Alvarez & Marsal Hires New Due Diligence Professional

Professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal has added Michael O’Dowd to the firm’s Transaction Advisory Group. He joins the firm as a managing director and will be based in New York.

“Our clients’ expectations of federal tax changes in 2012, along with many private equity firms’ need to deploy capital and exit investments has led to a spike in demand for our integrated due diligence advisory services across all industry verticals. As we continue to grow our team of world class transaction advisors, Mike is an exceptional addition to our global practice,” said Paul Aversano, global practice leader of the A&M Transaction Advisory Group.

With more than 15 years of transaction-related experience, Mr. O’Dowd specializes in coordinating and leading financial accounting due diligence projects for both buy-side and sell-side engagements. Over the course of his career, he has led international due diligence transactions for both private equity and strategic buyers. He has also served clients across a range of industries, including manufacturing, retail, distribution, consumer products, industrial products, business services, and financial services.

Prior to joining Alvarez & Marsal, Mr. O’Dowd was a managing director with the transaction advisory services practice of Duff & Phelps, and previously served in the transaction advisory services practices of both Ernst & Young and Arthur Andersen in New York. Throughout his career, he has focused on advising clients on assessing quality of earnings and working capital, leverage recapitalizations, purchase accounting, SEC reporting and GAAP accounting. Additionally, he has advised on acquisitions involving businesses that are carved out of public and private companies, as well as assisted clients with the drafting of purchase and sale agreements, purchase price adjustment mechanisms and the determination of post-transaction reporting requirements. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA.

The private equity services group of Alvarez & Marsal provides due diligence/acquisition support, performance improvement and business advisory services, portfolio management, turnaround management and exit support. The group has more than 150 professionals and has offices in New York, NY and Chicago, IL (www.alvarezandmarsal.com).