Investment Associate in Houston, Texas at ZT Corporate

Job Title: Investment Associate

Department: ZT Corporate

Reports To: Chief Financial Officer

FLSA: Exempt

Job Summary

The Investment Associate will partner closely with the Chief Financial Officer and senior leadership to source, evaluate, execute, and manage investments across the corporate portfolio. The role is responsible for building and owning financial models and valuation analyses, leading diligence workstreams and preparing clear investment materials for the Investment Committee.

In addition to transaction execution, the Investment Associate supports financing and capital markets activities, including lender communications, underwriting packages, and ongoing reporting. Post-investment, the role helps drive value creation by monitoring portfolio performance, supporting operational and strategic initiatives with management teams, tracking KPIs, and coordinating integration efforts for new acquisitions.

This position is best suited for a highly analytical, execution- oriented professional who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and can manage multiple workstreams with high discretion and accountability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Deal Evaluation & Execution

• Be a key player for the Family Office and evaluate new deals and investment opportunities across automotive, healthcare, real estate, and special situations
• Build and own detailed financial models
• Lead diligence workstreams across financial, operational, and market analysis
• Prepare investment memos and present directly to the Investment Committee
• Support structuring, negotiation, and closing of transactions

Financing & Capital Markets

• Work closely with CFO and Managing Director of the Family Office on Financing requests with the lenders
• Interface directly with banks, lenders, and capital providers
• Support underwriting packages, credit materials, and lender presentations
• Analyze capital structures and optimize cost of capital
• Assist in managing banking relationships and ongoing reporting

Portfolio Operations & Value Creation

• Monitor performance across portfolio companies vs. plan
• Work directly with operating teams on financial and strategic initiatives
• Identify cost efficiencies, growth opportunities, and operational improvements
• Support integration of new acquisitions
• Drive accountability through KPI tracking and performance analysis

Strategic & Special Projects

• Support the CFO in high-impact strategic initiatives
• Assist in building institutional processes (reporting, dashboards, governance)

Investor & Stakeholder Communication

• Prepare materials for investors, lenders, and internal leadership
• Maintain high-quality data rooms and transaction documentation

Core Competencies

• Financial modeling and valuation (DCF, LBO, comp multiples, sensitivity analysis)
• Analytical rigor and sound investment judgment
• Due diligence execution (financial, operational, commercial, and market)
• Deal process management (workplan ownership, timelines, and cross-functional coordination)
• Clear executive communication (investment memos, presentations, and stakeholder updates)
• Relationship management with lenders, advisors, and operating partners
• Operational mindset and KPI-driven performance management
• High accountability, discretion, and ability to prioritize in a fast-paced environment

KPIs

• Investment pipeline throughput (qualified opportunities evaluated per month/quarter)
• Timeliness and quality of investment materials (models/memos delivered on time; minimal revisions required)
• Diligence execution effectiveness (diligence checklists completed; key risks identified and clearly documented)
• Transaction support (deals closed/on-time milestones; accuracy/completeness of data room and documentation)
• Financing support (lender packages delivered by deadlines; responsiveness and quality of ongoing reporting)
• Portfolio KPI cadence (monthly/quarterly KPI reporting completed on schedule; variance analysis and action items tracked)
• Value creation contribution (initiatives supported and measurable impact identified—cost savings, revenue lift, or working capital improvements)

Marginal Duties

• Support ad hoc research and benchmarking across industries, markets, and comparable transactions
• Assist with meeting coordination, agenda preparation, and follow-up for Investment Committee and lender meetings
• Participate in special projects as assigned by the CFO or senior leadership (process improvements, systems, or reporting enhancements)
• Provide backup support to finance/operations teams during peak periods, including data requests and internal reporting

Qualification - To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and/or Experience, Skills

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field
• 5 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, or a family office
• Strong financial modeling and valuation skills
• Experience working on live transactions
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint

Skills:

• Strong financial modeling and valuation skills
• Experience working on live transactions
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described herein are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and move throughout hospital and office environments as needed.
• Ability to use hands and arms to perform tasks requiring reaching, handling, and operating standard office equipment.
• Ability to occasionally lift or move light objects as necessary to perform job duties.
• Ability to work extended hours and respond to operational or clinical matters outside of normal business hours, including on-call or emergency situations as required.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Work is primarily performed in an office setting within a healthcare facility environment.
• Role operates in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment requiring sound judgment, critical thinking, and timely decision-making.
• Travel is required for facility visits, industry meetings, partnerships, and other business-related activities.