2026 IB Summer Analyst | Leveraged Finance | Chicago

William Blair has delivered trusted advice for nearly nine decades, and we continue to deepen our expertise and relationships across regions, asset classes, and markets throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. We are committed to our people and culture, values, clients, and local communities. What sets us apart is that we are an independent partnership, with employees who have unique experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. We provide advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet clients’ evolving needs amid dynamic market conditions and varying industries. We strive to attract the most qualified, passionate candidates who specialize in investment banking, investment management, private wealth management, and a variety of other business functions. We work tirelessly to create an inclusive culture and take pride in fostering employees’ professional and personal growth. We empower our people to bring their best thinking each day so we can deliver the tailored, thoughtful work and problem-solving abilities that our clients expect. Equally, we are proud of our long-term partnerships with the communities in which we live and work, a legacy we inherited from our founder.

We invite you to learn about how we are seeking excellence in everything we do and empowering our clients’ success with passion, creativity, and rigor. For more information, visit williamblair.com.

Job Description

Our Leveraged Finance Group is a team of dedicated debt advisory bankers focused on delivering an optimal financing outcome for each client’s specific situation. We provide conflict-free advisory and arrangement services for middle-market companies across a wide range of industries and transaction types, along with trusted, objective advice on how best to structure debt issues, and are skilled at negotiating key terms of debt agreements, often working in conjunction with our private equity placement professionals to provide single-source solutions for our clients' capital requirements. Whether the objective is to finance an acquisition, refinance an existing facility, support growth with additional capital, or provide liquidity to existing shareholders, our team leverages a broad lender network to deliver the best financing solution available in the market. These relationships, along with our group’s extensive experience and proprietary 360° view of the leveraged finance market, allow us to provide our clients with a full menu of product options. 

We know you have choices on how you spend your summer but encourage you to apply for William Blair’s 2026 Leveraged Finance Group Summer Analyst Program. Take the opportunity to build on the fundamentals of your academic background, gain practical knowledge to help prepare you for your next steps and be part of an organization that fosters innovation and invests in our most important asset, our people.

The summer program provides all interns with unique opportunities to: 

• Work alongside current analysts, associates, and VPs over the course of the 9-week program
• Take on all functions of a full-time analyst
• Receive direct client exposure in a culture of collaboration and accountability
• Analyze financial statements and related data to assess historical financial performance, current conditions, and outlook for client companies and prospects
• Build detailed, fully integrated three-statement financial models to analyze the impact of alternative transactions and capital structures on cash flows, covenant cushions, and investor rates of return
• Assess information required to perform all pertinent analyses; compile information request lists and track information gathered; assist lenders and investors in their due diligence processes
• Draft offering memorandums, management presentations, and other communications with clients and investors
• Participate in client meetings and drafting sessions
• Support client relationship development by forming a detailed understanding of client needs and challenges, providing professional/responsive service, and anticipating client needs
• Research current and prospective client companies, comparable companies and transactions, and industries; monitor and research capital markets; update client and debt/equity databases 

Qualifications:

• Pursuing undergraduate bachelor’s degree with anticipated graduation between December 2026 - June 2027
• Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above preferred (but open to all applicants)
• Undergraduate major: all majors considered
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills
• General understanding of accounting and finance
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Strong computer skills, specifically Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• You are adaptable in an ever-changing environment and can manage through change with a high degree of emotional maturity
• You are highly motivated, detail oriented, and thrive in a collaborative environment
• Willingness to be located in Chicago

Throughout the 9-week program, summer analysts are evaluated for opportunities in our full-time class, upon graduation. 

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a link to complete our pre-interview assessment, Suited, which will need to be completed within 48 hours. Please monitor your spam folder, as the email may get caught in spam filters. 

Application Deadline:

Apply before January 23rd to be considered for this opportunity.