Firm:  Cardiff Advisory LLC

Location:  San Diego, CA (or Remote with significant travel to primary client centers)

Sector Focus:  Healthcare and Life Sciences (Biotech, Pharma, MedTech, Diagnostics, HealthTech)

 

The Opportunity

Cardiff Advisory is a boutique M&A and corporate finance advisory firm founded to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and sound financial execution for founder-led and lower-middle-market Life Sciences companies. We are seeking two highly accomplished Managing Directors to significantly expand our platform, drive new business origination, and provide MD-led execution and mentoring for our most critical client engagements.

This is a high-autonomy, high-accountability role designed for proven investment banking leaders who seek a more strategic, hands-on, and specialized environment than found in generalist or large bulge-bracket firms.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

The Managing Director will be accountable for three primary pillars of firm success:

 

Business Origination & Revenue Generation (Primary Focus)

• Generate New Mandates: Proactively identify, pitch, and secure new buy-side, sell-side M&A, and strategic advisory mandates, with a focus on closing mandates that meet the firm’s quality and profitability standards.
• Expand Network: Cultivate and maintain an extensive network of senior-level relationships, including C-suite executives, corporate development officers, private equity/venture capital partners, and other key referral sources within the Life Sciences and Healthcare ecosystem.
• Sector Deep Dive: Lead the development of sector-specific intellectual capital (thought leadership, market reports, transaction analyses) to drive conversations with prospective clients and establish the firm’s competitive position.

Transaction Execution & Leadership

• MD-Led Execution: Serve as the most senior leader on multiple simultaneous transactions, ensuring disciplined process management, quality control, and direct client relationship oversight from valuation through closing.
• Strategic Advisory: Provide expert, nuanced advice to founders and boards, integrating deep biological/scientific diligence with rigorous financial foresight to maximize sustainable enterprise value.
• Negotiation & Structuring: Lead complex negotiations, guiding clients on deal structure, terms, and counterparty management to achieve superior outcomes.

Mentoring & Firm Building

• Talent Development: Mentor and manage junior team members (VPs, Associates, Analysts) to ensure transaction excellence and foster the next generation of highly specialized bankers.
• Cultural Leadership: Contribute to the firm’s growth strategy, culture, and long-term vision, ensuring the practice maintains its reputation for integrity, intellectual rigor, and client focus.

Ideal Candidate Profile & Required Experience

The ideal candidate will be a proven revenue generator with a demonstrated passion for the Life Sciences industry.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 10-15 years of progressive experience in investment banking, with a significant tenure as a Managing Director (or equivalent senior role) in an M&A or Corporate Finance group.
• FINRA Series 79 and 63.  Having a Series 7 and 82 is a plus.
• Deep Domain Expertise: Demonstrated, non-generalist transaction history and domain knowledge in at least one key Life Sciences sub-sector (e.g., cell/gene therapy, digital health, specialty pharma, devices).
• MBA and/or Advanced Degree (PhD, MD, JD) highly preferred, reflecting the firm’s commitment to scientific rigor.
  
  

Recruitment Request: Deal Sheet and Experience

Applicants must submit a detailed summary of their relevant transaction experience, including:

• MD Deal Sheet: A comprehensive list of M&A and capital markets transactions led or originated over the past 5-10 years, including deal size, role, client name (if public/publicly known), and a brief description of the complexity.
• Business Origination Track Record: Specific metrics demonstrating new business generation (e.g., annual revenue/fee generation, number of mandates originated).
• Strategic Value Creation Examples: Case studies or narratives demonstrating where your unique sector expertise or advisory input materially increased the transaction value or improved the strategic outcome for the client.