Mergers and Acquisitions Manager

M&​A Manager

Location: Manchester

NH15414

The Opportunity

A high-growth, private equity-backed professional services business is embarking on an ambitious buy-and-build strategy and is seeking an M&​A Manager to play a key role in its next phase of growth.

This is a newly created position offering the opportunity to work directly with an experienced leadership team, Board, and private equity investors to identify, evaluate, execute, and integrate acquisitions. The business has already completed acquisitions and has a strong pipeline of further opportunities as it executes a significant consolidation strategy within a fragmented market.

Reporting to the CFO and working closely with the CEO and investors, the successful candidate will take ownership of end-to-end M&​A activity while helping to build the internal corporate development capability and integration framework.

This role is ideally suited to a high-calibre M&​A professional looking to make the move from advisory into an operational, value-creation-focused environment where they can have a direct impact on business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Transaction Execution

• Lead and manage the full deal lifecycle, from origination through to completion.
• Coordinate valuation analysis, due diligence processes, negotiations, and transaction execution.
• Drive multiple live transactions simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Prepare investment papers, financial analyses, and recommendations for senior stakeholders and investors.

Origination &​ Target Assessment

• Build and maintain a pipeline of acquisition opportunities aligned to the group's strategic growth ambitions.
• Conduct market mapping and strategic assessments of potential targets.
• Support the development and refinement of acquisition criteria and investment theses.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as a key point of contact between the business, private equity sponsor, and external advisers.
• Coordinate legal, tax, corporate finance, and due diligence workstreams.
• Build trusted relationships with vendors, management teams, and advisers throughout the deal process.

Integration &​ Value Creation

• Support the successful integration of acquired businesses.
• Help develop and refine a repeatable M&​A and post-merger integration playbook.
• Track performance and support value creation initiatives across acquired entities.
• Contribute to broader corporate development and strategic projects.

Candidate Profile

We are interested in speaking with individuals who possess:

• Experience within investment banking, corporate finance, transaction services, M&​A advisory, or a related environment.
• Demonstrable deal execution experience across buy-side and/or sell-side transactions.
• Strong financial modelling, valuation, and analytical capabilities.
• Excellent project management and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercial acumen and the ability to translate complex analysis into actionable recommendations.
• A proactive, self-starting approach and a desire to work in a highly entrepreneurial environment.
• The ambition to develop into a more senior corporate development or M&​A leadership role over time.