Joseph is available for hire
Hire JosephJoseph S. Lesko
Verified Expert in Finance
Finance Expert
Location
New York, United States
Toptal Member Since
August 30, 2017
Joseph is a fundraising advisor to entrepreneurs, operators, and family offices. He is an experienced private, investment banker, merchant banker, and research analyst. Joseph is currently the co-founder and managing partner at Autori Partners, where he advises on a range of investment opportunities in private markets. Joseph joined Toptal to use his diverse skills and contacts to help entrepreneurs make their dreams come true.
Career Highlights
Private Banker
JP Morgan
Investment Banker
NewOak Capital
Research Analyst
Barclays Capital
Education Highlights
Master's Degree
New York University
Bachelor's Degree
Villanova University
Case Studies
Expertise
Work Experience
Co-Founder, Managing Partner
2020 - PRESENT
Autori Partners
- Engineered multiple capital formation assignments for family offices, entrepreneurs, and operators across various industries. Deal stage varied from Series A, growth capital, refinancings, asset acquisitions, and independent sponsor transactions.
- Analyzed principal investment opportunities and ran private markets investment programs for buy-side clients to accomplish investment objectives.
- Acted as a speaker and presenter at various investor conferences, events, and forums.
Focus areas: Business Development, Asset Acquisition, Analysis, Capital Structuring, Capital Raising, Client Development, Private Placements, Private Equity, Wealth Management, Fundraising, Hedge Funds, Client Presentations, Pitch Decks, Venture Capital, Early-stage Venture Capital, Seed Fundraising, Deal Structuring, Term Sheet Negotiations, Financial Modeling, Fundraising Strategy, Fundraising Consultant, Financing, Roadshows, Investment Banking, Affordable Housing, Residential Real Estate, Real Estate, Capital Markets, Private Capital Markets, Revenue & Expense Projections, Business Models, Pitch Deck Consultant, Fintech, Series B, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Forecasting, Valuation, Startups, Private Placement Memoranda, Financial Analysis, Business Planning, Startup Funding, Edtech Design, Market Research, Three-statement Modeling, Sports
Wealth Strategist
2016 - 2021
Global Capital Strategies (GCS)
- Served as a founding team member of a multi-family office with approximately $100 million in AUM and the architect of the firm’s growth and business development strategy.
- Provided investment asset allocation, portfolio construction, portfolio management, asset monitoring, and reporting to business owners, entrepreneurs, private foundations, and multi-generational families.
- Maintained proactive client coverage that included discussions on market trends, tax law, trust and estate matters, and other issues as they relate to a family's overall financial goals.
- Delivered advisory services, liaising with a client's team of external advisors, including attorneys and tax accountants.
- Built the firm's alternative capabilities, including alternative funds hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital, and participated in direct investments.
- Evaluated both fund and direct investments as a principal and helped raise investor capital for sponsored companies.
Focus areas: Security Analysis, Asset Acquisition, Portfolio Management, Portfolio Analysis, Investment Portfolio Management, Business Development, Relationship Management, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Wealth Management, Private Placements, Private Equity, Fundraising, Hedge Funds, Pitch Decks, Venture Capital, Early-stage Venture Capital, Seed Fundraising, Deal Structuring, Term Sheet Negotiations, Fundraising Strategy, Fundraising Consultant, Financing, Roadshows, Affordable Housing, Residential Real Estate, Real Estate, Private Capital Markets, Revenue & Expense Projections, Business Models, Pitch Deck Consultant, Fintech, Series B, Forecasting, Valuation, Startups, Private Placement Memoranda, Financial Analysis, Business Planning, Startup Funding, Market Research
Private Banker
2013 - 2016
JP Morgan
- Managed a $1.3 billion book of business catering to entrepreneurs, family offices, and endowments and foundations. The book generated around $4 million in revenue.
- Oversaw new client acquisition and relationship management for private and institutional clients with assets ranging from $50 million to $2.5 billion.
- Structured loan products such as advised lines of credit, premium financing, fine art, and aircraft loans.
- Generated new sources of revenue by cross-selling diversified product offerings across investment, credit, and fiduciary lines of business.
