisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience executing middle-market ESOP
• Strong understanding of financial statement analysis, business valuation methodologies, and transaction structuring.
• Experience managing deal processes and coordinating multiple stakeholders simultaneously.
• Proven ability to manage and mentor junior professionals.
• Strong client-facing communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
• Advanced financial modeling and valuation capabilities.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to be based in or relocate to the Denver, Colorado area.