Title: Associate

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Target Start Date: Q4 2025 / Q1 2026

Firm Overview:

Birch Lake is a private capital and advisory firm that partners with founders, entrepreneurs and businesses to unlock growth and create lasting value. With a focus on long-term relationships, we bring a unique blend of flexible capital, strategic insight and operational expertise to both investments and advisory engagements. Our clients rely on us to navigate pivotal moments—from scaling a business to restructuring, recapitalizing or preparing for a transition—and we are deeply committed to helping them achieve their goals.

We are a lean, highly effective team, known for our agility, creativity and unwavering commitment to excellence. Our size is our strength, it enables us to move quickly, think independently and work shoulder-to-shoulder with the businesses we support. Whether we’re investing in a company’s future or guiding it through a complex decision, we approach every partnership with clarity, conviction and a shared sense of purpose.

For more information on Birch Lake, our team, and our core values, please visit www.birchlake.com

Role Description:

The ideal candidate is passionate about creating value through investment, strategy and operational improvement and seeks to become a team member responsible for driving initiatives to accomplish this objective. The Associate will work in a fast-paced environment with a dynamic team, focusing on both providing top-tier advisory services to our clients and investing in complex situations. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in the continued growth and success of our firm.

Responsibilities:

Assist in the sourcing, evaluation and execution of new investment opportunities and client engagements
Conduct financial and business diligence, develop dynamic and integrated financial models and perform valuation and ad hoc analysis
Assist in the creation of investment memoranda and presentations
Participate in the strategic planning and budgeting process with portfolio companies and monitor and analyze portfolio company financial performance
Assist with other initiatives as requested, including the creation of tools/templates,

marketing materials and other internal processes

Engage with peers in the financial community and associations to develop a strong professional network
Serve as a full-time ambassador of the Birch Lake culture and values

Qualifications:

A minimum of 2-3 years of previous work experience in investment banking, private equity, private credit, financial restructuring and/or strategy or operations consulting
Proven ability to build financial models and conduct financial analysis
Strong proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint
Strong problem-solving, analytical and decision-making skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, and work under pressure to meet deadlines
Driven, proactive self-starter, with an ability to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
Expected to work in the office five days a week
Familiarity with AlphaSense, PitchBook, and S&P Capital IQ is a plus
Must successfully pass the SIE exam and securities license exams, including Series 7, 63, and 79, within 120 days of commencing employment

Salary & Benefits

At Birch Lake, we offer a competitive compensation package. This role has an expected salary range of $160,000- $190,000 based on experience and qualifications. The successful candidate may be eligible for a discretionary bonus and profit sharing. Birch Lake offers a full range of benefits and programs to meet our employee’s needs; including Medical, Dental, Health Savings Account, 401(k), etc.

To Apply:

Please submit resume with Easy Apply application.

Birch Lake

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