2026 Summer Financial Analyst (Class of 2027) | Corporate Finance, New York Capital Markets

Overview  

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE: HLI) is a global investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Houlihan Lokey serves corporations, institutions, and governments worldwide with offices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. Independent advice and intellectual rigor are hallmarks of the firm’s commitment to client success across its advisory services. The firm is the No. 1 investment bank for global M&A transactions, the No. 1 M&A advisor for the past nine consecutive years in the U.S., the No. 1 global restructuring advisor for the past ten consecutive years, and the No. 1 global M&A fairness opinion advisor over the past 25 years, all based on number of transactions and according to data provided by LSEG (formerly Refinitiv).  

Corporate Finance   

Houlihan Lokey has extensive expertise in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures for a broad range of clients—and our experience in M&A has earned us recognition throughout the industry. In 2023, LSEG (formerly Refinitiv) ranked our firm the No. 1 investment bank for all global M&A transactions. 

Capital Markets   

Private Capital Markets transaction processes involve similar stages to M&A deals, e.g. Houlihan Lokey’s Private Capital Markets & Advisory team provides capital-raising services across industries and for various capital needs. We are the largest and most active capital raising and advisory team at a non-balance sheet bank, raising approximately $18bn across 80 closed transactions in the twelve months ending Sep-2024.

The team engages with a wide variety of clients, including private equity-backed companies, public, and, family and management-owned businesses. We achieve outlier results for our clients by leveraging direct relationships with various types of private market asset managers, including private credit funds, mezzanine debt and structured equity funds, pension funds, insurance companies, family offices and special situations investors. The group specializes in structure-agnostic capital solutions across the capital structure, including unitranche and second lien term loans, asset-backed facilities, and junior debt and minority equity instruments.

We are uniquely positioned to address our client’s most complex capital structure needs. The team has an unparalleled track record of delivering bespoke financing solutions for companies at various stages of the corporate lifecycle. We leverage deep industry expertise and real-time knowledge of / insight into viable private capital markets solutions based upon significant volume of recently-closed transactions and active deals in market. In a capital markets environment that is rapidly changing and increasingly complex, it is critical for clients to hire trusted advisors to help them optimize capital structure with tailored solutions. 

Job Description  

Private Capital Markets transaction processes involve similar stages to M&A deals, e.g. creating marketing materials (CIM, three-statement financial model), spearheading counterparty diligence, coordinating management meetings, and ultimately structuring/negotiating the financing to close. Summer Financial Analysts will gain valuable experience with respect to (i) technical proficiency in cash flow and three-statement modeling, (ii) organizational skills and experience running investor outreach processes, and (iii) superior understanding of capital structure and the private credit and private equity capital markets.

During the summer, candidates will work alongside full-time professionals on live deals across a variety of transaction types, including acquisition financing for leveraged buyouts, dividend recapitalizations, refinancings, growth capital and distressed and special situations. 

Key features of the role include:

• Significant experience with three-statement / cash flow modeling
• Deep understanding of capital structure
• Primarily raising capital for private equity-backed companies with complex capital structure needs
• ‘Structure agnostic’ – direct experience with a broad spectrum of flexible capital solutions that are available in today’s market
• Industry agnostic approach provides exposure to various sectors and business models
• Vast majority of time spent on live deals vs. pitching
• Observe market outreach to diverse universe of private market investors to address client financing needs

Qualifications 

• Expected Bachelor’s and/or Master’s Degree with a graduation date between Dec-26 and Jun-27
• Basic knowledge of accounting principles and a keen interest in finance
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong work ethic and leadership skills
• Strong analytical and computer skills (Excel)
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team-oriented environment