W

William Blair

Investment banking, research, brokerage, asset management

Investment Banking Associate - Aerospace/Defense & Government Services, ADGS

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
$175k+ Discretionary annual bonus + Commission-based incentives
Junior
Bachelor's
Charlotte, NC, USA
In PersonTravel required approximately 10% to 30%.
Finance & BankingInvestment Banking

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree is required.
  • Prior investment banking experience is required; one or more years as an Investment Banking Associate is strongly preferred.
  • SIE Exam, Series 79, and Series 63 must be acquired within 150 days of employment.
  • Strong analytical abilities and attention to detail are required.
  • Strong mathematical, writing, verbal, and computer skills are required.
  • Ability to adapt to new tasks with little notice is required.
  • Ability to manage senior bankers’ expectations while working on multiple projects simultaneously is required.
  • Effective leadership and coaching skills are required.
  • A deep, sophisticated understanding of accounting and finance is required.
  • Commitment to satisfying internal and external customers is required.
Responsibilities
  • Perform extensive financial and valuation analyses to value debt and equity for mergers, acquisitions, and capital-raising transactions, using creative analytical approaches to illustrate key concepts and messages; carefully review and guide Analysts’ work.
  • Build advanced financial models to value potential and actual clients and/or industries, leveraging broad understanding of valuation, finance, and accounting; demonstrate thorough knowledge of multiple client sectors and assimilate information to perform insightful analyses.
  • Lead due diligence, research, analysis, and documentation for potential and live transactions; anticipate potential deal issues and communicate concerns to team members in real time.
  • Participate actively in presentation development and hypothesis testing to highlight financial analysis and research results.
  • Develop, produce, and deliver proposals and presentations to clients and prospects, demonstrating broad knowledge of investment banking product solutions and their components; work with analysts to develop marketing materials highlighting the firm’s competitive advantage.
  • Participate actively in client meetings and drafting sessions.
  • Research and expand expertise in industries and sectors; leverage this knowledge to target clients or industries, monitor key industry drivers, offer insights into sector business trends, facilitate processes, and evaluate and improve BIC content.
  • Identify process improvements and propose solutions to complete tasks more efficiently.
  • Take ownership of client relationships and foster effective dialogue with finance and accounting staff to facilitate processes; anticipate needs and challenges and provide seamless solutions.
  • Demonstrate understanding of macro factors related to client industries and investment banking products and their potential implications.
  • Train analysts on the job, provide constructive feedback, improve the quality of analyst and summer intern work products, and ensure senior team members know the valuable contributions of team members.
  • Ensure all activities comply with applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
  • Perform additional responsibilities as requested.
Desired Qualifications
  • One or more years of experience as an Investment Banking Associate is strongly preferred.

About the company

W

William Blair

View
Website

William Blair is a privately held, employee-owned financial services firm offering investment banking, equity research, brokerage, asset management, and private capital services. It combines advisory, research, trading, asset management, and private capital solutions to help clients raise, invest, and manage capital. Being privately held and employee-owned can influence client relationships and decision-making, and the firm provides multiple services under one roof as a single partner for diverse needs. Its goal is to help clients grow and protect capital through comprehensive financial services across advisory, research, trading, asset management, and private capital solutions.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

$754.3M

Headquarters

Berlin, Germany

Founded

1935

Get referred to William Blair

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • October 1, 2026 Brakebush Brothers and September 29 Guardian Alarm wins show active mandate flow.
  • William Blair added Michael Allwin, Rishi Sethi, and Jayant Dey, broadening fee-generating coverage.
  • June 2026 workforce reached 2,432 employees, while active job postings rose 35.1% in 2026.

What critics are saying

  • No disclosed layoffs mask dependence on deal flow; advisory revenue drops quickly when M&A freezes.
  • Inner Circle Sports integration and 2026 hiring spree strain culture, margins, and partner cohesion.
  • Asset management remains vulnerable: Global Leaders Select launched with only $225 million seed, October 2026.

What makes William Blair unique

  • Employee-owned partnership aligns bankers and investors, reinforcing client retention and recruiting, on October 1, 2026.
  • William Blair advised on $880 billion transactions from July 2021 through June 2026.
  • Its sector-specialist model deepened in 2026 with Inner Circle Sports and William Nay.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Paid Time Off
  • Parental Leave
  • Fertility Treatment Support
  • Family Planning Benefits

Company News

Associated Press
Oct 20th, 2026
William Blair hires Russell Investments' CJ Jaskoll as chief technology officer

William Blair has hired C.J. Jaskoll as chief technology officer, the Chicago firm announced on October 20, 2026. He will lead its firmwide strategy on artificial intelligence, data analytics, and other advanced tools, and joins its Extended Leadership Group. Jaskoll has more than 25 years in the investment industry. He comes from Russell Investments, where he was chief technology officer, and previously worked at Neuberger Berman and Jennison Associates. He succeeds Jim Connors, who will help with the transition through year-end before retiring after 27 years with the firm. "C.J.'s deep expertise at the intersection of technology, data, and artificial intelligence will help accelerate our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients," said chief operating officer Beth Satterfield.

