Job Advertisement: M&A Lead (UK)

Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced M&A Lead (UK) to join our team and play a pivotal role in driving our ambitious growth strategy. This position is based at our Support Office, with travel to service sites and industry meetings as required. Reporting to the Growth Director, with a dotted line to Group M&A and close collaboration with the UK CEO/CFO, this role is integral to delivering our buy-and-build strategy.

We are a private equity-backed, multi-site branded organisation with a strong focus on delivering high-quality services and ambitious expansion plans. Operating across nearly 100 locations nationwide, we aim to grow our presence to over 130 settings through both organic development and strategic acquisitions.

If you are a commercially curious, self-directed professional with a passion for mergers and acquisitions, we invite you to join our team and contribute to our vision of delivering exceptional services across the UK.

Responsibilities

Deal Origination & Pipeline Development

• Build and maintain a high-quality acquisition pipeline aligned with UK growth priorities.
• Develop and nurture relationships with brokers, advisors, and operators.
• Proactively source off-market acquisition opportunities.
• Represent the organisation as a credible and committed buyer in the market.

Opportunity Assessment

• Analyse industry dynamics, including growth trends, competitor activity, and regional demand.
• Evaluate fundamentals, financial performance, and operational indicators of potential targets.
• Build robust financial models and valuation analyses.
• Prepare clear and concise investment papers to support decision-making.

Transaction Execution

• Assist in negotiating letters of intent, purchase agreements (SPA, APA), and ancillary documents in collaboration with senior management and advisers.
• Support negotiation strategies alongside senior stakeholders.
• Coordinate internal and external due diligence across legal, finance, property, and operations.
• Assist in the preparation and review of transaction documentation.

Integration Support

• Project manage early integration efforts in partnership with functional leaders.
• Ensure alignment between the investment thesis and operational transition plans.

Market Intelligence

• Maintain up-to-date insights into valuation multiples and sector activity.
• Track emerging operators and identify potential consolidation opportunities.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels through structured analysis and high-quality presentations.
• Collaborate closely with Group M&A to align on best practices and governance.

Qualifications

Ideal Experience

• 4–7 years of experience in Corporate Finance, Transaction Services, Deals Advisory, Private Equity support, or Corporate Development.
• Strong financial modelling and valuation analysis skills.
• Proven experience in supporting or leading transaction processes.
• Comfortable engaging with external stakeholders, including brokers and advisors.
• Familiarity with legal documentation negotiation (e.g., SPA/APA, disclosure schedules, leases).

Highly Advantageous

• Experience in buy-and-build strategies.
• Background in multi-site consumer, education, services, healthcare, or hospitality sectors.
• Professional qualifications such as ACA, CFA, or equivalent.

Personal Characteristics

• Commercially curious with strong business intuition.
• Self-directed and comfortable operating with autonomy.
• Analytical yet pragmatic in approach.
• Strong relationship-building skills.
• Resilient and focused on delivering results.

Day-to-Day

• Proactively identify and assess acquisition opportunities that align with our growth strategy.
• Build and maintain relationships with brokers, advisors, and operators.
• Conduct detailed financial analyses and prepare investment cases for senior leadership.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external advisers to execute transactions efficiently.
• Support the integration of newly acquired service businesses to ensure seamless transitions.
• Stay informed on market trends, competitor activity, and valuation benchmarks.
• Represent the organisation at industry meetings and events to enhance market presence.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Opportunity to work in a fast-paced, growth-focused environment.
• Professional development and career progression opportunities.
• Collaborative and supportive team culture.
• Flexible working arrangements, including travel to service sites and industry events.
• The chance to make a meaningful impact on the growth and success of a leading organisation in the sector.

If you are a driven and experienced M&A professional looking to make a significant impact in a dynamic and growing organisation, we would love to hear from you. Apply today to join our team and help shape the future of our business!

Chief of Staff - PE Backed IT Infrastructure Opportunity

Overview
We are partnering with a private equity-backed IT infrastructure company to find a highly skilled and motivated Chief of Staff. This is a unique opportunity to join a dynamic organisation at the forefront of the IT infrastructure sector. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in driving value creation and providing strategic consultancy to support the company’s growth and operational excellence.

