Corporate Development Associate

Reports to: Vice President, Corporate Development
Location: Remote (U.S.) — travel up to 25%
Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt

Introduction
Guardian Fire Services is building one of the country’s leading platforms for fire protection and life safety. Since 2022 we have brought more than a dozen owner-operated businesses into the Guardian family, giving each the resources and stability of a national organization while preserving the local identity and legacy their founders spent decades building. Backed by Investcorp and headquartered in Nashville, we are in the early innings of a national buy-and-build strategy in a large, highly fragmented, compliance-driven industry.

Position Summary
The Corporate Development Associate supports the full acquisition lifecycle at Guardian. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Corporate Development, the Associate is the analytical and organizational engine behind our deals running the diligence process and producing the materials that get transactions approved by our board.
This is a high-exposure, execution-focused role on a small team. You will work on live transactions every week, interact directly with sellers, advisors, and Guardian’s senior leadership, and develop deep expertise in lower-middle-market M&A within a specialized industry.

Core Responsibilities

Financial Analysis & Valuation

• Build and maintain acquisition models from scratch, including valuation, purchase price allocation, deal structure scenarios, sensitivities, and pro forma platform impact.
• Analyze target financial statements, revenue mix, recurring inspection revenue, customer concentration, backlog, and margin trends to develop a defensible view of normalized earnings.
• Translate analysis into clear recommendations, a point of view on strategic and financial fit.

Transaction Execution & Due Diligence

• Manage transaction execution from Letter of Intent through closing, keeping milestones, deliverables, and open items on track across every workstream.
• Coordinate financial, commercial, operational, legal, tax, insurance, and HR diligence across internal functions and outside advisors; drive timelines and resolve open items.
• Own the mechanics that keep deals moving, diligence request lists, data room setup and administration, information flow between sellers and advisors, and closing logistics and checklists.
• Support the drafting and negotiation of LOIs, purchase agreements, disclosure schedules, and employment agreements in partnership with the VP of Corporate Development and outside counsel.

Investment Committee & Reporting

• Prepare investment memos, data packs, and presentations for Guardian leadership, Investcorp, and Board reviews.
• Provide regular pipeline and transaction reporting, maintaining visibility into deal status, next steps, and open items across the portfolio of active opportunities.
• Track post-close performance of acquired businesses against acquisition assumptions.
Pipeline & Strategy Experience
• Support proprietary outreach to owner-operated fire protection businesses and participate in seller introduction calls, capturing key risks, diligence items, and follow-ups.
• Contribute to special projects and strategic initiatives supporting Guardian’s broader growth agenda.

Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 2+ years of experience in investment banking, private equity, or corporate development.
• Demonstrated ability to build financial and valuation models from scratch; expert-level proficiency in Excel and strong PowerPoint skills.
• Direct experience supporting M&A transactions through the deal lifecycle.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with meticulous attention to detail and sound commercial judgment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage credibly with business owners, executives, and outside advisors.
• Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• High-ownership mindset and the ability to work autonomously in a remote, entrepreneurial setting.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% for management meetings, site visits, and closings.

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with lower-middle-market or small-business M&A, particularly acquisitions of owner-operated companies.
• Experience preparing investment committee, sponsor, or board-level materials.
• Private equity-backed platform or buy-and-build experience.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

At Guardian Fire Services, we value innovation and collaboration. Here’s what we offer:

• Competitive Pay: $$$ based on experience + 20% annual bonus!

• Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, vision, and life insurance options.

• Future Savings: A 401(k) plan with employer match.

• Professional Growth: Opportunities for leadership and career advancement.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous PTO and paid holidays.

We Value All Experiences

We understand that no candidate is perfectly qualified for any job. Experience comes in different forms; many skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way. Even more important than your resume is a clear demonstration of dedication, impact, and the ability to thrive in a fluid and collaborative environment. We want you to learn new things in this role and encourage you to apply if your experience is close to what we’re looking for.

We also know that diversity of background and thought makes for better problem-solving and more creative thinking, so we’re dedicated to adding new perspectives to the team.

Our Commitment to Diversity

Guardian Fire Services is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Guardian Fire Services is committed to an inclusive experience for all applicants and will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations in the interview process, to the known physical or mental limitations of qualified employees with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.

How to Apply

If you’re ready to take the lead in shaping HR systems and processes in a growing company, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now to join Guardian Fire Services and make an impact!