The primary responsibility of the M&A Manager is to support the wider M&A function with pipeline development, conversion of new opportunities to mandates, deal execution and account management. The role will play an important role in supporting our national growth strategy.
Reporting directly to the Head of M&A, the M&A Manager will initially have one direct report (M&A Executive) however this is expected to increase as the company grows. There will be a requirement to engage directly with our debt advisory and marketing functions, our clients and business partners.
The following responsibilities are not a prescriptive list, but is indicative of typical role responsibilities.
Winning work
- Assist with the preparation and delivery of pitches to potential new clients.
- Participate in, and facilitate the write up of, deal related strategy (growth) workshops/meeting output for clients in and outside the office.
- Liaise with clients, funders and intermediaries such as legal advisers during the execution of transactions.
- Efficiently manage the firm’s on-boarding procedures.
- Be seen by clients as a key member of the deal team.
Client relationships
- Demonstrate confidence in managing internal and external relationships (i.e. clients, buyers, funders and intermediaries).
- Participate in, and facilitate the write up of, deal related strategy (growth) workshops/meeting output for clients in and outside the office.
- Project manage M&A transactions which will involve regular calls and emails with clients and other parties involved in the deal (such as legal and tax advisers), during and outside of normal working hours.
- Contact potential purchasers or investors to sell them opportunities. Often in the case of purchasers this will involve identifying contact details for the CEO or M&A Director of much larger businesses located in the UK and internationally and exploiting any available method and a confidence and persistence of approach.
- Effectively position negotiations about company values and competitive tension with senior decision makers.
Client outputs
- Participate in, and facilitate the write up of, deal related strategy (growth) workshops/meeting output for clients in and outside the office.
- Provide value added analysis, make appropriate recommendations and suggest strategies to overcome transaction hurdles.
- Engaging with clients to capture client feedback and sharing their success stories.
- Assist clients with rectifying shortcomings in their accounting, management or business planning, for example helping them to properly account for deferred income.
- Review and advise on key commercial decisions and agreements where a client may seek support.
BD support
- Active member of the Business Development Forum to support on-going pipeline development and go-to-market strategy.
- Conduct on-going market/sector research and generate content for marketing communications.
- Amplification of Shaw & Co content through personal social media channels if active (LinkedIn and/or Twitter).
- Ownership of a sector and develop insight-led intelligence and collateral with support from the marketing team.
- Develop thought leadership content to support Shaw & Co’s wider PR & communications strategy.
- Support Shaw & Co’s engagement strategy and grow your personal profile by representing the firm to the highest professional standard at industry networking events.
- Build and nurture a network of contacts at legal firms, investors, lenders, tax advisers and accountants that are active in the local M&A market.
People leadership
- Line management responsibility for 1x headcount (M&A Executive) to include setting personal objectives, conducting regular 1-2-1 reviews and bi-annual performance reviews.
- Act as a coach and mentor to develop the skills of line report(s).
- Act as a role model by ‘living and breathing’ the company values.
Financial modelling
- Build and review Excel based models, which may include integrated business financial projections, company valuations, exit returns and corporate structuring.
- Review and comment on financial information provided by clients from a corporate finance aspect including the analysis of underlying profit and normalized working capital.
- Preparation of ad-hoc financial analysis and provide insights that support deal delivery.
- Prepare multiples and DCF based valuations in respect of company valuations.
- Prepare deal completion funds flows setting out the consideration payable and apportionment between selling shareholders and in some cases the impact of the exercise of EMI options.
Market analysis
- Undertake market research to help build understanding of client industries and identify potential buyers, sellers and comparable transactions.
- Be able to understand and present the key aspects of a client’s market in a relatively short timeframe (we aim to become ‘experts’ in a client’s sector to allow us to best present the opportunity in deal documents we are writing and in conversations with buyers and investors).
- Write up analysis of a client’s market and create graphics and charts to illustrate key points such as the total addressable market in an Information Memorandum or investor presentation.
- Prepare and present a list of potential buyers or investors for a client’s company including proposing the strategic rationale for each buyer, relevant M&A activity, ability to fund the transaction and contact details for the key M&A contact.
Investment papers
- Use Word, PowerPoint and Adobe InDesign to prepare written reports and investment material such as Information Memoranda, management presentations and business plans.
- Manage the drafting of documents by effectively and faithfully capturing and implement client and other M&A team member feedback.
- Organise and manage dry-runs of management presentations with clients to help them make the best possible presentation to potential buyers.
- Review and comment on commercial aspects of all legal agreements relating to M&A deals, and specifically Share Purchase Agreements and Investment Agreements with an ability to clearly explain to clients key concepts such as normalised working capital, liability caps and standard private equity terms including good and bad leaver provisions, drag and tag and underperformance clauses.
- Setup, populate and manage the financial, tax, legal, commercial and technical due diligence processes to ensure efficient and controlled release of information and responses to questions in a considered fashion. This will include creating and managing a virtual deal data room.
Personal development
- Keep up to date with Shaw & Co Strategy, sector, client and regulatory developments.
- Engage in continuing professional development to refresh and develop technical and/or leadership skills.
- Act as line manager for M&A Executives including the setting of goals, day-to-day management and review of their work and formal appraisals.
- Project manage the recruitment of new junior team members where the Head of M&A decides to initiate this including liaising with recruitment agents, screening CVs, conducting interviews and an assessment centre (with a modelling exercise).
- Become a trusted and reliable project manager for M&A transactions of a range of types and sizes to free up senior time for business development, able to leverage your experience of previous deals and confer confidence in the client such that you become their go-to contact for any aspect of the transaction.
Essential personal qualities
With Shaw & Co’s ambitious plan to scale its business and meet increasing demand, this role requires someone who can hit the ground running. The ideal candidate will be a chartered accountant (ACA or equivalent) and ideally have a minimum of two years corporate finance experience gained in the profession.
- Strong commercial awareness and business acumen.
- Self-motivated, acts on own initiative and passionate about delivering exceptional client service.
- Adept at forging new relationships.
- Team player and flexible to the needs of a small but dynamic specialist advisory firm.
- Self-aware and seeking personal development.
- High level of project management and organisational skills.
- An ability to work accurately and effectively at all times and under pressure whether as part of a collaborative team or working alone from home.
Essential technical skills
- Advanced Excel competency (ability to prepare robust high quality financial models from first principles).
- Excellent written and verbal communication, with ability to build rapport and establish effective working relationships.
- Negotiation and project management.
- ACA or equivalent qualified.
- At least 2 years’ experience within corporate finance.
- Ability to develop, coach and motivate junior members of the team
- Eligible to work in the UK.
Remuneration
Qualifications and relevant experience.
- £50-60k basic salary, plus uncapped bonus scheme.
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
- 4x salary life assurance, defined contribution pension scheme (with 5% employee contribution and 3% Shaw & Co contribution), private medical cover, wellness package including gym membership.
- Flexible working under consideration.
- Notice period 3 months.
If you would you to apply for this position please send your CV and cover letter using the button below. Please use M&A Manager Application in the email subject.
Submit CV
