Fulltime Finance Research Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Primary Research Specialist

Location: Mon-Friday, On-site - Washington D.C.

Hours: 40 hours per week

Duration: After one year, opportunity for extension or promotion

About Us

Matters Graph is a specialist buy-side-focused consultancy that provides objective fact-based commercial due diligence and value gen support for private equity and private lender clients

About the Role

We're looking for sharp, driven college graduates to join our team as Primary Research Specialists. This is your chance to build real professional skills in a role that is critical to Private Equity advisory.

Your mission: Identify the right experts. Pitch them on participating. Schedule the consultation. Deliver for the client. Repeat - across industries, topics, and seniority levels.

You'll spend your days researching industries, cold calling and emailing professionals across a variety of fields - from former Fortune 500 executives to niche technical specialists - and coordinating research consultations for our consulting teams. You'll manage multiple projects at once, learn to pitch with confidence, and build skills that translate directly into careers in consulting, finance, sales, and beyond

What You'll Do

Research and identify qualified experts using LinkedIn, professional databases, industry publications, and creative sourcing strategies

Cold call, email, and message senior professionals across industries to recruit them for paid research consultations

Screen and qualify potential participants for relevance, expertise, and availability across multiple simultaneous projects

Coordinate scheduling between experts and our research team or clients, managing all logistics from first contact to post-call follow-up

Manage your pipeline - maintain clean, accurate CRM records and report on project progress and outreach metrics

Improve the playbook - contribute to better outreach scripts, sourcing strategies, and team processes over time

What We're Looking For

Required:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (all majors welcome)

Excellent verbal and written communication skills - you're articulate, persuasive, and professional on the phone

Resilient and persistent - cold outreach means hearing "no" often, and you don't take it personally

Highly organized - you can manage 1-3 projects simultaneously without letting anything slip

Self-motivated and resourceful - you figure things out and don't wait to be told what to do

Able to work in-person at our D.C. office Monday through Friday

Preferred:

1-2 years of experience in sales, business development, recruiting, fundraising, customer service, or any outreach-driven role

Familiarity with CRM tools (Salesforce, HubSpot) or research platforms (LinkedIn Sales Navigator, ZoomInfo)

Background or interest in consulting, finance, and private equity

Why This Program?

It's a launchpad, not a dead end. Our one-year structure is designed to build your skills progressively and position you for your next career move - whether that's with us or beyond.

At the end of year 1, research analysts will be eligible for extension or may be considered for full-time associate position in the consulting track

Our first-year structure is designed to build your skills progressively and position you for your next career move - whether that's with us or beyond.

At the end of year 1 (and possibly earlier), Primary Research Specialists will be eligible(and hopefully equipped) for extension or may be considered for candidacyas an Associate position full-time associate position inour consulting track

Primary Research Specialists will develop skills ang gain highly relevant experience for a career in:

Consulting - The research skills and client exposure translate perfectly

Sales & Business Development - You'll master cold outreach and objection handling

Finance & Private Equity - You'll gain exposure to how investors make decisions

Startups & Operations - Hustle, resourcefulness, and communication are the core of this role

What you'll get:

$60,000 annual salary + bonuses

In-office Mon-Friday in Washington, D.C.

Health, dental, vision, 401k

An exceptional professional network and resume credential

Exposure to Private Equity and Commercial Strategy Advisory

How to Apply

Apply on Bamboo, using the link embedded below. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early applications are encouraged.

Matters Graph is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members