Corporate Development Manager in Chicago, Illinois at Ascend Technologies

Ascend Technologies is building a repeatable acquisition engine. This role owns the front half of that engine: identifying, evaluating, and closing the right acquisitions — then handing a clean, well-understood deal to the integration team.Position OverviewThe Corporate Development Manager drives Ascend’s inorganic growth strategy: building and managing a proprietary pipeline of acquisition targets, leading early-stage business development with owners, founders, and M&A intermediaries, and running the financial analysis and diligence needed to get a deal to close. This person combines a finance background (modeling, valuation, diligence) with a business-development mindset (outbound relationship-building, comfort representing Ascend to external sellers and advisors). They report to the Chief Integration and Transformation Officer and work in close partnership with the CEO and CFO on deal strategy and execution.Key ResponsibilitiesDeal Sourcing & Business Development

• Pipeline development: Build and maintain a proprietary pipeline of acquisition targets aligned to Ascend’s growth strategy — service line fit, geography, client base, and cultural fit.
• Outbound BD: Run outbound business development: direct outreach to owners and founders, and relationship-building with M&A intermediaries, brokers, and investment bankers active in the MSP and IT services space.
• External representation: Represent Ascend credibly in early-stage conversations with sellers and their advisors, setting the tone for the relationship before diligence begins.
• Pipeline reporting: Track and prioritize the target list through a structured pipeline, reporting status and momentum to leadership on a regular cadence.

Financial Analysis & Diligence

• Initial screening: Screen prospective targets on revenue quality, margin profile, recurring-revenue mix, and client concentration before committing diligence resources.
• Valuation & modeling: Build and maintain valuation models and deal economics — multiples, synergies, integration cost estimates — to support go/no-go and pricing decisions.
• Diligence coordination: Coordinate financial, legal, and operational due diligence workstreams, working directly with the CFO, legal counsel, and external advisors.
• Deal recommendations: Prepare clear deal summaries and recommendations for leadership review ahead of LOI and closing decisions.

Integration Handoff

• Clean handoff: Partner with the Acquisition Integration function to ensure deal-stage findings — client base, revenue quality, tech stack risk, team structure — transfer cleanly into the post-close integration plan.
• Pre-close planning: Participate in integration planning before close so Day 1 planning reflects what diligence actually found, not just what the deal thesis assumed.
• Institutional knowledge: Maintain a running playbook of lessons learned from each deal to sharpen future target criteria and diligence checklists.

QualificationsRequired

• 3–6 years of experience in corporate development, investment banking, private equity/growth equity, or FP&A, with direct exposure to deal execution.
• Demonstrated financial modeling and valuation skills — comparables, DCF, and deal economics.
• Experience sourcing or evaluating deals directly, not only executing deals originated by others — comfortable operating in an outbound business-development capacity.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.

Preferred

• Prior M&A experience in MSP, IT services, or broader B2B services.
• CFA, MBA, or equivalent.
• Direct experience working with sell-side advisors, brokers, or investment banks.
• Exposure to post-merger integration, not just deal execution.

What Success Looks Like

• A qualified, actively managed pipeline with visible movement through defined stages.
• A growing share of deals sourced directly rather than arriving inbound.
• Shortening time from first contact to signed LOI as relationships and process mature.
• Integration team consistently rates diligence handoffs as clear, complete, and usable on Day 1.

Reporting & CollaborationThis role reports to the Chief Integration and Transformation Officer, reflecting the direct tie between acquisition sourcing and Ascend’s broader integration and transformation agenda. For external-facing deal conversations — sellers, brokers, investment banks — this person also carries a working line to the CEO and CFO, who sponsor Ascend’s M&A strategy and capital decisions. Close, regular collaboration with Finance/CFO on modeling and diligence, and with the Acquisition Integration team on handoff, is central to the role.

We are seeking highly motivated individuals who have the willingness and ability to demonstrate Ascend core values:
Committed to Client Success: Our actions and our words always align with the best interest of the client.

• One Team: We work collaboratively to overcome challenges with humility and respect and do what it takes to find innovative solutions.
• Integrity: We are unquestionably committed to doing the right thing even when it is hard.
• Accountability: We hold ourselves and each other accountable for keeping our commitments to our clients, our communities, and one another.
• Transparency: We create open lines of communication with each other and our clients, fostering relationships founded on candor and trust.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Must be able to sit, stand, and bend for the duration of shift. The position is mainly sitting, with occasional lifting up to 50 lbs, such as laptop, server equipment, and, driving to the work site to meet with client(s).

Salary Expectations: $110,000 - $125,000 varying on experience

The salary for this position is commensurate with experience, skills, and qualifications. The range is intended to reflect our commitment to attracting top talent, and the final offer will be based on factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's previous experience, expertise in the field, relevant certifications, and the specific requirements of the role. In addition, internal equity, market trends, and geographic location may also influence the final salary.

Along with a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings options, flexible time off (FTO), and professional development opportunities. We are open to discussing compensation and benefits further during the interview process to ensure alignment with the candidate’s expectations and experience.