ABF Journal
Oct 20th, 2026
William Blair expands investment banking platform with acquisition of Armentum Partners.

William Blair expands investment banking platform with acquisition of Armentum Partners. The move deepens the firm's focus on the venture capital ecosystem and adds differentiated capital solutions for high-growth companies. William Blair acquired Armentum Partners, a boutique debt and alternative capital solutions advisory firm serving venture-backed businesses, public companies and academic institutions. The transaction broadens William Blair's capital markets and debt advisory solutions, adding an enterprise value and asset-based lending and royalty monetization capability. The firm includes professionals in Boston, Chicago, Menlo Park, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco, serving clients in the U.S. as well as Europe. As part of the transaction, William Blair will open an office in Menlo Park, establishing a presence in the heart of Silicon Valley in addition to William Blair's existing strategic footprint. All Armentum Partners professionals have joined William Blair as part of the transaction, preserving their deep relationships and specialized expertise. "We continue to invest in capabilities and teammates who can provide differentiated outcomes for our clients across the venture capital, public company, and collegiate communities," Matt Zimmer, global head of investment banking at William Blair, said. "The Armentum Partners team has decades of experience earning the trust of their clients, key investors and lenders in their markets, and the institutions and universities that fuel innovation. Together, we can offer these clients a broader set of solutions to finance their continued growth." Steve Maletzky, head of capital markets at William Blair, added, "This is a natural synergistic extension of our capital markets strategy. Enterprise value lending is a specialized discipline - financing companies against the value of their assets, often before traditional cash flows exist. Armentum Partners has built a leading franchise advising many of the most well-known and innovative public companies, universities and venture-backed businesses." Armentum Partners will continue to operate under the same name for a period of time after the closing of this transaction. "We built our firm with a dedicated focus on our clients, offering them access to our deep market relationships and expertise in delivering bespoke solutions," Armentum's Hutch Corbett said. "Joining William Blair unlocks opportunities for our clients, providing the increased scale, reach and sector depth of a premier global platform along with relationship and execution continuity. We can now offer our clients a much deeper set of services - including public and private equity capital raising, M&A advisory, secondary advisory, primary fund raising and equity research - while leveraging William Blair's sector breadth to cover adjacent industries." Clearsight Advisors served as financial advisor to Armentum in connection with the transaction.

Business Wire
Oct 20th, 2026
C.J. Jaskoll joins William Blair as chief technology officer.

C.J. Jaskoll joins William Blair as chief technology officer. Technology executive with more than 25 years in the investment industry to lead firmwide technology strategy, including AI and data CHICAGO-(BUSINESS WIRE)-William Blair today announced that C.J. Jaskoll has joined the firm as chief technology officer, leading William Blair's firmwide strategy to leverage artificial intelligence, data analytics, and other advanced capabilities to empower growth, unlock innovation, and elevate the client experience. Jaskoll brings more than 25 years of experience in the investment industry and will focus on enabling our business's intellectual capital to deliver creative solutions aligned with the firm's strategic priorities and outstanding outcomes for our clients. He joins as a member of the firm's Extended Leadership Group. "C.J.'s deep expertise at the intersection of technology, data, and artificial intelligence will help accelerate our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients and create new opportunities for growth and innovation across the firm," William Blair Chief Operating Officer Beth Satterfield said. "We are excited to welcome C.J. to William Blair and look forward to his leadership as we continue investing in the future of our business." Jaskoll joins William Blair from Russell Investments, where he most recently served as chief technology officer and was a member of the firm's operating committee. During his tenure, he led a broad technology transformation across the firm's asset and wealth management businesses. Before Russell Investments, he spent seven years at Neuberger Berman as head of investment, data, and AI technology. Earlier in his career, he spent 13 years at Jennison Associates, ultimately serving as director of front-office technology. "William Blair's culture, commitment to clients, and focus on innovation make it a truly exciting place to be," said Jaskoll. "I look forward to partnering with colleagues across the firm to advance our technology strategy and help shape the future of the business." Jaskoll succeeds Jim Connors, who will support the transition through year-end before retiring after 27 years with the firm. As chief technology officer, Connors has been responsible for all technology services across the firm, leading a group focused on building the digital, cloud, and analytical capabilities that support William Blair's business objectives. "For more than a quarter century, Jim has been a trusted partner building a technology foundation that our clients and colleagues rely on," Satterfield said. "We are grateful for Jim's contributions to William Blair, and thank him for his leadership and dedication." About William Blair William Blair is the premier global partnership with expertise in investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. We provide advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet our clients' evolving needs. As an independent and employee-owned firm, together with our strategic partners, we operate in more than 30 offices worldwide.* *Includes strategic alliances with Allier Capital, BDA Partners, and Poalim Equity Ltd. Contacts. For information, contact Doug Holt William Blair +1 312 364 8465 [email protected]

