Analyst & Associate - FIG/Insurance Advisory & Principal Investments - Merchant Bank - Goodman Masson

An expanding firm with advisory and principal investment capabilities centred on the financial services sector and with a strong focus on insurance. The firm operates as a principal investor, partner, and advisor to insurers, banks, investment managers, and other institutional investors.

You will contribute to the provision of advisory and investment in strategic opportunities across the global financial services sector, providing M&A, capital formation and broader strategic advisory services to insurers, banks, asset managers and institutional investors. The business approaches transactions from both an advisory and principal investment perspective, with a focus on long-term value creation.

The Role

They are targeting strong quantitative profiles to work alongside existing teams across both Investment underwriting and transaction execution.

• Evaluate investment opportunities and strategic transactions; develop financial and valuation analyses, investment cases and transaction recommendations, and support execution across M&A and principal investment activities.

• Due diligence and process management – coordinate due diligence, advisers and counterparties across active mandates and investments; support interactions with management teams, investors and strategic partners.

• Principal investments and portfolio management – support the assessment, execution and monitoring of proprietary investments; contribute to investment committee materials, portfolio reviews, value creation initiatives and investor reporting.

• Capital raising and investor materials – prepare investor presentations, information memoranda (IMs/CIMs), fundraising materials and other documentation used in transaction, capital formation and investment processes.

• Research and origination – conduct sector research, market mapping and target screening; identify investment opportunities and contribute to business development and origination activities across the firm's focus sectors.

Team members are expected to approach assignments as both advisers and principal investors, considering not only transaction execution but also capital allocation, risk-adjusted returns and long-term value creation.

Candidate Profile

Analyst and Associate levels, with title and compensation calibrated to the candidate’s pre-hire full-time experience and potential.

Specific criteria:

• Investment banking or principal investing professional with FIG and / or insurance sector focus, with demonstrable real-deal execution experience on live M&A; OR Big 4 transaction services / M&A advisory professional with FIG or insurance sector exposure

• Insurance sector experience is preferred; exceptional FIG candidates with transaction depth will also be considered

• Strong financial modelling and valuation skills, ideally including insurance-specific techniques

• c. 1–6 years of pre-hire full-time experience

• Top-tier Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a leading research-intensive university; strong academic record

• Demonstrable deal ownership in a prior role — execution, modelling, and direct counterparty engagement on closed or live transactions (pure research, coverage, or equity research roles without execution exposure will not be considered)

• Excellent communication and presentation skills

• Thoughtful and proactive use of AI productivity tools alongside independent analytical judgment

• Collegiate, reliable, commercially astute, and able to operate with limited supervision in a small-team environment

• Professional fluency in English; an additional European language (German, French, Dutch) is a plus