Development Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Ranked among the largest accounting and consulting firms in the country and consistently recognized as a Great Place to Work, Cherry Bekaert delivers innovative advisory, assurance and tax services to our clients. We are proud to foster a collaborative environment focused on enabling your career growth and continuous professional development. Cherry Bekaert is seeking a Corporate Development Manager to join the team. The role of a Corporate Development Manager involves helping lead and manage the strategic analysis, planning, and execution of Cherry Bekaert's acquisition strategy as a key member of our 5-person Corporate Development team. This position entails in-depth business and financial analysis, financial modeling, structuring and negotiation of deals, and contributing to the integration process post-acquisition to ensure seamless transitions. The role requires collaborating with senior leadership and cross-functional teams, managing stakeholder communications, and being a critical member of a high-performing team focused on achieving successful M&A outcomes in a highly acquisitive PE-backed business. This role has significant hands-on learning potential for an early or mid-career deal professional. Ultimately, this role contributes to the organization's strategic growth and value creation through effective M&A execution.

The person in this role will have an opportunity to work remotely from within the United States.

As a Corporate Development Manager, you will:

• Conduct detailed financial and business performance analyses and valuation work for potential acquisition targets. This role is highly technical and includes leveraging AI tools and automations to help streamline our analytical and modeling work.

• Support and help develop M&A strategies (sourcing, deal execution and post-close integration) that align with the company's long-term goals and broad M&A opportunity.

• Collaborate with Corporate Development team and senior leadership to identify strategic opportunities and risks associated with potential acquisitions

• Help develop comprehensive deal structures that meet strategic objectives and financial criteria.

• Be a critical driver of the due diligence process, ensuring thorough evaluation of business, financial, legal, and operational aspects.

• Leverage business and operational diligence processes to support the development of pre-close integration plans that ensure seamless transitions post-acquisition, addressing key operational, cultural, and financial aspects.

• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to implement integration strategies effectively and efficiently.

• Support acquisition prospect identification and sourcing efforts across key Cherry Bekaert business segments, in partnership with the Corporate Development team, segment business leaders and executive leadership.

• Develop tailored discussion materials for various interactions with potential acquisition targets pre- and post-LOI, including prospecting, virtual and on-site diligence, and deal execution

• Help prepare and present detailed reports and presentations to senior management and the board of directors.

What you bring to the role:

• 3+years of strong experience in corporate development, private equity, investment banking, or consulting with a focus on M&A.

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Computer Science or a related field.

• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Strong understanding of corporate finance, business data, valuation methods, and financial statements.

• Expertise in project management and ability to drive results within specified timelines.

• Ability to contribute in a key role to complex M&A transactions and successfully integrating acquired companies.

• Strong excel-based financial modeling, analytical, and strategic thinking skills.

• Knowledge of or interest in the use of current AI tools to accelerate financial analysis, modeling, and process automation / materials generation

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to assess the financial health and potential of acquisition targets.

• Skills in strategic planning and the ability to align M&A activities with the company's long-term objectives.

• Capability to identify and evaluate strategic growth opportunities through M&A.

• Ability to oversee due diligence processes, ensuring thorough vetting of targets.

• Experience or interest in planning and overseeing post-acquisition integration efforts to ensure smooth transitions and achieve synergies.

• Familiarity with or interest in organizational change management and integration best practices.

• Ability to foster a collaborative team environment and mentor team members.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, for presenting findings and recommendations to stakeholders.

• Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

What you can expect from us:

• Our shared values that foster inclusion and belonging including uncompromising integrity, collaboration, trust, and mutual respect

• The opportunity to innovate and do work that motivates and engages you

• A collaborative environment focused on enabling you to further your career growth and continuous professional development

• Competitive compensation and a total rewards package that focuses on all aspects of your wellbeing

• Flexibility to do impactful work and the time to enjoy your life outside of work

• Opportunities to connect and learn from professionals from different backgrounds and with different cultures

Benefits Information:

Cherry Bekaert cares about our people. We offer competitive compensation packages based on performance that recognize the value our people bring to our clients and our Firm. The salary range for this position is included below. Individual salaries within this range are determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education, knowledge, skills, and geographic location. In addition, we offer a comprehensive, high-quality benefits program which includes annual bonus, medical, dental, and vision care; disability and life insurance; generous Paid Time Off; retirement plans; Paid Care Leave; and other programs that are dedicated to enhancing your personal and work life and providing you and your family with a measure of financial protection.

Pay Range:

About Cherry Bekaert

Cherry Bekaert, ranked among the largest assurance, tax and advisory firms in the U.S., serves clients across industries in all 50 U.S. states and internationally. For more details, visit https://www.cbh.com/disclosure/

Cherry Bekaert provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, citizenship status, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. https://careers.cbh.com/legal-disclosures/ contains further information regarding the firm's compliance with federal, state and local recruitment and hiring laws.

This role is expected to accept applications for at least five calendar days and may continue to be posted until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.

Candidates must demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States.Cherry Bekaert will not provideworksponsorship for this position.

Cherry Bekaert LLP and Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC are members of Allinial Global, an accountancy and business advisory global association. Visit us athttps://careers.cbh.com/ and follow us onLinkedIn,Instagram, Twitterand Facebook.

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