Summer Analyst Program 2027
- Location
- Location not specified
Program Overview:
Most summer analyst programs give you a taste of investment banking. This one gives you the real thing. At Ascend, Summer Analysts work alongside senior partners on live transactions inside mission-critical software and technology verticals — from day one. There are no narrow lanes. No busy work. No hiding behind layers of hierarchy. Just real work, real exposure, and a real opportunity to find out what investment banking looks like when sector expertise is everything.
Program Structure:
The Ascend Summer Analyst Program runs approximately ten weeks. You will be embedded directly into active deal teams, contributing to transactions across our specialized software and technology verticals. The program begins with focused training on financial modeling, valuation methodologies, and the institutional frameworks that define the verticals we serve. From there you will work alongside senior partners on live engagements for the remainder of the summer.
What You Will Do:
Summer Analysts at Ascend are not observers. You will be expected to contribute meaningfully across every phase of active transactions. Responsibilities include:
- Financial modeling and valuation analyses including comparable company analysis, precedent transaction analysis, leveraged buyout analysis, and discounted cash flow analysis.
- Industry and company-specific research including competitive landscape and sector dynamics analysis.
- Development of pitch materials and transaction marketing documents.
- Investment memorandum preparation and client update materials.
- Due diligence coordination and facilitation.
- Proprietary deal and market intelligence development.
- Financial model development and sensitivity analysis.
- General project management support across active engagements.
What You Will Gain:
Ten weeks at Ascend will give you something most summer programs cannot — genuine depth. You will leave with a real understanding of how M&A transactions work inside complex, mission-critical software verticals, direct exposure to senior-level deal making, and a foundation of sector knowledge that takes most analysts years to build. High-performing Summer Analysts will be considered for full-time Analyst positions upon graduation.
Mentorship & Development:
Every Summer Analyst is paired with a senior mentor for the duration of the program. You will have direct access to the senior partners who run our transactions — not just in formal settings but throughout the day-to-day work. We invest in the people who join us and the summer program is where that starts.
Who We Are Looking For:
We are looking for students who are serious about investment banking and serious about building real expertise. Not students who want to check a box. Students who want to go deep. Specifically:
- Rising seniors pursuing a bachelor’s degree with an anticipated graduation date of Spring 2028.
- Strong academic performance with demonstrated analytical and quantitative ability.
- Genuine intellectual curiosity and a drive to understand complex problems.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- High integrity and the ability to thrive in a fast-moving, unstructured environment.
- Prior experience in finance, accounting, or a related field preferred but not required.
Why Ascend:
Ascend is a specialist investment bank focused exclusively on mission-critical software and technology verticals. We are not a generalist firm. We do not rotate Summer Analysts through industries they will never work in again. We put you inside the verticals we know best — GovTech, Public Safety, Cybersecurity, FinTech, GRC, LegalTech, Energy Technology, and more — and we give you the access, the mentorship, and the responsibility to make your ten weeks matter. If you want to build a career with genuine sector authority, this is where it starts.
Application details
Use the official Apply Now email link to [email protected]. It goes to the firm’s general information mailbox; the employer does not specify a subject line or required attachments for this role.