Careers

Senior Associate, ESOP Advisory

Reports to: Trevor Gilmore, CEO & Head of Go‑to‑Market

About Menke & Associates

For over 50 years Menke has been the nation’s premier, one‑stop ESOP advisor—designing, financing, and administering more than 4,000 ESOP transactions for privately held companies across all 50 states. We blend deep technical horsepower (ERISA attorneys, investment bankers, administration/valuation experts) with a founder‑led, relationship‑driven culture that helps businesses, employees, and local economies thrive.

Why This Role Matters

Demand for tax‑efficient, owner‑friendly exits is surging. Menke’s proven model wins deals by coupling high‑trust conversations with sophisticated financial structuring . The Senior Analyst turns those structures into the numbers, models, and diligence packages that earn the confidence of owners, CFOs, bankers, and trustees—so more founders, employees, and communities can share in the value an ESOP unlocks.

What You’ll Do

- Attend discovery, valuation, and pitch calls; capture key operating inputs.
- Build and iterate valuation & ESOP feasibility models (leveraged/§1042 structures).
- Draft trustee/bank decks, cap‑table diagrams, repurchase‑obligation schedules, and scenario analyses.
- Field rapid what‑if requests from owners’ finance teams, lenders, and trustees with data‑backed answers.
- Document best‑practice templates and model standards to turn a craftsman process into repeatable IP.
- Surface insights that help to tailor the transaction structure (percentage sold, financing mix, warrant design, timelines).
- Support lifecycle advisory, such as second stage, termination, and ESOP sustainability

Qualifications & Mindset

Must‑Haves:

- 2-5 years in investment banking, valuation advisory, transaction services, or FP&A (sell‑side or debt‑capital experience ideal).
- Fluency in DCF, market‑multiple, and leveraged ESOP modeling.
- Strong grasp of corporate finance & tax concepts (GAAP vs Tax, IRC §1042, S‑Corp vs C‑Corp, repurchase liability mechanics).
- Experience and succession selling complex solutions to business owners, boards, and executives.
- Client‑facing poise; ability to translate spreadsheet outputs into plain‑English insights.
- Advanced Excel (macros, Power Query) and PowerPoint; experience with CapIQ, PitchBook, DealStats, or similar data tools.
- S. work authorization.

Nice‑to‑Haves:

- ASA, ABV, or CFA L2+; CPA,MST a plus.
- Prior exposure to ERISA/ESOP regulations or middle‑market leveraged finance.
- Experience in construction, AEC, manufacturing, or professional‑services verticals (Menke’s core markets).

Personal Drivers:

- Mission‑minded: motivated by helping owners secure wealth, employees build retirement, and communities keep jobs local.
- Builder mentality: thrives in a high‑growth, process‑light environment and enjoys shaping new playbooks.
- Low‑ego collaborator who challenges ideas with data and integrity.
- Self starter, entrepreneurial mindset.

What Success Looks Like After 12 Months

- Support ≥ 10 closed ESOP transactions representing $500‑750 MM in enterprise value.
- Standardized model templates adopted firm‑wide.
- ≥ 90 % of banker/trustee diligence requests answered within 24 hours.
- Pipeline advances 30 % faster from proposal to LOI thanks to rapid valuation turnarounds.
- Pathway to becoming a Managing Director.

Life at Menke

- Impact with Purpose – Every deal you touch converts owner equity into retirement security for employees and stability for hometown economies.
- Mentorship – Direct access to leaders and a bench of ERISA attorneys and valuation veterans.
- Flexibility – Hybrid‑remote culture; periodic travel for management presentations and closings.
- Ownership Culture – We practice what we preach: Menke is itself employee‑owned.