Associate – Private Equity | Industrial, Services & Technology

Associate – Private Equity | North Rhine–Westphalia, GermanyLocation: North Rhine–Westphalia, GermanyThe FirmOur client is a well-established private equity investor with a long track record of building leading mid-market businesses across Western Europe. The firm focuses on established, profitable companies with strong fundamentals and significant growth potential, supporting management teams through active strategic and operational partnership.With a pragmatic, partnership-driven investment philosophy, the team combines institutional discipline with the entrepreneurial agility of an owner-led investor. They pursue opportunities in industrial, business services, and technology-enabled sectors, backing ambitious management teams and driving sustainable long-term value creation.The OpportunityThe Associate will play a central role within the investment team, taking ownership of core analytical and execution workstreams while gaining meaningful exposure to origination, transaction structuring, and portfolio strategy. This position offers hands-on involvement across the full investment cycle — from sourcing and diligence through to board-level value creation discussions — within a lean, collaborative team where initiative and conviction are rewarded.Key ResponsibilitiesInvestment Origination & Market Mapping – Conduct deep market research to identify attractive niches and emerging opportunities. Develop thematic investment ideas, screen potential targets, and cultivate relationships with entrepreneurs, advisors, and sector specialists to build proprietary deal flow.Transaction Execution – Drive analytical and commercial workstreams throughout the deal process. Develop sophisticated financial models, conduct scenario and sensitivity analyses, coordinate due diligence providers, and support negotiations and transaction structuring. Prepare and present materials for investment committee review.Strategic & Commercial Analysis – Evaluate target company performance, market positioning, and scalability potential. Assess competitive advantages, operational risks, and value creation opportunities to build robust investment theses grounded in commercial logic.Portfolio Value Creation – Partner with management teams to accelerate growth, supporting initiatives in add-on M&A, operational optimisation, and digital transformation. Contribute to strategy sessions, board meetings, and KPI monitoring to ensure alignment with investment objectives.Stakeholder & Relationship Management – Serve as a trusted point of contact for management teams, advisors, and financing partners. Manage transaction workflows efficiently, ensuring precision, coordination, and communication across all stakeholders.Candidate Profile3–5 years’ experience in Private Equity, M&A, Corporate Finance, or Strategy Consulting, with exposure to mid-market transactions or buyouts.Proven ability to lead analytical workstreams independently and handle complex financial and operational analyses with accuracy and insight.Advanced financial modelling, valuation, and transaction structuring capabilities, combined with strong commercial judgement.Deep understanding of business fundamentals, growth levers, and operational improvement principles.Strong strategic thinking — able to synthesise quantitative and qualitative data into actionable investment theses.Entrepreneurial mindset with intellectual curiosity, ownership mentality, and a hands-on approach to execution.Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and stakeholder management skills; credible in discussions with C-suite executives and advisors.Fluent in German and English; additional European languages (Dutch, French) are advantageous.SkillsPrivate Equity & Mid-Market InvestingDeal Origination & Pipeline DevelopmentFinancial Modelling & ValuationDue Diligence & Transaction ExecutionStrategic & Commercial AnalysisPortfolio Management & Value CreationOperational Excellence & Add-On M&ANegotiation & Transaction StructuringStakeholder & Board EngagementFluent German & English Communication