Leads financial due diligence and Quality of Earnings engagements for private equity sponsors, strategic buyers, and management teams. Oversees complex financial analysis, working capital reviews, transaction accounting, client discussions, reporting, and quality control. Manages and develops Associates and Senior Associates while supporting proposals, business development, recruiting, thought leadership, and firm growth. Advises clients on valuation, purchase agreements, and deal structuring in a fast-paced M&A environment.
Vice President – Transaction Advisory Services
About Palm Tree
Palm Tree is a modern M&A value creation firm that integrates financial consulting, operational consulting, and investment banking services. Founded in 2010, Palm Tree specializes in supporting private equity firms, business operators, and management teams through strategic events such as mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, carve-outs, recapitalizations, restructurings, and performance improvement initiatives. The firm’s unique model combines the expertise of private equity, Big-4 accounting, and investment banking, delivering actionable solutions tailored to the challenges of middle-market businesses.
Position Overview
The Vice President role in Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) is a senior leadership position responsible for directing financial due diligence engagements, managing teams, and serving as a trusted advisor to private equity sponsors, strategic buyers, and management teams.
Ideal candidates bring 7+ years of experience in Financial Due Diligence, typically from Big-4, a national CPA firm, or a dedicated FDD practice—and have a demonstrated ability to lead complex QoE engagements, communicate directly with clients, and deliver high-quality, insight-driven analyses.
Vice Presidents play a pivotal role in execution, business development, team development, and firm growth.
Responsibilities
Client Engagement & Execution
Qualifications
Education & Credentials
Other Qualities We Value
Compensation & Benefits
About Palm Tree
Palm Tree is a modern M&A value creation firm that integrates financial consulting, operational consulting, and investment banking services. Founded in 2010, Palm Tree specializes in supporting private equity firms, business operators, and management teams through strategic events such as mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, carve-outs, recapitalizations, restructurings, and performance improvement initiatives. The firm’s unique model combines the expertise of private equity, Big-4 accounting, and investment banking, delivering actionable solutions tailored to the challenges of middle-market businesses.
Position Overview
The Vice President role in Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) is a senior leadership position responsible for directing financial due diligence engagements, managing teams, and serving as a trusted advisor to private equity sponsors, strategic buyers, and management teams.
Ideal candidates bring 7+ years of experience in Financial Due Diligence, typically from Big-4, a national CPA firm, or a dedicated FDD practice—and have a demonstrated ability to lead complex QoE engagements, communicate directly with clients, and deliver high-quality, insight-driven analyses.
Vice Presidents play a pivotal role in execution, business development, team development, and firm growth.
Responsibilities
Client Engagement & Execution
- Lead and manage end-to-end Quality of Earnings (QoE) and Working Capital Adjustment engagements.
- Oversee workstreams involving complex quantitative analysis, detailed financial models, and multi-layered data reviews.
- Review and finalize analyses across income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, net working capital, debt/debt-like items, and key operational drivers.
- Provide final quality control for client deliverables, including full QoE reports and diligence findings.
- Formulate accounting-based adjustments supported by observed trends, client discussions, and technical judgment.
- Guide clients on incorporating diligence findings into valuation, purchase agreements, and deal structuring.
- Lead diligence calls, management discussions, and financial discovery sessions to support investment decisions.
- Oversee day-to-day work performed by Associates and Senior Associates; provide coaching, performance feedback, and technical guidance.
- Ensure high-quality execution, accuracy, and timeliness across deliverables.
- Support internal training initiatives and elevate best practices across the TAS team.
- Support business development efforts, including proposal development, scoping conversations, and relationship cultivation.
- Identify opportunities to expand ongoing engagements or introduce additional Palm Tree service lines.
- Participate in firm-building initiatives such as recruiting, process improvement, and thought leadership.
- Begin building new client relationships and support expansion in strategic markets such as Dallas.
Qualifications
Education & Credentials
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.
- MAC/MBA preferred but not required.
- CPA strongly preferred.
- 7+ years of relevant experience, ideally in Financial Due Diligence within Big-4 or a comparable FDD practice.
- Proven success managing multiple concurrent engagements and leading teams.
- Strong familiarity with QoE, revenue/expense analysis, working capital reviews, and deal-related accounting issues.
- Advanced Excel and financial modeling capability.
- Strong understanding of financial statements, GAAP, and transaction accounting.
- Experience with BI tools or data manipulation technologies is a plus.
- Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills with meticulous attention to detail.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
- Thrives in fast-paced M&A environments with shifting priorities.
- Highly organized with strong project-management capabilities.
- Proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with a “team-first” orientation.
Other Qualities We Value
- Commitment to high-quality work and continuous improvement.
- Ability to stay composed under pressure.
- Curiosity, problem-solving ability, and strong professional integrity.
- Alignment with Palm Tree’s core values: integrity, collaboration, excellence.
Compensation & Benefits
- Base salary $150k–$200k, plus top-of-industry performance-based bonus.
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) with match, unlimited PTO, parental leave, and additional fringe benefits.
- Hybrid work model with access to offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Detroit, and Dallas.
- Travel requirements: 5%–35%, engagement-dependent.
- High-growth, merit-based culture with accelerated advancement.
Palm Tree LLC Chicago, Illinois, USA Office
110 N. Wacker Dr. Suite 2175, Chicago, United States, 60606
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