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.
