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Investment Banking Associate - Consumer

Baird · Chicago, IL · $175,000–$200,000 a year · Full time

Posted Jun 11, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a sell-side process you worked on. What was your role at each stage?

What they are checking: Whether they have real M&A execution experience and can explain what they personally owned.

Baird runs lean deal teams. How do you handle more responsibility than an associate usually gets?

What they are checking: Whether they are ready to own workstreams and interact directly with clients and senior bankers.

Tell me about a time you developed an analyst on your team.

What they are checking: Whether they invest in others and contribute to a collaborative culture.

What would you do

Baird uses AI tools like Rogo and auxi for pitch books and models. How would you use tools like that while keeping the work accurate?

What they are checking: Whether they can use AI to work faster while still checking outputs carefully before they reach clients.

A client CEO calls you directly with a question you are not sure how to answer. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they handle senior client contact professionally without overstepping or guessing.

About the work

Walk me through how you would value a branded consumer products company. Which methods would you weight most?

What they are checking: Whether they understand consumer brand valuation, including growth, margins and how buyers pay for brand strength.

Which consumer subsector do you find most interesting right now, and what deals would you expect there?

What they are checking: Whether they follow consumer markets closely enough to contribute to business development.

What makes a consumer company attractive to private equity buyers versus strategic buyers?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how different buyers value synergies, growth and cash flow.

How would you use Power BI or a similar tool to make a client presentation more insightful?

What they are checking: Whether they can turn data into visual insight, not just add charts to a deck.

Walk me through how a public equity offering works from kickoff to pricing.

What they are checking: Whether they understand the steps of an equity offering, which the posting lists alongside M&A.

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The full job description

As published by Baird.

Complex deals, real ownership, and career momentum. Grow further at Baird. ​ Baird is where investment banking careers gain real traction. Associates take on meaningful responsibility, work closely with senior bankers and clients, and grow in a culture that values performance, collaboration, and long-term success.​ What You’ll Do: ​ Responsibility that shapes your skill. Work that deepens your impact. • Play a lead role in executing public equity offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and other strategic financial advisory services across a range of sectors​ • Drive the preparation of company valuations, financial models, marketing materials, and client presentations​ • Contribute to business development efforts through research and analysis​ • Work directly with senior bankers and client executives, gaining insight into leadership-level decision-making​ • Use AI tools like Rogo and auxi to streamline the creation of pitch books and models, and employ data visualization software like Power BI to generate data-driven insights and reports for client materials​ What You’ll Gain: ​ A team that runs on trust, momentum, and shared values​ • Build strong relationships with client leadership and C-suite executives through active involvement in complex M&A transactions​ • Take on greater ownership through lean deal teams that offer more responsibility ​ • Navigate clear paths for progression with mentorship, visibility, and real opportunity​ • Advance alongside elite, high-performing peers who hold each other to a high standard​ • Collaborate across Baird’s global investment banking platform—500+ banking associates working together to drive results across geographies, sectors, and specialties​ • Grow in a culture that values diverse perspectives, welcomes ambition, and builds success through collaboration and shared purpose What It Takes: We’re looking for people ready to lead with focus and integrity​ • At least one year of full-time experience in a solution-focused financial or quantitative role​ • Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a track record of delivering results​ • Clear communication, strong leadership, and the ability to thrive in a collaborative, high-performing team​ • Intellectual agility, initiative, and the drive to grow in a fast-paced, client-focused environment​ • Experience with AI tools such as Rogo, CoPilot, and auxi is preferred • Familiarity with data visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar Compensation and Benefits: • $175,000 - $200,000 annual salary with bonus potential • Compensation and bonus are commensurate with experience, performance and/or GIB profitability • In addition to a strong culture that is focused on health and well-being, our organization offers competitive total compensation packages and comprehensive benefits including: protected Friday night and Saturdays, periodic sabbaticals during career, shareholder opportunities, mandatory paid time off (PTO) and robust 401k match and profit-sharing contribution Note to External Recruiters / Search Firms: Baird does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not compensate for any placement resulting from such submissions. Any unsolicited resumes received will not be treated as valid applications. Baird is not currently hiring individuals for this position who now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status. Baird is committed to diversity and provides employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, military service, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other status protected by law.

Apply at Baird