Business Development Associate - M&A Marketplace

About the Role

• We are hiring a Business Development Associate to support the growth of an M&A and private capital marketplace focused on SMEs and mid-market companies across Southeast Asia.
• We are looking for someone who has worked with an investment banking, M&A advisory, corporate finance, transaction advisory, private equity, venture capital or financial consulting firm and understands how such businesses operate.
• The ideal candidate should have strong business development experience along with sufficient finance and business knowledge to understand M&A-related services, communicate effectively with founders and investors, explain the platform’s value proposition and respond to basic technical or financial questions.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and prospect business owners, founders, sellers, buyers, investors and strategic acquirers across target markets.
• Conduct outbound outreach through calls, email, LinkedIn, referrals and professional networks.
• Understand prospective clients’ business requirements and position the company’s M&A marketplace and advisory services accordingly.
• Qualify seller and buyer opportunities based on business profile, transaction intent, financial readiness and strategic fit.
• Conduct initial conversations with founders and senior stakeholders before handing qualified opportunities to the transaction team.
• Explain the company’s services and answer basic questions related to M&A, business valuation, financial performance and transaction processes.
• Support seller onboarding, business listings and buyer activation on the platform.
• Pre-match sellers with suitable buyers or investors before formal introductions.
• Schedule meetings and manage structured follow-ups across the business development pipeline.
• Maintain accurate CRM records, prospect information, communication history and pipeline updates.
• Monitor outreach performance, conversion rates and opportunity progression.
• Identify gaps in the business development process and recommend improvements.
• Work closely with the investment banking and transaction teams to support successful deal progression.
• Share market feedback, client objections and commercial insights with senior leadership.
• Guide or mentor junior business development team members where required.

Preferred Background

• Candidates should have business development, sales, client acquisition, relationship management or deal-sourcing experience within or alongside companies operating in:

1. Investment Banking
2. M&A Advisory
3. Corporate Finance
4. Transaction Advisory
5. Private Equity or Venture Capital
6. Fundraising Advisory
7. Financial Consulting
8. Wealth Management or Financial Services
9. Business Brokerage or Deal Marketplace Platforms

• Direct experience as an investment banker is not mandatory. However, the candidate must have worked in an environment connected to investment banking, M&A or financial services and should understand the basic commercial and financial concepts involved.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of relevant experience in business development, sales, client acquisition, deal sourcing or relationship management.
• Experience working with an investment banking, M&A, transaction advisory, private markets or financial-services organisation.
• Proven experience conducting outbound outreach through calls, email and LinkedIn.
• Strong ability to engage founders, business owners, investors, buyers and senior decision-makers.
• Understanding of business models, financial statements and basic valuation concepts.
• Ability to understand M&A services and explain them clearly to prospective clients.
• Comfortable answering basic finance, business and transaction-related questions.
• Strong commercial judgement and opportunity-qualification skills.
• Experience managing CRM pipelines, follow-ups and conversion targets.
• Strong communication, negotiation and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to take ownership of assigned markets and business development targets.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, target-driven environment.

Career Opportunity

• The role provides direct exposure to founders, investors, strategic buyers and live M&A opportunities across Southeast Asia.
• Successful candidates can progress into senior business development, deal origination, marketplace growth or transaction advisory roles.