M&A Research Analyst

AlphaCurrent Partners, LLC

Location: St. Louis, MO (in-person preferred; open to hybrid or remote)

Position Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Level: Research Analyst or Senior Research Analyst

Reports To: Managing Partner

ABOUT ALPHACURRENT PARTNERS

AlphaCurrent Partners is a buy-side M&A origination and advisory firm focused on proprietary deal sourcing for lower middle market private equity clients. We operate exclusively across essential, non-discretionary, and mission-critical industries: B2B services, industrial and infrastructure, and non-discretionary consumer services. Our founding team brings decades of senior-level M&A experience and a track record spanning 500+ transactions and $3.5B+ in enterprise value.

Our edge is proprietary, off-market deal flow, and the quality of the research and outreach that produces it. We are a small, ambitious team that would rather build the better way than inherit the old one. We are deliberately AI-forward, building proprietary tools and workflows that most firms in our market have not. We pair institutional-grade data platforms with frontier AI, including Claude, across sourcing, automation, and internal operations. We have the energy and upside of a startup, with the discipline and resources of a team that has built and closed deals at scale before.

THE ROLE

This role is responsible for the research that drives our clients' acquisition pipelines: identifying, profiling, and qualifying private companies against specific investment theses. The work is hands-on and requires careful judgment, accuracy, and persistence. This is a research role and does not involve financial modeling.

You will also help improve how that research gets done by using AI, scripting, automation, and internal tools to make our processes faster, more accurate, and more scalable. Initially, the role will be weighted heavily toward live research and target identification. As you develop, you will take on greater responsibility for methodology, workflow design, and the systems that become part of our proprietary research stack.

You are not expected to arrive knowing how to do everything. The people who thrive here are relentless learners who research unfamiliar problems, test solutions, learn from failure, and keep working until they find an answer. We value curiosity, resourcefulness, and demonstrated ability more than a perfect checklist of prior experience.

AlphaCurrent operates through two core teams: Research and Origination. Research identifies and qualifies companies; Origination engages business owners directly to confirm fit and develop opportunities. Both are equally important to how we win. This position sits firmly within Research and does not conduct outbound outreach. Analysts support reporting and data integrity, while senior team members take increasing ownership of the firm's sourcing scorecard and research methodology.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

We hire selectively and hold a high bar for accuracy, judgment, and execution. The right person pairs a researcher's instincts with a builder's mindset. In return, you get direct exposure to live private equity mandates, meaningful responsibility from the start, and a real share in the firm's success.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Research & Target Identification

Conduct thematic, strategic research and market analysis to identify, profile, and qualify private companies against client investment criteria, including both platform and add-on opportunities.
Own the target identification process from initial screening through delivery of qualified, well-researched candidates to the Origination team.
Build target lists, market maps, company profiles, and industry summaries for review by senior staff and founding partners.

Data Sourcing & Verification

Identify key decision-makers at target companies (founders, owners, CEOs, presidents), and verify their contact and company information for accuracy before it enters workflows.
Research individual owners and executives, their backgrounds, tenure, and ownership context, to assess fit and inform how the Origination team approaches them.

Sourcing Operations & Reporting

Support firm-wide sourcing and performance reporting, tracking outreach activity, deal pipeline progress, and conversion rates across Research and Origination.
Maintain CRM and tracker data integrity, and help keep reporting consistent and reliable.

AI, Automation & Tooling

Use frontier AI and large language models to structure research, accelerate analysis, and improve the quality of deliverables.
Build workflows, scripts, automations, and internal tools that improve the speed, accuracy, and scalability of our research process.
Evaluate and suggest new tools, data sources, and methodologies to keep our research sharper and more efficient over time.

Collaboration & Growth

Work directly with deal teams and founding partners on live client mandates.
Prepare research findings and materials that support internal discussions and client engagement.
As you grow, take on workflow design, mentor junior analysts, and own projects end to end against deadlines and quality standards.

LEVELS & HOW WE HIRE

This role is offered at two levels. We hire and title candidates according to demonstrated capability, scope of responsibility, and experience, so tell us where you think you fit and we will calibrate together.

Research Analyst: executes the research, including target identification, profiling, data verification, and first-draft materials, and supports reporting and data integrity.
Senior Research Analyst: owns client mandates and research methodology, the sourcing scorecard and reporting, and AI-assisted workflows, and mentors analysts.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education. Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience and demonstrated ability. Strong academic credentials, including advanced degrees, are valued, but they are not decisive. Candidates with unconventional backgrounds who can demonstrate the precision, judgment, and capability this work demands are encouraged to apply. We prioritize exceptional ability over conventional filters.
Research ability. Strong analytical skills and the ability to research and analyze both quantitative and qualitative information.
Technical and AI ability. Demonstrated ability to build or improve workflows using Python, SQL, scripting, AI-assisted development, or no-code automation, and a habit of using AI to push how research gets done. Production-level software engineering experience is not required.
Communication. Full professional fluency in English, exceptional written and verbal communication, with the ability to distill complex information into clear, concise summaries.
Accountability. A demonstrated track record of accountability and success.
Attention to detail. Strong attention to detail, responsiveness, and a proactive mindset.
Drive. Entrepreneurial-minded and results-oriented, with a strong ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Technical aptitude from any path, whether a degree in computer science, engineering, math, or another quantitative field, or self-taught fluency you can demonstrate.
Hands-on experience using frontier AI tools to build workflows, automate research, and develop internal tools. AI-assisted coding and rapid prototyping are welcome.
Experience with CRM systems, financial data platforms, or investment research tools.
Prior experience in M&A, private equity, investment banking, consulting, or investment research is preferred but not required at the Research Analyst level.
For Senior Research Analyst candidates, a track record owning complex research projects or investment mandates is strongly preferred.

COMPENSATION

Base salary of $100,000 to $125,000, depending on level and experience, plus eligibility for discretionary performance bonuses and participation in the firm's profit-sharing program from the start of employment. You are rewarded in proportion to the value you help create: bonus and profit-sharing opportunities increase with responsibility, individual contribution, transaction outcomes, and the firm's performance. We are building a small team of high performers who share in the success they help build. Plenty of firms say they put people first. Far fewer pay like they mean it. We intend to.

HOW TO APPLY

Email your resume and a brief note to max@alphacurrent.com. In your note, tell us:

Which level you're applying for, and why it fits.
What drew you to this role, and why you think you'd be a strong fit.
If you have built or automated something useful with AI, show us. Include a brief explanation, example, or link.

AlphaCurrent Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected status.

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