Transaction Advisory Associate Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Position: Manager / Senior Manager, M&A Transaction Advisory
Company: Blue Ops
Location: Chicago, IL or Minneapolis, MN or Charlotte, NC
ABOUT
Blue Ops Partners is a premier M&A transaction advisory firm serving as the most trusted partner to private equity firms, investment banks, and portfolio companies throughout the M&A lifecycle - building the data models and analytics that power financial due diligence, Quality of Earnings, and sale processes on both the buy-side and sell-side. Since 2010, we have combined deep operational expertise with cutting-edge technology and AI-driven analytics to deliver superior outcomes for our clients.
Specializing in strategic FP&A advisory, operational finance, and business analytics, we partner with small to mid-sized businesses to drive financial discipline, enhance reporting accuracy, and build scalable processes that create lasting value.
WHO WORKS AT BLUE OPS:
At Blue Ops, we're building a team of high-impact operators who lead by example and develop the people around them. As a Manager or Senior Manager, you'll own client engagements end-to-end, build and develop teams, and work alongside high-caliber peers who push you to grow sharper and faster. This is a place for those ready to step into real leadership and have the platform, tools, and team to make their impact felt.
THE ROLE
As a Manager on our M&A Transaction Advisory team, you own the engagement. When a private equity sponsor or investment banking client brings us into a deal, you become their primary point of contact and the person accountable for getting it right. No two days look quite the same. One morning you might be scoping a new engagement -mapping out the plan, timeline, and budget alongside the client and your project lead, and by the afternoon you are deep in a data model, transforming a target's raw financials into the clean, deal-ready analysis the entire transaction runs on. You lead the team doing the modeling and data work, making sure the right people are on the right problems, while keeping a close eye on where a project could go sideways and heading off risk before it becomes an issue. The deliverables that reach the client pass through you first, and when it is time to present findings and recommendations, you are the one in the room telling the story the data reveals. Throughout, you lean on AI and Blue Ops' proprietary analytics tools to work faster and sharper, and you spend real time coaching the Associates and Senior Associates around you because the best Managers here are the ones who make their teams better. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone ready to own clients, build teams, and grow into senior leadership.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Strong project management skills with the ability to lead multiple concurrent engagements
• Demonstrated ability to own client relationships and serve as primary point of contact
• Track record of coaching, developing, and giving feedback to junior team members
• Strong financial analysis, modeling, and advanced Excel skills
• Excellent communication and ability to influence at multiple levels of an organization
• Confident application of AI and emerging technologies to client work
• Sound commercial judgment on engagement scope, timing, and quality
• Ability to manage engagement economics - deliverables, deadlines, utilization, scope
• Adaptability and comfort with ambiguity
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability for client outcomes
• Travel: typical range 5-20% depending on engagement mix
WHAT YOUR RESUME SHOWS
• 5-10 years of progressive experience in transaction advisory, financial diligence, investment banking, private equity, corporate finance, or consulting
• Undergraduate degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA strongly preferred; CFA or MBA a plus
• Track record of leading client engagements from kickoff through delivery
• Experience managing and developing professional teams
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills; exposure to Power BI, Alteryx, or SQL preferred
• Experience supporting Quality of Earnings, financial diligence, or M&A transactions - particularly the data modeling and analytics behind them
THE PACKAGE
The salary range for this position is: $108,000-$153,000 for Minneapolis and Charlotte - $113,000-$170,000 in Chicago. Actual compensation within the range will be dependent upon the individual's skills, experience, qualifications and location, and applicable employment laws. All hired individuals are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. Blue Ops offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
Health
• Medical insurance: three HealthPartners High Deductible Health Plan options paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Dental insurance: Principal PPO plan with 100% in-network preventive care
• Vision insurance: Principal / VSP PPO plan
Wealth
• Retirement plan: 3% employer contribution regardless of employee contribution (eligible after 6 months of employment)
• Health Savings Account (HSA) paired with medical plan enrollment
• Professional development reimbursement (eligible after 6 months) and complimentary Datacamp access for all employees
• Tuition reimbursement for approved advanced degrees aligned with the company's mission
• Employee referral bonus program ($2,500 per successful referral)
Well-Being
• Company-paid basic life insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage ($50,000 each)
• Optional short-term and long-term disability insurance
• 3 weeks of paid time off per calendar year
• 8 paid company holidays
• Summer Fridays: early release at noon between Memorial Day and Labor Day (subject to workload and client deliverables)
• Work From Anywhere: the week of Thanksgiving, the week between Christmas and New Year's, plus one additional flexible week per year
Insurance coverage begins the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment. This is an overview of benefits offered by Blue Ops and is subject to terms, conditions, and change.
Blue Ops Partners, LLC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
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