Associate Director - M&A advisory for privately owned businesses

Our client is a leading specialist M&A advisor for privately owned businesses who are looking for growth capital or sale of business, they cover a variety of sectors and have a strong deal track record with a healthy pipeline. Due to the increase in deal flow they are now looking to hire an Associate Director to their growing team.

You will play a key role in both the origination of new client opportunities and execution of transactions. You will also play a crucial role in the management and development of Junior members of the Transactions Team. You will be responsible for running projects on a day-to-day basis, including managing and assisting clients who are some years ahead of a sale. You will act as the key point of contact for our client and other parties/advisers, reporting to and taking strategic advice from a Transactions Director.

The role:

Client support:

• Establishing clients’ needs in the period ahead of a sale, including helping them to assess their current state, future ambitions and developing a plan with actions and milestones to enhance value in the run up to sale.
• Working with the various participants (clients and any third-party partners) to implement the resulting plan throughout the pre-sale phase
• Ongoing monitoring of market conditions to bring relevant insight to inform the timing of the future sale process.

Transactions:

• Leading transactions on a day-to-day basis in line with the strategic approach and timetable agreed upon with the Director overseeing the transaction to ensure that mandates are executed accordingly.
• Acting as the principal contact for all parties to a transaction (the client, potential buyers, and other external advisors) and managing/coaching the more junior members of the team supporting you.
• Working alongside the Research team and other members of the deal team to identify and qualify potential strategic buyers / investors, develop compelling profiles to present to clients, and lead the presentation of an agreed to shortlist to the client.
• Managing the approach to and contacting approved potential buyers and investors to assess their interest in acquiring/investing in the client’s business.
• Leading the preparation of reports, IMs, management presentations, and other marketing materials, including pitch presentations and proposals.
• Managing the preparation of various forms of deal-related financial analyses, (including P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, normalised working capital and completion funds flows) by the deal team.
• Managing the deal team’s population and maintenance of Virtual Data Rooms, follow up Q&A and buyer due diligence.
• Managing the deal team’s development of financial models including integrated P&L, Balance Sheet and Cashflow operating models, and returns models for private equity/growth capital structures prepared by supporting members of the deal team and reviewing the accuracy and validity of outputs.
• Analysing and comparing final offers for client presentation, providing tactical advice to clients.

Business Development:

• Assisting in the internal management of assignments by planning/organising the staffing of transactions to maximise efficiency, tracking fees, and communicating issues to the Directors.
• Developing your own pipeline of opportunities, taking responsibility for relationship development with potential clients, oversight and direction for pitch preparation, pitch delivery and ultimately winning mandates.
• Tailoring Letters of Engagement as required, under the direction of a Transactions Director.

Candidate Requirements:

• A minimum of four years’ relevant transaction experience in a corporate finance, lead advisory or transaction services team at one of the big 4 or an Investment bank / Boutique
• Strong financial modelling skills
• A track record of adding value to clients, demonstrating strategic thinking
• Strong track record of successfully leading and completing sale mandates
• ACA, ACCA qualification is desirable but not essential
• Experience in coordinating and managing the activities of supporting team members

Please note the offices are based in Newbury and you would be required to go to the office 2 days a week.

If you feel you meet the requirements for this role, please apply today.