At what level are you expected to "run/manage" a transaction?
When are you expected to manage an ECM or M&A transaction? In the sense of managing all the work streams such as knowing what work streams are required, when they should be completed by and also being in charge of all third parties etc.
My senior VP always gives me "the talk" basically saying things like:
"you're an Associate, if you don't step up and start managing transactions then there is no reason for us to keep you. You're an Associate not an Analyst, start acting like one or we'll replace you"
I really don't feel ready to be running transactions, I'm only an Associate 2, I feel I still need guidance on knowing what all the required work streams are and when they're required etc. Is this normal for an Associate or does this mean I'm behind and need to improve?
I always thought it was the VPs job to manage the transaction and the Associate to facilitate and act as an intermediary between the VP and Analysts but my VP always says I should be the one running it and he just needs to be signing off on things and the fact he has to still run it means I'm doing a terrible job as an Associate.
Is my job genuinely at risk or is the VP saying this just to try push me to perform like a VP?
Don't think you're in trouble but maybe try pick up some of the VPs workstreams?
Not the whole transaction since you don't feel ready but take steps to be able to do so over time
Can't say for BB, but for EB even analysts can run transactions cuz simply the team is very lean and your associates may be handing other transactions
Having said that -> I don't even know what my VPs do in my team, seems like they're just high level managing multiple deals at the same times and only gets more involved if the juniors are stuck
definitely see associates quarterbacking transactions at my BB. you shouldn't need a VP above you.
End of Assoc 2 or SA years in a BB. Should be able to replace a VP / D on execution, not origination.
Seriously there is no need for a VP. An analyst, associate, director and MD can run the transaction. Big deal teams are a waste of time for everyone. An associate should be well capable of running a TX if he's not a newbie to the industry (i.e. post MBA) otherwise VP would be better suited.
I phucking hate the term quarterbacking a deal.
Yes, lets let a 26 year old run a multi billion dollar merger.
Its so subjective what "running a deal" means.
This is the VP saying that they need you to do more of the work they're currently doing, essentially. That could either mean that you're truly not doing as much as you should, or they just doesn't want to work on it as much. That being said, you should be doing things like overseeing the creation of the marketing materials once you've agreed upon the shell with the VP and higher ups, overseeing the buyer outreach tracker and running the NDA execution process, preparing process letters (to be approved by the VP), overseeing the diligence process relatively independently (Analyst should be responsible for the tracker, passing of information and scheduling calls, the VP or you should be on the diligence calls - usually VP if it's a call directly between your team and a buyer, and you if it's a call between management and a buyer). Not sure if this helps but yeah basically you should be willing to take a more leading role on certain workstreams, and just running things past the VP.
This is all in an ideal world, obviously. Ideally for the MD, the VP would be overseeing everything so they're not as involved except in certain instances where senior support is required and to provide final feedback / signoff on certain things. Then you as an Associate would be responsible for handling all of the execution workstreams. Not all deal teams work like that, though that's what senior people would prefer so their time is freed up to go get more business.
Solid advice.
A good associate I would argue can run a lot of the process (short of negotiation), especially the nitty gritty of DD. Frees up VPs to manage multiple files. Frees up Ds/MDs to go win more business.
If you still need guidance on what the required work streams are as an Associate 2, then I would say you're a little behind. I assume you are post MBA or came from another industry?
I'm actually an Associate 2 as well - feel free to PM me if you ever want to chat.
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