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Financial Analyst/Project Associate, Biggins, Lacy, Shapiro & Company - Chicago, IL

Financial Analyst/Project Associate

 

Company Profile:  Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Company, LLC (“BLS”) is a leading consulting firm known for its expertise in developing innovative public financing strategies that influence corporate location decisions, and assisting companies and institutions in redeveloping Brownfields and other surplus properties. Our work focuses on the location strategies of global companies and the economic development objectives of nations, states and cities.  As such, our work deals with a range of complex corporate and public policy issues that can make a difference in the success of our diverse corporate clients and of their host communities.

BLS is adding to its research, analytic and project management team to fuel growth and serve our diverse corporate and public sector clients.  The preferred location for our new associate is Chicago, IL.

Position Description:  BLS is seeking individuals who will work as part of a team to prepare complex and sophisticated discounted cash flow and other financial analyses to support strategy and transactions for a broad range of real estate and other investment projects.  Our preferred new team member also will support the overall implementation of economic development projects, including research, negotiations, client presentations and project implementation. BLS team members work in a fast-paced and strategy-oriented environment, with the opportunity to cross-train across the full range of our consulting specialties, and work on interesting and high-profile projects. 

Job Responsibilities: 
  • Perform NPV analysis and cost comparisons (“gap analysis”)
  • Quantify economic development incentive values and timing
  • Gather necessary community and site data to analyze and/or identify preferred properties including information on logistics, labor, utilities, taxes and demographic data. 
  • Interact with economic development organizations, utilities, government officials, property owners, real estate brokers and others as needed to obtain the required data.
·      Research economic development incentive legislation and identify comparable past incentive transactions
·      Assist in other administrative and marketing projects as needed

Qualifications

The ideal candidates must have:

·      Two to four years relevant experience as a financial analyst, investment banking associate, appraiser, or other financial analytic role in project finance or commercial real estate. 

·      Demonstrated competence in project and real estate financial analysis (including discounted cash flows, IRRs, NPVs, debt and equity structures) and, in particular, in-depth familiarity with financial models in Excel.

·      In addition, candidate should have solid working knowledge of working knowledge of Microsoft Power Point and Project programs. Additional software skills to be applied include commercial and open-source GIS applications, such as ESRI or MapInfo. 

·      Strong organizational, written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, creativity, initiative and ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment are essential. Experience in commercial real estate, project finance or related fields is preferred.

·      Undergraduate degree in business administration, civil engineering, finance, public administration, real estate, urban planning, accounting or a related field.  MBA or comparable advanced degree will be valuable but not required.

·      Familiarity with related disciplines will be an advantage – including state and local land use and development approvals, market research and demographics.

BLS is ready to train and develop talented people with strong work ethic, analytic curiosity and focus on objectives.



CONTACT:  Tracey Hyatt Bosman, 312-924-2490, tbosman@blsstrategies.com