Jonathan Wesner, CFA
Verified Expert in Finance
Finance Expert
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Toptal member since November 19, 2018
Since 2011, Jonathan has been working in M&A, completing 40 investment banking transactions totaling $1.8 billion. He has extensive experience working with founders and C-level executives across a variety of industries, notably software and marketing technology. Freelancing allows him to work for a diverse range of clients and help them tackle complex business and financing strategies.
Career Highlights
Education Highlights
Certification Highlights
Case Studies
Work Experience
Managing Partner
Agadir Partners
- Partnered with private and sponsor-backed middle-market companies and startups in CFO areas such as M&A, corporate finance and strategy, and capital markets.
- Added value to key areas such as financial statements, preparation, analysis, forecasting, and modeling.
- Worked on growth strategy, organic and inorganic growth, M&A, divestitures, as well as capital structure and financing in equity, debt, and alternative financing.
- Worked as transaction lead and support. Involved in acquisition and integration analysis, risk and liquidity analysis, fundamental, in-depth business analysis, and maximized shareholder value and exit strategy planning.
Principal (Director)
AGC Partners
- Worked for AGC, the leading global software and technology investment bank focused on middle-market M&A and growth financings.
- Served as a principal across software/SaaS, including gaming, infra/cloud, data, HCIT, edtech, and cybersecurity.
- Closed five transactions with around $813 million in transaction value.
Director, Mergers & Acquisitions
Woodbridge International
- Oversaw the firm’s U.S. and Canadian M&A efforts, and managed the firm’s transaction strategy and overall training and development of staff.
- Managed all aspects of transactions from pitch through close, and negotiated directly on behalf of clients, specifically regarding enterprise value, control provisions, working capital, and purchase agreements.
- Led multiple deal teams in marketing, structuring, negotiating, and closing sell-side transactions.
- Successfully executed LOIs with four companies across consumer, tech, and software industries within the first five months.
Vice President, Investment Banking
Berkery, Noyes & Co
- Closed eleven deals, approximately $290 million in transaction value, which included sell-side M&A, leveraged buyouts, equity financings, and fairness opinions; also directly managed teams of associates and analysts.
- Specialized in software and SaaS business models in marketing services, TMT, and fintech.
- Managed all aspects of transactions from pitch through close, and negotiated directly on behalf of clients, specifically regarding enterprise value, control provisions, working capital, and purchase agreements.
- Collaborated directly with management teams to prepare all of the marketing materials.
- Determined the optimal ways to position opportunities to investors and built financial models to drive maximum valuation and outcomes.
- Directly advised an LA-based software (SaaS) company with $15 million in revenue, in its growth equity raise. Defined, maintained, and updated key SaaS metrics (ACV, ARPA, CLTV/CAC, net dollar retention, and so on).
- Worked directly with all clients in an FP&A capacity to analyze historical financial performance, prepare and recommend improvements, prepare and forecast operating performance, and create historical and projected financial statements.
Vice President, Investment Banking
Bryant Park Capital
- Closed 24 deals, approximately $650 million in transaction value, which included sell-side M&A, leveraged buyouts, debt and equity financings, and fairness opinions; also prepared valuation analyses, merger and LBO models, and client presentations.
- Specialized in fintech/specialty finance (FIG) and advised on numerous engagements, both public and private, in areas such as lending technology, consumer lending, and merchant cash advance.
- Served as a staffer and mentor for all interns, analysts, and associates.
- Prepared training materials and provided ongoing support to all junior employees and directly managed teams of associates and analysts.
- Earned early promotion to the position of vice president in two years due to deal-sourcing and buyer relationships.
- Directly advised a pre-revenue media technology startup on multiple Series A capital raises with a strategic backed venture fund, totaling $6.5 million.
- Directly advised US Home Systems (NASDAQ:USHS) in its ~$100 million merger with Home Depot (NYSE:HD).
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in Corporate Finance and Investment Management
Penn State Smeal College of Business - University Park, PA, USA
Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and International Business
Penn State Smeal College of Business - University Park, PA
Certifications
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
CFA Institute
Series 63
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
Series 79
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
Skills
Finance
Corporate Finance, Fairness Opinion Reports, Capital Structuring, M&A (Sell-side), Financial Reporting, M&A, Financial Modeling, Private Equity, Valuations, FP&A, Accounting, Leveraged Buyout Modeling, Three-statement Modeling, Budgeting Consulting, Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Fundraising, Startup Funding, Cost-benefit Analysis, Seed Fundraising, Due Diligence, Interim CFOs, Capital Raising, Capital Budgeting
Output Software
Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel Development
Data & Analysis Software
Capital IQ
Industry Expertise
Financial Services, Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM), Venture Capital, Sales & Marketing, Software Development
Other
SaaS, Financing, Leveraged Buyout (LBO), Business, Fintech, Interim CFOs, Investment Banking, Cohort Analysis, SaaS, Presentation Design, FPA, Due Diligence, Waterfall Modeling, Early-stage Venture Capital, Pitch Deck Consulting, Storytelling Design, Marketing Design, Advertising Management, Media, Marketing Technology (MarTech)
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