Associate, Corporate Development

JLL•Chicago, IL

fulltime

Business Development

1+ years

About the role

Corporate Development / M&A Associate – JLL Location: Chicago, Hybrid

What this job involves: Join JLL's Corporate Development team as an M&A Associate and become a key contributor to our firm's strategic growth initiatives. This lean, highly visible team drives JLL's inorganic expansion strategy through acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and strategic investments that shape the future of our business. In this role, you'll work directly with senior leadership to evaluate potential transactions, build financial models that inform critical decisions, and lead cross-functional teams through complex deal processes from initial sourcing through successful integration. This position offers exceptional exposure to high-stakes strategic initiatives and provides a unique opportunity to directly impact JLL's long-term growth trajectory while developing your expertise in corporate strategy and M&A execution within the commercial real estate industry.

What your day-to-day will look like:

You'll support the full lifecycle of strategic transactions, from identifying opportunities through post-close integration.
Your responsibilities will include building sophisticated financial models (DCF, comparable company analyses, precedent transactions) to evaluate potential deals and quantify synergies.
Conduct comprehensive industry research and competitive analysis by examining SEC filings, Wall Street research, and market reports to identify attractive investment themes and assess potential targets.
Managing due diligence processes will be central to your role, coordinating with internal teams and external advisors to identify risks and opportunities.
Prepare compelling presentations and detailed reports for executive leadership that synthesize complex information into clear, data-driven recommendations.
Working closely with finance, legal, and operations teams, you'll ensure seamless execution across all transaction phases.
Provide analytical support during deal negotiations and structuring discussions, working alongside internal and external legal counsel.
Maintain strict confidentiality while managing multiple high-priority projects in a fast-paced environment.

Required Qualifications:

1-3 years of direct experience in investment banking, private equity, management consulting, or corporate development with hands-on involvement in M&A transactions, divestitures, or joint ventures.
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or related quantitative field.
Demonstrated expertise building complex financial models including DCF, accretion/dilution analyses, and comprehensive valuation methodologies.
Exceptional analytical skills with proven ability to synthesize dense materials like SEC filings and equity research into actionable insights.
Superior written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting data-driven recommendations to senior executives.
Proven project management capabilities with ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives from start to finish in deadline-driven environments.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint for financial modeling and executive presentations.

Preferred Qualifications:

MBA degree or CFA designation demonstrating advanced financial expertise.
Previous experience specifically within commercial real estate, real estate services, or related industries.
Familiarity with deal structuring and negotiation processes in M&A contexts. Experience coordinating with cross-functional teams across finance, legal, and operations in transaction environments.
Background conducting strategic industry research and competitive intelligence gathering. Strong network within investment banking, private equity, or corporate development communities.
Experience with integration planning and post-merger integration activities.

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