Associate - Partnerships

February 5

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Ascend Group

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Ascend Group is a leading regional online business in Southeast Asia, focused on creating life opportunities for all through innovative digital services and infrastructure. The organization encompasses several brands including Ascend Money, a fintech company providing financial services, Ascend Commerce, a prominent e-commerce operator, and True Internet Data Center, a cloud service provider. Additionally, Ascend Bit is dedicated to developing blockchain solutions, propelling businesses towards digital transformation and growth in the digital economy.

E-Commerce Platform • Mobile Marketing & Technology • E-Procurement • Logistics & Fulfillment • E-Wallet

1001 - 5000 employees

💳 Fintech

🛍️ eCommerce

💰 $150M Series C on 2021-09

📋 Description

•About Ascend •Ascend empowers entrepreneurial CPAs to reach their goals with an innovative growth model that brings their firms into the new age. •Backed by private equity from people-focused Alpine Investors, Ascend is building a modern platform for regional accounting firms that enables them to stay independent while accessing the resources of a large CPA firm to help them grow. •Ascend provides access to growth capital, robust talent acquisition, best-of-breed technology, a catalytic leadership system, shared back-office services, and modernized equity incentives so that firms can surmount today’s industry challenges and reach their full potential. •Founded in January 2023, the company attained revenues sufficient to qualify it as a Top 100 U.S. accounting firm within six months of operations. •Position Summary •The mission is to spearhead Ascend’s inorganic growth strategy. We are seeking an individual who brings a passion for excellence and a dedication to process optimization, capable of delivering transformative results in our M&A function. •Key responsibilities include: •Cultivate Investment Judgment: •Develop a keen understanding of investing in CPA firms. •Approach each deal with an ownership mentality, assessing merits through data-driven analysis and not support a deal for the sake of “hitting” numbers or due to emotion. •Share recommendations and concerns promptly, flagging issues early and knowing when to pause for recalibration. •Deliver High-Quality Diligence: •Commit to producing prompt, accurate, and zero-defect diligence. •Analyze and sanity-check raw data, quickly identifying gaps and escalating them as needed. •Produce persuasive, well-organized, and audience-friendly work that addresses key issues effectively. •Adopt a continuous improvement mindset, proposing new analyses or optimized approaches. •Strive for self-sufficiency, seeking guidance efficiently and applying learnings independently. •Develop Process Management Skills: •Utilize our process management tool as the central tool for deal process management, documenting best practices and attaching relevant exhibits. •Meet key deal milestones. •Anticipate next steps in the deal process by proactively identifying critical tasks. •Maintain organized workflows across multiple active deals, keeping systems updated. •Share insights and opportunities for improvement with managers and leadership. •Build Trusted Partnerships: •Collaborate with cross-functional teams and sellers to ensure thoughtful and efficient deal execution. •Support underwriting levers in the Ascend Proven Process. •Contribute to internal-facing materials, such as analysis readouts and memos, to frame underwriting decisions. •Foster rapport with sellers, respecting their time and journey during the information-gathering process. •Coordinate with internal teams to ensure seamless back-end integration. •Lead Seamless Integration: •Execute a thorough and orderly integration process. •Work with Partner Firm leadership to ensure smooth front-end integration, including client and staff communications, cultural alignment, training, and growth plan priming. •Oversee back-end integration with cross-functional teams to meet operational requirements. •Excel as a Team Player: •Prepare thoroughly for all interactions and engagements. •Manage third-party advisors effectively throughout deal processes. •Demonstrate empathy and attentiveness when interacting with management teams during acquisitions. •Proactively involve appropriate team members to ensure deliverables are completed successfully.

🎯 Requirements

•1-4 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, corporate development, M&A advisory, or management consulting. •Strong proficiency in financial modeling, EBITDA normalization, and other valuation techniques. •Advanced Excel skills, with the ability to use complex formulas, pivot tables, and scenario analysis effectively. •Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. •Solid understanding of financial statements, including the ability to analyze and interpret data to identify trends and performance metrics. •Experience conducting detailed data analyses and providing actionable insights. •Excellent presentation skills, with the ability to create and deliver professional, persuasive content. •Strong interpersonal skills to build trust and collaborate effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders. •Proven ability to identify risks, escalate issues promptly, and problem-solve under pressure. •Exceptional organizational skills, with attention to detail and follow-through. •A growth mindset, with a commitment to receiving and acting on feedback for continuous improvement. •A proactive, self-starter attitude with an ownership mentality and a willingness to take initiative. •Adaptability and resilience in dynamic, fast paced environments. •Foundational knowledge of M&A processes, including due diligence and transaction execution is a plus. •Familiarity with CPA firm operations, revenue models, and cost structures is a plus.