Managing Director - Middle Market Team (M&A)

Position Overview:

Benchmark International’s US mergers and acquisitions business is seeking an experienced and dynamic Managing Director (MD) to lead its sell-side Middle Market Team. The team handles sell-side engagements for business owners seeking to sell all of, or controlling interests in, their businesses. Clients span the entire United States with those targeting company earnings between $10 to $25 million in EBITDA. The client base is typically owner-operators.

This senior-level role will involve building a world class transaction team and overseeing the transaction execution function for this key market segment. In the role, the successful candidate will build and maintain relationships with clients and lead a team of professionals in providing world-class mergers and acquisitions advisory services. The ideal candidate will be a player coach with a proven track record in executing sell-side Middle Market M&A deals, exceptional team building and leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of the complexities of Middle Market transactions. The MD reports directly to the CEO.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead Deal Team: Direct and lead the execution function of the M&A life cycle. The focus will be on leading the Middle Market Team through active portfolio management and driving transactions from client engagement through deal closing, including: due diligence, negotiation, structuring, and closing. Provide high-level strategic guidance to clients, ensuring alignment with their objectives.
• Client Relationship Management: Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders at client companies. Act as a trusted advisor, providing insights into market trends, potential opportunities, and the strategic implications of transactions.
• Team Construction, Leadership & Development: Manage and mentor a high-performing team of senior bankers, associates, and analysts. Foster a collaborative and results-oriented environment while ensuring the continued professional development of team members.
• Deal Origination & Execution: While the Middle Market Team has a dedicated Deal Origination team, the MD will play a key role assisting their origination counterpart in sourcing new M&A mandates. Oversee and manage the execution of transactions from onboarding through to completion.
• Strategic Planning & Market Intelligence: Stay ahead of industry trends and market dynamics to provide clients with actionable insights. Drive the development of thought leadership content and represent the firm at industry conferences, professional speaking opportunities, and similar functions.
• Risk Management & Compliance: Ensure all transactions adhere to legal, regulatory, and internal risk management protocols. Oversee due diligence processes and coordinate with legal, financial, and tax advisors to ensure the successful closure of deals.
• Financial Analysis: Oversee the financial analysis processes for M&A transactions. Provide insights into financial structuring and the overall strategic impact of transactions.
• As leader of the Middle Market Team, the MD will be one of the faces of Benchmark International and as such, will have additional responsibilities to corporate as required. 
• Be capable of handling setbacks, having difficult conversations with business owners, negotiating against veteran professional acquirers, taking responsibility for process breakdowns even when not responsible, and fostering cooperation with client’s attorneys and accountants.
• Consistently present themselves in a professional manner in keeping with Benchmark International’s image (as shown, for example, on the company’s web site).
• Work outside normal business hours at times, whether early or late, as required client schedules and expectations.
• Be available to travel for occasional overnight trips on short notice (rarely, if ever, longer than three days).
• Ability to obtain a Florida real-estate sales associate license within 90 days of employment.
• Have no unfavorable history with FINRA, the SEC, or any state regulatory agency. The ability to pass a professional and criminal background check prior to the anticipated start date is a condition of employment.

Qualifications:

• Experience: Minimum 12 years of experience in M&A advisory, with a strong track record in managing large deal teams and complex transactions across multiple industries. 
• Education: A bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business, or related field; an MBA or equivalent advanced degree is preferred. JD a plus.
• Leadership: Proven ability to recruit, lead, develop, and inspire teams, with a hands-on approach to mentoring and developing talent within the organization.
• Client-Facing Expertise: Exceptional client relationship skills, with a clear history of successfully originating and executing middle market M&A transactions.
• Technical Skills: Strong financial acumen, including advanced financial modeling, valuation techniques, and understanding of deal structures, legal deal documentation and structures, and M&A tax.
• Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of M&A markets and trends, knowledge of diverse industries and business models and a broad network of relationships across the M&A ecosystem.
• Communication Skills: Superior verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas clearly and persuasively to stakeholders, the deal team, and Benchmark International leadership.

Personal Attributes:

• Process Driven: Driving the team and deals through process.  Strict adherence to the Benchmark International process manual.
• Strategic Thinker: Able to view the big picture and anticipate long-term implications for clients and the firm.
• Results-Oriented: Strong focus on delivering results and achieving success in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Brings a startup mentality. Proactive in seeking new business opportunities and delivering innovative solutions to clients.
• Integrity and Professionalism: Uphold the highest standards of ethical behavior and professionalism in all aspects of work.

Compensation:

This is a senior leadership position offering a competitive compensation package, including base salary, commission, and performance-based bonuses.

Benefits:

The position of Customer Experience Specialist will lead you to excellent career prospects.  You will be joining a central organization, which serves the business both domestically and internationally. We value and appreciate your hard work and professional dedication and will reward you with a competitive compensation package including salary, medical, dental, life, and 401K match with an overall package to be determined based on your qualifications. Relocation is not available.

All Benchmark International positions offer paid time off, standard holidays, birthday holiday, and community service days. Employees are eligible for highly competitive company-subsidized medical, dental, vision, and AD&D insurance; 401k with company matching; flexible spending and health savings accounts (FSA & HSA); and flexible dependent care assistance accounts.

Social Responsibility:

Benchmark International is an active, contributing member of the communities in which we work. The company participates in significant charitable giving opportunities throughout the year. Many of the recipient charities have been identified by our individual employees as a result of their personal passion for supporting particular needs. In addition, each employee is encouraged to use two paid workdays per year to provide their labor and skills to the community.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit their resume and a cover letter outlining their qualifications and relevant experience. Please apply via the job board on the Benchmark International website.

This job description is a general overview of the responsibilities and qualifications for the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned as necessary.

Unfortunately, Benchmark International is not in a position to sponsor visas for candidates at this time.

Benchmark International provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected classification. Equal employment opportunity includes, but is not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, demotion, transfer, leaves of absence, and termination. The company takes allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation seriously, and will promptly investigate when such behavior is reported.