2026 Private Equity Summer Associate

Vista Equity Partners is a leading investment firm that invests in enterprise software businesses. Through our three private equity strategies—Endeavor, Foundation, and Flagship—we partner with companies at all stages of growth.

Our 10-week Summer Associate Program offers first-year MBA students hands-on experience in private equity investing, including valuation, due diligence, deal execution, and portfolio value creation. Candidates will be asked to share a fund preference to help align opportunities with their skills and interests. 

Upon completion of the program, successful Summer Associates may be considered for full-time opportunities beginning in Summer 2027. These roles are expected to be available in one of our primary office locations, including Chicago, IL; Austin, TX; or San Francisco, CA, subject to business needs and availability.

To be considered, please submit your application and complete the online cognitive assessment by December 10, 2025. A link to the assessment will be sent automatically once your application is submitted. Completion of the assessment is an important part of our holistic evaluation process.

Please be sure to finish all parts of the assessment. You must go through each assessment prompt until you’re sent back to the application portal. Your application will only show as complete once you’ve answered each question and returned to the portal. 

Salary Range: $120,000-$150,000

As a Summer Associate, you will:

• Evaluate and execute investment opportunities in the enterprise software industry, including both platform and add-on investments.
• Conduct financial and operational due diligence, developing detailed financial models.
• Build and present investment theses targeting new opportunities.
• Partner with the Vista Consulting Group to implement operational best practices across portfolio companies.
• Support analysis and execution of potential exit opportunities.

We are seeking candidates who demonstrate:

• Enrollment as a first-year MBA student with an expected graduation of Spring 2027.
• Prior experience in investment banking, with private equity a strong plus; other backgrounds in financial services, consulting, or related roles will also be considered.
• Exceptional analytical, financial modeling, and business judgment skills.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• A demonstrated interest in investing, financial markets, and technology industry sectors/trends.
• High levels of personal and professional maturity, with a strong work ethic and accountability.
• Self-motivation and a high degree of initiative.

Vista is a global technology investor that specializes in enterprise software. Vista’s private market strategies seek to deliver differentiated returns through a proprietary and systematic approach to value creation developed and refined over the course of 25 years and 600+ transactions. Today, Vista manages a diversified portfolio of software companies that provide mission-critical solutions to millions of customers around the world. As of March 31, 2025, Vista had more than $100 billion in assets under management. Further information is available at vistaequitypartners.com. Follow Vista on LinkedIn, @Vista Equity Partners, and on X, @Vista_Equity.