Primary Investment Associate

Job Description

Associate, Primary | Adams Street Partners

The Tone:
This is a 2-year position at Adams Street Partners, located in Menlo Park, CA. Adams Street is a global private markets investment manager overseeing nearly $73 billion in assets, operating as a 100% employee-owned firm that cultivates a positive culture of collaboration, intellectual rigor, integrity, and professional development. Recognized as a private markets pioneer and inducted into the Private Equity Hall of Fame in 2000, Adams Street integrates expertise across five investment strategies, with the Primary Investment Team specifically investing in premier buyout and venture capital funds since 1979. This Associate role is crucial for supporting the US Primary Investments Team in actively sourcing, analyzing, and monitoring a broad range of investment opportunities with a global mandate, directly contributing to the team’s consistent delivery of strong risk-adjusted returns across diverse business and economic cycles.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Temporary
• Location: In-person, Menlo Park, CA
• Pay: $135000–$145000 yearly
• Team: US Primary Investments Team, working closely with them.
• Mission: Support the sourcing, analysis, and monitoring of investment opportunities within the primary private equity and venture capital space.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Evaluate and Monitor Investments: Meet with General Partner groups to assess potential investment opportunities and track existing investments.
• Perform Quantitative and Industry Analysis: Conduct portfolio valuation, comparable company analysis, value driver analysis, performance attribution analysis, and in-depth industry/sector analysis.
• Prepare Investment Documentation: Assist in drafting investment memoranda and support legal negotiation and documentation processes.
• Manage Team Projects and Client Support: Oversee the deal pipeline, develop proprietary deal and market intelligence, and coordinate client support activities including due diligence and presentation preparation.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s Degree from a top-tier undergraduate university, with a preferred background in Business, Finance, or Accounting, and a good understanding of the private equity and venture capital industry.
• Experience: 1-2 years of work experience in a top-tier investment banking, private equity, or financial consulting organization is ideal, but not required.
• Skills: Strong analytical, modeling, organizational, and writing skills, combined with a professional presence and communication skills for effective internal and external interaction.
• Bonus: A self-starter with a strong work ethic who can manage projects from initiation to completion while navigating multiple, competing deadlines.