Associate, Private Equity

Company: Ares Operations
Location: Los Angeles
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry. Job Description About Ares Private Equity Ares Private Equity flagship corporate opportunities strategy pursues investments in growth-oriented middle market companies in North America and Europe. Our senior investment professionals average over 22 years of experience investing in, advising, underwriting, and restructuring leveraged companies. We seek to invest in high-quality middle market companies in our core industries - Healthcare, Services, Industrials and Consumer - where we can utilize our extensive growth-oriented investing experience, proprietary Value Creation System, and our ability to flex into distressed to seek to generate consistent returns across market environments. Primary Functions & Essential Responsibilities We are looking for a self-motivated individual with a strong interest in investing in a wide variety of industries and transaction structures. This is a Partner-track role that requires 2 years of prior private equity experience, and the expectation is for strong performers to grow into a leadership seat over time. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following: Experienced investment professional on track to quarterback an entire deal process over the next 1-2 years Lead diligence discussions with the Private Equity group’s investment committee Develop detailed diligence plans and drive efficient execution Interpret credit agreements, legal agreements and other transaction documentation Partner closely with portfolio company management teams to drive growth initiatives Provide ongoing mentorship to more junior Associates and Analysts within the Private Equity group and assist with recruitment efforts Experience Required Prospective candidates should have 3-5 years of total relevant work experience and 1-3 years of private equity experience specifically Exceptional financial statement analysis, financial modeling, and valuation skills General Requirements Well-rounded interpersonal skills Ability to work well in an entrepreneurial environment with limited supervision and handle multiple projects. Strong work ethic and communication capabilities Maturity to interact with management teams Impeccable integrity and trustworthiness Ability to work from the Los Angeles (Century City) office 4 days a week Education Bachelor's degree from a leading university Exceptional academic record Reporting Relationships Partner, Head of Private Equity Compensation The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role. $140,000.00 - $185,000.00 The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit. Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more. There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.

Keywords: Ares Operations, Compton , Associate, Private Equity, Accounting, Auditing , Los Angeles, California