The Middle Market
Oct 19th, 2026
Charlesbank Capital Partners Invests in Wood Smith Henning & Berman

Charlesbank Capital Partners Invests in Wood Smith Henning & Berman. Charlesbank Capital Partners has made a strategic investment in a newly formed management services organization supporting national litigation firm Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP, which will remain an independent law firm. The investment will support the formation of WSHB Support Services, a management services organization (MSO) that will provide non-legal operational infrastructure to WSHB. The partnership will enable WSHB to expand geographically, strengthen its practice areas and invest in technology, including artificial intelligence and data science. WSHB's attorneys will retain sole authority over legal practice and client matters. Daniel Berman, WSHB's executive chairman and co-founder, will serve as CEO of the MSO, while Stewart Reid will remain firmwide managing partner of the law firm. Founded in 1997, WSHB is a national litigation firm representing insurers, self-insured corporations and institutional clients. The firm employs more than 550 attorneys across 43 offices in 23 states. Riverbrook Capital served as financial advisor to WSHB, while Gipson Hoffman & Pancione and Troutman Pepper Locke served as its legal advisors. Piper Sandler served as financial advisor to Charlesbank, with Weil, Gotshal & Manges, Kirkland & Ellis and Frankfurt Kurnit Klein + Selz serving as legal advisors. William Blair Acquires Armentum Partners The acquisition marks William Blair's second investment banking acquisition of the year. To read the entire story, you must be logged in. Banner Capital-Backed Roof Restoration Group Partners with Exterior Solutions Group ESG provides roof replacement, restoration and facility maintenance services to K-12 public school districts, colleges and commercial property owners. To read the entire story, you must be logged in. Lightview Capital Invests in Thorn Run Partners The firm provides government affairs and policy advisory services. To read the entire story, you must be logged in. AIP Backs Silgan's $3.4B Acquisition of Trivium Packaging Trivium Packaging supplies recyclable metal packaging products to more than 800 customers worldwide. To read the entire story, you must be logged in.

The Middle Market
Oct 5th, 2026
Nova Capital Acquires BMP Group and RB Medical from Andrew Industries

Nova Capital acquires BMP Group and RB Medical from Andrew Industries. Nova Capital Management, a private equity firm focused on industrial and specialized manufacturing businesses, has acquired BMP Group and RB Medical from Andrew Industries. The acquired companies will retain their existing management structures, while Nova plans to provide strategic, financial and operational support aimed at investment, operational improvement, product development and growth. BMP Group manufactures industrial consumable parts and sub-assemblies for applications spanning office automation, filtration, automotive, domestic appliances, sustainable tree protection and renewable energy. RB Medical is a specialized healthcare products business serving the U.K. medical sector. Nova plans to work with the existing management teams on strategy, performance and investment, with Omiros Millas, a partner at Nova, and Carl Francis, a Nova operating partner, jointly responsible for BMP Group and RB Medical on the firm's behalf. The acquisition expands Nova's portfolio of specialized industrial and manufacturing businesses, while Andrew Industries exits its ownership of the companies. William Blair Appoints Emanuela Branchetti to Expand Biopharma Investment Banking Team Branchetti joins from Truist Securities, where she served as managing director and head of scientific affairs. To read the entire story, you must be logged in. Gridiron Capital Invests in Lawn Care Franchisor Weed Man Weed Man provides residential lawn care programs centered on fertilization and weed control, along with additional lawn care services. To read the entire story, you must be logged in. Houlihan Lokey Adds Jane Ma as Managing Director in Financial Services Group Ma joins the global investment bank after 16 years at Moelis. To read the entire story, you must be logged in. FVLCRUM Funds Purchases Fidelity Technology Services Fidelity Technology Services is a provider of military simulation training systems and services. To read the entire story, you must be logged in.