Private Equity Analyst

Job Description

Private Equity Analyst

Pearse Partners is representing a high-performing Private Markets investment team in London. This team operates at the intersection of direct and fund investing, focusing on private equity co-investments and global fund allocations. This is an elite opportunity for an Investment Banking Analyst to cross the “Rubicon” into the buy-side, gaining direct exposure to large-cap and mid-market buyouts alongside the world’s leading General Partners (GPs).

As a Private Equity Analyst, you will play a critical role in the deal team. Your work will influence capital allocation across Buyout, Growth, and Special Situations. You won’t just be “crunching numbers”; you will be developing a “voter’s mindset,” evaluating the underlying quality of businesses and the strategic capabilities of the sponsors we back.

Key Responsibilities & Deal Flow

• Co-Investment Evaluation: Support the end-to-end assessment of direct investment opportunities, working in tandem with lead private equity sponsors.

• Rigorous Due Diligence: Execute advanced financial modelling, including complex LBO (Leveraged Buyout) structures, DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) analysis, and granular peer benchmarking.

• Investment Memos: Synthesize complex data into high-conviction investment memos for the Investment Committee (IC).

• Fund Analysis: Monitor existing private equity fund investments, analyzing the performance of underlying portfolio companies and the strategies of global GPs.

• Portfolio Monitoring: Assist in ongoing portfolio reviews and performance analysis, ensuring that exits and value-creation plans are on track.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with external GPs, financial advisors, and management teams across Europe and globally.

Your Profile

• Experience: 18–24 months of Investment Banking M&A experience is essential. You should be familiar with the “deal life cycle” and possess the stamina required for intensive due diligence.

• Technical Mastery: Exceptional financial modelling skills (specifically LBOs) and a deep understanding of valuation methodologies.

• Academic Excellence: A degree from a top-tier university with a strong quantitative track record.

• Linguistic Skills: As this is a pan-European role, fluency in a major European language (French, German, Spanish, or Italian) is strongly preferred.

• Communication: Ability to articulate a clear investment thesis both in writing and during verbal debates with senior investment professionals.

Job Overview Data

Why Transition to the Buy-side in 2026?

The private equity landscape in 2026 is defined by a shift toward special situations and growth buyouts as markets adjust to normalized interest rates. Joining a co-investment team offers:

• Hybrid Exposure: Gain the “macro” view of fund investing while maintaining the “micro” technical rigor of direct deal-making.

• Network Velocity: Interact with the senior leadership of multiple top-tier PE firms rather than being siloed in one house.

• Performance Alpha: Move closer to the “Carry” and performance-driven compensation structures.