M&A Research Analyst - Special Situations Research

Special Situations Analyst

Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) is seeking an Analyst to join its Special Situations Research (SSR) team. SSR researches and analyzes corporate events (such as acquisitions, mergers, proxy contests, or shareholder proposals) that are contentious or high profile, and then recommends actions for institutional shareholders. A successful candidate will have exceptional writing abilities, particularly for explaining complex legal, financial, or quantitative concepts. Additional necessary skills include critical reading, financial analysis, and tactful interview skills.

Responsibilities

• Research, draft, and edit professional-quality, well-reasoned analyses of contentious corporate situations, including mergers, acquisitions, and contests for corporate control, in support of proxy voting recommendations for institutional shareholders.
• Gain understanding of investment and shareholder issues through fundamental research, including analysis of corporate strategy and financial statements, and applying ISS’ analytic frameworks and policy guidelines.
• Lead or participate in engagement meetings and calls with corporate executives, directors, and financial and legal advisors, as well as institutional investors, as part of ISS’ research process.
• Develop market overviews and produce research notes that demonstrate thought leadership on developing trends, emerging situations and tactics, and other timely subjects for internal and external clients.
• Maintain a database of potentially contentious corporate situations.
• Review the work, and contribute to the development, of research analysts from other functional teams and regions.
• Answer internal/external client/issuer queries on research reports and participate in discussions to support ISS policy development.
• Contribute to seasonal reviews, Bulletin Calls, and other client-focused research reports.
• Actively participate in various working committees and/or projects.

Qualifications

• MBA in Finance or CFA holder with at least 1 to 3 years of directly relevant experience, or an undergraduate degree with at least 2 to 5 years of experience in M&A / investment / equity analysis and research.
• Comfort with ambiguity; ability to prioritize, anticipate, and deliver multiple, sometimes competing objectives within tight timeframes.
• Strong teamwork skills, particularly the abilities to continually develop oneself and one’s colleagues, anticipate emerging issues, and plan for success.
• Understanding of valuation methodologies, corporate transactions, and capital markets.
• Deep understanding of financial and non-financial investor concerns, especially the role of corporate governance from an investor perspective.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical ability, including financial and quantitative literacy and attention to detail.

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