Small Business M&A Advisor (buy-side)

Small Business M&A Advisor Title: Small Business M&A Advisor Location: Remote Company: DealOrb.ai About DealOrb.ai: DealOrb.ai is the leading platform helping acquisition entrepreneurs find, finance, and close great small business acquisitions. We reach over 60,000 subscribers with curated deal flow, creative financing strategies, and hands-on guidance. In the past year alone, our members have closed over $180M in acquisitions. We’re a fast-moving, customer-obsessed team looking for a sharp, experienced M&A professional to help our buyers succeed. Job Summary: We’re seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented M&A Advisor to join our business acquisition program, DealOrb Private Search. You’ll be a strategic guide, a financial analyst, and a trusted partner to acquisition entrepreneurs navigating every stage of the process—from sourcing and diligence to negotiations and close. You’ll lead 1-on-1 and group conversations, offer deep financial insight, and help us continuously improve the quality and consistency of our advisory systems and templates. Key Responsibilities: Client Lifecycle Management 1 - Support the client lifecycle across the full deal process: search and sourcing, due diligence, financial analysis, financing, negotiation, and post-acquisition planning. 2 - Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, addressing their needs promptly and proactively. 3 - Conduct onboarding calls, respond to 1-on-1 messages, and lead regular client check-ins. 4 - Maintain calendar availability typically 48–96 hours out (sooner when possible), in line with client availability. 5 - Document the client lifecycle to identify gaps and propose improvements. 6 - Create and track metrics to evaluate buyer success and inform program development. Search Criteria Development Help clients define and refine their acquisition criteria based on their financial goals, strengths, and market insights. Deal Sourcing Oversight 1 - Act as a second set of eyes on deals sourced by our internal team, ensuring alignment with each buyer’s criteria. 2 - Collaborate with the sourcing team to maintain a steady pipeline of quality off-market deals. Due Diligence 1 - Guide clients through financial, operational, and legal due diligence of target businesses. 2 - Analyze business models, P&Ls, and risk areas to inform client decision-making. Financial Analysis 1 - Conduct SDE and EBITDA normalization and identify red flags in financials. 2 - Provide financial modeling support to evaluate deal economics and sensitivity to different capital structures. Financing Coordination 1 - Advise clients on capital stack composition and structure, including SBA 7(a), seller financing, and outside equity. 2 - Help buyers understand SBA eligibility and connect them with appropriate lenders when needed. Negotiation Support 1 - Act as a sounding board as buyers structure offers and negotiate LOIs. 2 - Provide feedback on deal terms, earnouts, holdbacks, and risk mitigation strategies. Post-Acquisition Integration 1 - Help buyers create 30/60/90-day post-close plans to ensure successful ownership transitions. 2 - Offer best practices for employee retention, customer communication, and operational continuity. 3 - Encourage learning before change: help clients observe and listen before implementing major operational shifts. Group Coaching & Webinars 1 - Host recurring group office hours, webinars, and coaching calls to address common deal issues and accelerate collective learning. 2 - Answer ad hoc questions from active buyers and participate actively in the community Slack. Knowledge Base & Infrastructure 1 - Contribute to internal templates, diligence checklists, and our growing library of red flags, case studies, and tools. 2 - Identify and document repeatable insights that can help future clients. Required Qualifications: 1 - 5+ years of experience in small business M&A, buy-side advisory, transaction services, or related roles. 2 - Strong grasp of financial statements, quality of earnings, deal structuring, and valuation fundamentals. 3 - Deep familiarity with SBA loan processes and small business financing structures. 4 - Excellent communication skills with a high EQ; comfortable advising high-performing, first-time business buyers. 5 - Self-starter with a bias for action and problem-solving. 6 - Highly organized with strong follow-through and attention to detail. Preferred Qualifications: 1 - Previous experience brokering or acquiring small businesses. 2 - Background in Private Equity, investment banking, or transaction advisory. 3 - Experience as a founder, operator, or CEO is a major plus. Company Culture and Expectations: 1 - Must be willing to operate in a fast-paced startup environment, with minimal guidance. 2 - Must have a high do-to-say ratio. Meaning, earn the trust of your teammates by following through on the things you say you will without having to be reminded. 3 - Always over-delight clients. 4 - Always under-promise and overdeliver. 5 - Take the time to build fences when possible. Never get so busy chasing cows that you do not take the time to build a fence. As a fast-growing startup, backstops, systems, and processes have to be built and followed, or we will be overwhelmed with the day-to-day of chasing cows. Why Join DealOrb: 1 - Opportunity to be a key leader in a rapidly growing company. 2 - Collaborative and dynamic work environment. 3 - Chance to make a significant impact on the company's success and growth. 4 - Opportunity to create and develop new lines of business and grow with the organization.