Focus areas: Business Planning, Investment Portfolio Management, Wealth Management, Portfolio Management, Client Development, Asset Acquisition, Private Equity, Fundraising, Hedge Funds, Pitch Decks, Venture Capital, Early-stage Venture Capital, Seed Fundraising, Fundraising Strategy, Financing, Roadshows, Capital Markets, Private Capital Markets, Revenue & Expense Projections, Business Models, Private Placement Memoranda, Financial Analysis, Market Research
Investment Banker
2009 - 2013
NewOak Capital
- Originated, structured, and executed a range of client engagements in diverse industries, including community banking, specialty finance, insurance, technology, and renewable energy.
- Generated significant revenues for the firm, including the origination of a $150 million equity and debt capital raise assignment for a lending platform that produced approx $2 million for NewOak.
- Built valuation and transaction models, prepared investor presentations and fairness opinions, negotiated engagement letters, term sheets, credit agreements, purchase and sale agreements, employment contracts, and secured loan documents.
- Developed comprehensive capital sources for deals, including hedge funds, private equity, insurance companies, commercial banks, pension funds, strategic investors, and family offices.
- Led various consulting assignments, including valuation and analysis for a monoline insurer and litigation support for a large international financial institution.
- Facilitated transactions, including private placements of equity capital, senior and mezzanine debt, restructurings, refinancings, mergers and acquisitions, and financial advisory assignments, ranging from $10 to $100 million in transaction value.
Focus areas: Transaction Structuring, Valuation Modeling, Private Placements, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Private Equity, Fundraising, Hedge Funds, Pitch Decks, Deal Structuring, Term Sheet Negotiations, Financial Modeling, Fundraising Strategy, Fundraising Consultant, Financing, Roadshows, Investment Banking, Capital Markets, Private Capital Markets, Revenue & Expense Projections, Business Models, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Forecasting, Valuation, Startups, Private Placement Memoranda, Financial Analysis, Startup Funding, Market Research, Three-statement Modeling
Research Analyst
2006 - 2008
Barclays Capital
- Assumed comprehensive fundamental coverage of US insurance companies, including the primary coverage for 20 plus names within the property, casualty and life insurance sectors, and secondary coverage for monolines, mortgage insurers, and GIC issuers.
- Disseminated credit views and trading calls in bonds and CDS to internal/external constituents (sales force, traders, hedge funds, real money accounts) via presentations and meetings and detailed company reports.
- Collaborated with senior traders in the investment strategy group to construct value-added, actionable investment ideas on a single name basis and using pair trades across the credit spectrum (including high yield, investment grade, and distressed).
- Performed all analysis and due diligence aspects, including synthesis of SEC documents, statutory statements and schedules, earnings calls, and investor meetings.
- Developed robust forecasting models to predict cash flows, operational and financial metrics, and performed comparative analyses of credit agreements and indentures to review covenant protections.
Focus areas: Credit Investing, Publishing, Credit Analysis, Hedge Funds, Pitch Decks, Affordable Housing, Residential Real Estate, Real Estate, Capital Markets, Revenue & Expense Projections, Business Models, Forecasting, Valuation, Private Placement Memoranda, Financial Analysis, Market Research, Three-statement Modeling
Executive Underwriter
2001 - 2006
The Hartford
- Analyzed Fortune 1000 companies and fund structures, including insurance companies, banks, finance companies, private equity, and hedge funds, to underwrite corporate and directorship indemnity deals, including directors and officers' liability insurance.
- Served as the western regional manager for a $20 million portfolio of executive liability insurance products, with the responsibility to meet growth and profit and loss targets.
- Utilized transaction management experience to close deals for large dollar executive liability insurance policies, including the successful coordination of internal constituencies, clients, insurance brokers, reinsurers, and legal counsel.
Focus areas: Financial Statements, Insurance, Private Equity, Hedge Funds, Business Models
Underwriter
1999 - 2001
American International Group
- Managed the process of providing directors and officers insurance coverage to portfolio companies of established private equity firms to provide for the indemnification of executive officers and board members.
- Collaborated with law firms and producers at Aon Financial Services Group to construct complex insurance programs to provide private equity firms with access to a minimum of $100 million in capital protection.
- Built relationships and executed deals with New York based insurance brokerage firms.
Focus areas: Financial Statements, Private Equity, Business Models
Education
2003 - 2006
Master's Degree in Finance
New York University - New York, NY, USA
1994 - 1998
Bachelor's Degree in Finance
Villanova University - Villanova, PA, USA
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