Director, Specialty Finance – Deal Originations

Mesirow is an independent, employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937. Headquartered in Chicago, with offices around the world, Mesirow serves clients through capabilities spanning Global Investment Management, Capital Markets and Investment Banking, and Advisory Services. We are proud that our intentional culture results in strong employee engagement, entrepreneurship and empowerment, with ongoing opportunities for volunteerism and advancement. Mesirow was recently named one of the Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business and one of the Top 100 RIA firms by Barron’s. At Mesirow, we invest in what matters: our clients, our communities, and our culture. We are actively recruiting for a Director, Specialty Finance – Deal Originations to join our growing team. Responsibilities: Proactively source and identify deal origination opportunities within Specialty Finance, targeting asset based private lending strategies focused on the lower middle market. Cultivate strong relationships and maintain a visible presence with intermediaries, brokers, and potential clients to source and qualify deal origination opportunities. Maintain an in-depth knowledge and awareness of the industry sector and practices through market analysis, industry trends and networking to best position the business to take advantage of opportunities as presented. Play an active role with the assessment and due diligence process of potential deals, including financial analysis, creditworthiness evaluation, and legal review to determine viability. Assist the deal execution team to help structure financing solutions specific to the needs of the client. Prepare and deliver compelling presentations to potential investors or clients, highlighting the investment merits of a deal. Work closely with key internal stakeholders to help shape and evolve the firm’s messaging, position and go-to-market strategy, while identifying the marketing needs that will support the sales process. Coordinate with internal teams throughout the deal process, managing timelines, documentation, and communication with all stakeholders. Maintain a transparent pipeline and tracking of new clients and prospects. Effectively and consistently document interactions in the firm’s CRM system. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in finance, Business, Economics, or related field. 5 + years of deal origination/sourcing experience in specialty finance or equivalent with a focus on asset based private lending strategies within the lower middle market. Demonstrated ability to build and manage relationships with intermediaries, brokers, and potential clients to source and qualify deal origination opportunities. Deep understanding of credit analysis, loan structuring, and underwriting. Strong financial modeling and deal execution capabilities. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present investment opportunities and structure deals effectively. Self-starter with the ability to collaborate across functions and work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

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