Shaw & Co is a leading corporate finance advisory firm with a strong reputation for providing expert financial solutions and strategic guidance to entrepreneurs and owner managers of businesses across various industries. Our purpose is to assist our clients in achieving their financial objectives and maximizing value through mergers, acquisitions, and funding solutions and the ultimate realisation of their business interests. Our track record includes transacting with the likes of Unilever, Vodafone, Groupon and Michelin to name a few. As a forward-thinking firm, we are continuously expanding our offerings to meet the evolving needs of our clients.
As Business Operations Manager, you will take full ownership of Shaw & Co’s backend processes and support functions, enabling the Founder & CEO to focus on strategic growth, deal delivery, and senior recruitment. This is a hands-on, varied role covering finance, HR, property, compliance, IT, and supplier management.
The role requires a breadth of experience and a willingness to tackle new areas with a high degree of diligence and tenacity. You will proactively manage all operational issues, drive improvements, and ensure the business runs smoothly and efficiently. You will be trusted to use your initiative, judgement, and breadth of experience to solve problems, anticipate needs, and deliver high-quality outcomes with minimal supervision.
• Prepare monthly SMT reporting packs, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery.
• Organise monthly SMT agenda and ensure delivery of decision papers in a timely manner.
• Manage credit control, ensuring timely collection of receivables and proactive management of outstanding debts.
• Maintain short- and longer-term cash flow forecasts.
• Liaise with outsourced finance providers and ensure accurate, timely financial information.
• Monitor and manage and approve employee expenses and client recharges ensuring adherence to policy.
• Oversee all supplier relationships and ensure cost control and where appropriate bring about cost reductions.
• Support the CEO with financial planning and analysis to drive better business decisions.
• Coordinate and improve HR processes: recruitment administration, onboarding, payroll, holiday/sickness tracking, and compliance.
• Manage benefits packages including Health Insurance, DIS and Income Protection schemes.
• Manage and administer the company EMI scheme, including regular valuations with HMRC and issuing scheme documentation.
• Oversee the PDP process ensuring that all members of the team are maintaining a PDP and are receiving the appropriate line manage input.
• Undertake annual salary review and benchmarking exercise and provide recommendations to CEO.
• Liaise with outsourced HR providers and ensure policies are up to date.
• Liaise with outsourced HR providers to support any arising HR issues supporting and advising the CEO on appropriate and compliant courses of action.
• Support employee wellbeing and engagement initiatives.
• Manage office property matters: leases, maintenance, insurance, and supplier contracts.
• Ensure the office environment is safe, compliant, and fit for purpose.
• Drive working environment improvements.
• Mange office supplies and maintain cost control.
• Maintain company records, filings, and statutory compliance (using outsourced support where required).
• Manage the annual ICAEW and DPB compliance reports and reviews.
• Provide key point of contact for ICAEW practice assurance.
• Manage annual PII renewal process.
• Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements (GDPR, health & safety, etc).
• Oversee provision of ongoing training to meet regulatory requirements (such as manual handling, fire safety, first aid).
• Support risk management and business continuity planning.
• Coordinate IT support and outsourced providers oversee IT ticketing for team and manage priorities.
• Oversee IT procurement, including sourcing, purchasing, and replacement of equipment.
• Manage kit issued to new starters and ensure recovery from leavers.
• Manage environmentally responsible equipment disposal where required.
• Ensure systems are secure, up to date, and fit for business needs.
• Support adoption of new technology and process improvements.
• Mange annual programme of SMT meetings ensuring diary alignment and room availability.
• Organise, schedule and budget two firm away days per annum.
• Organise, schedule and budget a Partner away day each year.
• Oversee business meeting schedule to maintain agreed upon battle rhythm.
• Co-ordinate other team gatherings such as firm Christmas party.
• Proactively identify and resolve operational issues.
• Develop and improve processes and systems.
• Focus on making Shaw & Co a great place to work for all team members by making business easy.
• Ensure the CEO is kept informed of key issues, risks, and opportunities.
• Use initiative and judgement to solve problems and deliver solutions.
• Maintain confidentiality and demonstrate utter integrity in all dealings.
• Essential:
- Experience running or supporting a small business across finance, HR, payroll, operations, compliance, and IT.
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes with minimal supervision.
- Strong organisational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Comfortable coordinating outsourced suppliers managing contracts, and cost control.
- Experienced in all areas of finance including credit management and cash flow forecasting.
- Experience dealing with HR issues, systems management and improvement.
- High levels of integrity, trustworthiness, and discretion.
- Adaptable, proactive, and solutions-focused approach to work.
- Able to use initiative and demonstrate sound judgement.
- Comfortable with technology and evolving business systems with experience of process improvement.
• Desirable:
- Ability to manage company bookkeeping in-house, with a view to transitioning this function from outsourced providers and reducing spend.
- Knowledge of Shaw & Co’s sectors or previous experience in a similar financial services advisory role.
- Knowledge of and familiarity with Xero accounting software.
- Knowledge of and familiarity with Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
- Financial qualification such as AAT, ACA, CIMA or equivalent.
• Basic salary – £60,000 to £65,000 pa depending on experience, potential for role to be less than 5 days per week.
• PRR1 & PRR2 bonus participation.
• Equity Incentive through company EMI scheme.
• Private Health Cover.
• Death in Service, Income Protection.
• Workplace Pension Scheme.
• Bristol (central).
• Hybrid option working from home/alternative location aslong as at least one face to face session per week with the CEO is maintained.
If you would you to apply for this position please send your CV and cover letter to careers@shawcorporatefinance.com (or use the button below).
Please use ‘Business Operations Manager Bristol' in the email subject.
