Investment Associate – Turnaround Private Equity

About the role

Our client, a specialised investment holding focused on complex special situations and turnaround private equity in the DACH mid‑market, is seeking an Investment Associate. The role involves executing distressed M&A transactions, navigating insolvency frameworks and supporting operational turnarounds for industrial, manufacturing and B2B service companies in distress.

Key responsibilities

• Drive rapid execution of corporate carve‑outs, distressed M&A, insolvency scenarios and recapitalisations.
• Build specialised financial models, including short‑term cash‑flow forecasts, working‑capital bridges, liquidation waterfalls and carve‑out financials.
• Lead intensive downside due‑diligence to uncover hidden liabilities and operational bottlenecks.
• Assist senior partners in structuring transactions, differentiating asset versus share deals to protect historical liabilities.
• Collaborate with the internal operational task‑force and portfolio‑company C‑suites to implement Day‑1 readiness plans and cash‑preservation measures.
• Screen and triage high volumes of distressed deal teasers from restructuring boutiques and insolvency administrators.

Required profile

• Strong analytical mindset with an exceptional financial toolkit.
• Ability to work under extreme time pressure and with imperfect information.
• Experience or strong interest in distressed environments and turnaround projects.
• Excellent communication skills to coordinate legal, tax and restructuring advisors.

Required skills

• Financial modeling
• Valuation analysis
• Due diligence
• Deal structuring