Corporate Development Associate

About Aquarian

Aquarian Holdings ("Aquarian") is a diversified global holding company with a strategic portfolio of insurance and asset management solutions.

Aquarian Insurance Holdings acquires and operates insurance companies with a focus on life and annuity underwriting, deploying strategies to grow balance sheet profitability by writing new insurance/reinsurance, improving investment income, and optimizing operations. After launching in 2017, Aquarian finalized its first investment in 2018 in Investors Heritage, a regional life insurer domiciled in Kentucky that focuses on pre-need policies. Working closely with management, Aquarian helped the company grow with expanded product offerings and distribution channels, building on its 60-year track record of exceptional client service.

Aquarian continued to deepen its expertise and grow its existing offerings in insurance and reinsurance through its acquisitions of Hudson Life and Annuity Company in 2021 and Somerset Re in 2022.

Aquarian Investments complements the insurance operations , combining best practices from the world’s leading financial services firms with its own distinct strategy, approach, and organizational culture. Aquarian has continued to expand into alternative assets and private credit through the launches of Aquarian Liquid Credit, Aquarian Strategic Opportunities, Aquarian Private Credit, and Aquarian Real Estate Partners.

Aquarian has since grown its business to approximately $25.8 billion in AUM, with 40 investment professionals, multiple funds, and insurance and reinsurance companies, all committed to providing meaningful investment opportunities to millions of people.

In November 2025, Aquarian announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement under which an affiliate will acquire Brighthouse Financial in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $4.1 billion. Brighthouse is one of the largest providers of annuities and life insurance in the U.S., with approximately $208 billion of AUM. Following the anticipated close of the transaction in 2026, Brighthouse Financial will operate as a standalone entity within the Aquarian portfolio.

Role Summary

Aquarian Holdings is seeking a highly motivated, detail-oriented Corporate Development Associate with Financial Institutions Group (FIG) investment banking and/or private equity experience to support the Corporate Development and Aquarian Strategic Opportunities (ASO) teams. The Associate will play an active role in evaluating and executing strategic transactions and investments across the Aquarian platform, with exposure to M&A, transaction analysis, financial modeling, due diligence, execution, and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

The Associate will report to Corporate Development leadership and work closely with the ASO team and other senior leaders across the organization on strategic initiatives and transactions. The role provides significant exposure across the Aquarian platform, direct engagement with senior decision makers, and the opportunity to take on progressively greater responsibility. For high-performing individuals, we expect the role to provide meaningful advancement opportunities within the firm.

The position is based in New York City with an immediate start date.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct financial, market, and industry analysis to evaluate potential acquisitions, investments, and other strategic opportunities.

• Develop detailed financial models, including valuation, transaction, ability-to-pay/M&A analyses and returns projections, to support transaction evaluation and decision-making.

• Prepare presentations, investment committee materials, and other analyses for senior management and key stakeholders.

• Support all aspects of transaction due diligence, working closely with internal teams and external advisors to evaluate potential targets and investment opportunities.

• Support transaction execution, including the negotiation and development of term sheets, transaction documentation, and other legal materials.

• Coordinate and, in certain instances, lead workstreams with external advisors, including investment bankers, attorneys, consultants, and third-party diligence providers.

• Monitor industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory developments across the financial services sector.

• Support ongoing monitoring and oversight of completed transactions and investments, including periodic and ad hoc analysis.

• Partner with teams across the organization, including Legal, Investment Operations, and Finance to ensure timely completion of fundings and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications:

• 3–5 years of relevant experience in investment banking and/or private equity, including meaningful FIG experience, with M&A, structured finance, and/or leveraged finance experience strongly preferred.

• Robust skills in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, with proficiency in other Microsoft Office applications, as well as financial services applications such as Capital IQ, Bloomberg, etc.

• Intermediate understanding of credit investing is a plus.

We desire the following qualities in all candidates:

• Must be detail-oriented and have excellent analytical and presentation skills.

• Must possess strong critical thinking skills, a high degree of intellectual curiosity, and a desire to take on greater responsibilities and leadership, all of which are essential to success at Aquarian.

• Ability to work efficiently and effectively both on teams and individually.

• Ability to be a self-starter and work directly with senior executives of the Aquarian team as well as the executive teams of various counterparties.

• Must have the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines for short, long, and ad-hoc assignments.

• Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills required to effectively communicate with a variety of audiences.

Aquarian is an equal opportunity employer. Aquarian is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the business and are valued for their skills, experience and unique perspectives. Aquarian does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status, mental or physical handicap or disability, age, citizenship status, alienage, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other criteria prohibited under applicable federal, state or local law. Aquarian makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.