Shaw & Co is a leading corporate finance advisory firm with a strong reputation for providing expert financial solutions and strategic guidance to entrepreneurs and owner managers of businesses across various industries. Our purpose is to assist our clients in achieving their financial objectives and maximizing value through mergers, acquisitions, and funding solutions and the ultimate realisation of their business interests. Our track record includes transacting with the likes of Unilever, Vodafone, Groupon and Michelin to name a few. As a forward-thinking firm, we are continuously expanding our offerings to meet the evolving needs of our clients.
Working in our Deal Delivery team, you will be a hands on transaction manager who owns discrete workstreams on mid-market M&A and funding mandates with only light supervision from our director team. Bringing over 4 years’ corporate finance experience, you will be a day-to-day client manager turning objectives into clear plans, maintaining momentum from deal preparation through managing diligence to negotiation and completion, and safeguarding quality and risk management throughout.
You will scope, plan and deliver high impact outputs (eg IMs, financial models, buyer/investor engagement, data room and diligence coordination), while anticipating issues, simplifying complexity, and keeping all stakeholders aligned. You will set the pace for a small team, delegating effectively to Assistant Managers and Executives, coaching for excellence, and upholding best practice in how we run processes.
Alongside delivery, you’ll grow your personal brand and our presence through networking and relationship development. You will contribute to the pipeline by building trusted client and market relationships. Above all, you’ll exemplify our values - Make it happen, Strive for better, Do the right thing - in every interaction.
• Own transaction workstreams. Scope, plan and deliver discrete elements of M&A and funding processes—IM drafting, financial modelling/review, buyer/investor engagement lists, data room build and diligence coordination—on time and to spec.
• Produce high‑quality outputs. Go further than just delivering outputs, challenge yourself and the team to deliver industry leading quality and insights. Ensure all documents that leave your desk enhance the reputation of the firm, are consistent, compelling and on brand.
• Project‑manage momentum. Maintain a clear plan, critical path and issues log; anticipate blockers and drive actions, keeping the Director sighted on decisions and risks. Coordinate with clients as well as legal, tax and other advisers to deliver tightly controlled project plans.
• Run controlled outreach. Execute structured buyer/investor and lender approaches, manage Q&A and ensure accurate contact/interaction records. Be a controlled, accurate and highly professional point of contact on behalf of our clients.
• Support negotiations. Prepare analysis, options and papers to inform valuation, structure and key terms. Demonstrate transaction experience to offer solutions to problems and value points.
• Be the day to day client lead. Set agendas, manage expectations and communicate progress and issues with clarity; build trust as the first call for the client team.
• Quality assurance. Enforce Shaw & Co templates and standards; check numerical integrity, narrative consistency and data accuracy before anything leaves the door.
• Risk & compliance. Protect confidentiality and manage approvals, file hygiene and audit trails; follow firm policies on compliance and risk management.
• Issue management. Identify emerging risks early, propose options with impacts/mitigations and secure decisions promptly. Identify and mitigate client risk and misunderstanding, be ahead of any problems.
• Be a leader. Delegate effectively to Assistant Managers and Executives, set clear briefs and standards, review outputs and coach for performance and development. Take personal pride in the development of those around you, be seen as a “go to” member of the team.
• Be ambitious. Seek personal development and improvement opportunities. Look to widen your own experience and progress your career in parallel with the firms ambitions to grow nationally.
• Codify best practice. Improve playbooks, templates and checklists; share deal learnings and sector insights to raise delivery quality across the team.
• Data & tooling discipline. Maintain CRM hygiene and leverage approved technology (including AI) to enhance speed, analysis and quality of outputs; report basic delivery KPIs.
• Market presence. Support brand building through targeted networking, events and content input aligned to priority sectors and post deal marketing.
• Essential:
- Minimum 4 years’ experience in corporate finance (excludes transaction services), within a professional services environment.
- Exposure to mid-market transactions (£5m–£100m EV).
- ACA, ACCA, CFA or equivalent professional qualification.
- Demonstrable track record of managing discrete elements of M&A or funding transactions with light supervision.
- Strong technical skills in financial analysis, modelling, and valuation.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality client-facing documents (e.g. IMs, process letters, presentations).
- Experience leading client relationships and acting as day-to-day point of contact.
- Proven ability to delegate, supervise, and develop junior team members.
- Highly organised, with strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple workstreams to tight deadlines.
- Commercial acumen and sound judgement in identifying and managing risks.
- High attention to detail and commitment to quality.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and comfortable adopting new technology (including AI tools).
- Strong ethical standards and commitment to confidentiality.
• Desirable:
- Experience working on both buy-side and sell-side mandates.
- Familiarity with data room management and due diligence processes.
- Experience in coaching, mentoring, or line management.
- Network of relevant contacts in the corporate finance market.
- Experience using CRM systems and deal management tools.
- Knowledge of Shaw & Co’s priority sectors or previous experience in a sector-led advisory role.
- Experience contributing to business development, marketing, or thought leadership.
• Basic salary: Approx. £64,000 pa.
• PRR1 (up to 10% of basic) & PRR2 (profit share) bonus participation.
• Equity Incentive through company EMI scheme.
• Private Health Cover.
• Death in Service, Income Protection.
• Workplace Pension Scheme.
• Hardman Square, Manchester, United Kingdom.
• Hybrid option working up to 2 days per week from home/alternative location with line manager approval.
If you would you to apply for this position please send your CV and cover letter to careers@shawcorporatefinance.com (or use the button below).
Please use ‘Manager Manchester' in the email subject.
If you would you to apply for this position please send your CV and cover letter to careers@shawcorporatefinance.com (or use the button below). Please use 'M&A Executive Application' in the email subject.
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