Responsibilities
As Chief of Staff, you will:

• Act as a trusted advisor to the executive leadership team, providing strategic insights and recommendations.
• Lead and manage cross-functional initiatives to drive value creation and operational improvements.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify opportunities for growth and efficiency.
• Oversee the execution of strategic projects, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
• Develop and implement frameworks to monitor and measure the success of key initiatives.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration across departments.
• Represent the leadership team in meetings and engagements as required.

Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess:

• Proven experience in value creation and consultancy, ideally within a private equity-backed or IT infrastructure environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels.
• A track record of successfully managing and delivering strategic projects.
• A results-driven mindset with a focus on achieving measurable outcomes.
• A degree in business, finance, or a related field; an MBA or equivalent qualification is highly desirable.

Day-to-Day
Your daily responsibilities will include:

• Collaborating with the leadership team to prioritise and execute strategic initiatives.
• Conducting in-depth analysis to identify opportunities for value creation.
• Coordinating with various departments to ensure seamless project execution.
• Preparing reports, presentations, and updates for stakeholders.
• Monitoring industry trends and providing insights to inform decision-making.
• Acting as a liaison between the leadership team and other parts of the organisation.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Opportunity to work with a forward-thinking, innovative organisation.
• Professional development and career growth opportunities.
• Collaborative and inclusive company culture.
• Exposure to high-impact projects and strategic decision-making processes.
• Hyrbrid, 3 days in the office

If you are a strategic thinker with a passion for driving value creation and have a background in consultancy, we encourage you to apply for this exciting Chief of Staff opportunity. Join us in shaping the future of IT infrastructure and making a meaningful impact.

Apply now to take the next step in your career!

Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Location: Hybrid | Weekly travel to Central Europe (2–3 days per week at HQ)
Start: ASAP
Contract: Interim (with potential interim-to-permanent)
Day Rate: Negotiable (aligned to large-cap, PE-backed complexity)

The Opportunity

A large, international, private equity–backed group (c. €700m+ turnover) is seeking an Interim CFO to provide immediate leadership and stability during a transition period while a permanent appointment is made.

The business is operating a buy-and-build growth strategy, with regular M&A activity across Europe. The Interim CFO will play a central role not only in core financial stewardship, but also in supporting transactions and ensuring disciplined post-merger integration.

This is a role requiring a senior finance leader who can operate credibly at board and investor level, act as a trusted right hand to the CEO, and simultaneously adopt a hands-on, in-the-trenches approach to ensure accuracy, control, and momentum.

• Ensure accuracy, integrity, and consistency of financial numbers across the group

• Improve forecasting quality, cash flow visibility, and working capital discipline

• Support and shape M&A activity, from diligence through integration

• Professionalise the finance function to large-cap, PE-backed standards

• Provide confident leadership through transition, supporting continuity and handover to a permanent CFO

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Business Partnering

• Act as a core member of the executive leadership team and strategic partner to the CEO

• Provide commercial insight to support growth, capital allocation, and value creation

• Lead board-level and investor-style reporting, including performance, cash, and covenant metrics

• Support longer-term finance strategy, organisation design, and capability development

Financial Control, Reporting & Governance

• Own group financial reporting, ensuring robust controls, reconciliations, and data integrity

• Oversee month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close across multiple entities and jurisdictions

• Ensure compliance with local statutory, tax, and regulatory requirements

• Standardise accounting policies, reporting formats, and governance across the group

Forecasting, FP&A & Working Capital

• Stabilise and improve short-, medium-, and long-term forecasting accuracy

• Drive improved working capital performance (AR, AP, inventory, cash conversion cycle)

• Enhance management information, KPIs, and dashboards to support operational decision-making

• Challenge assumptions and translate financial data into actionable insight

M&A Support & Transaction Activity

• Act as the finance lead on M&A activity, working closely with the CEO and deal teams

• Support financial due diligence, valuation analysis, and deal structuring

• Assess target businesses’ financial quality, systems, controls, and working capital profiles

• Identify deal risks, synergies, and integration considerations pre-close

• Support rapid assessment of bolt-on opportunities in line with the group’s growth strategy

Post-Merger Integration (PMI)

• Lead or oversee post-merger integration from a finance perspective

• Ensure timely integration of:

  • Financial reporting and close processes

  • Accounting policies and controls

  • Forecasting, budgeting, and KPI frameworks

  • Cash management and working capital practices

• Support integration of finance teams, clarifying roles, responsibilities, and operating cadence

• Track delivery of deal assumptions, synergies, and integration milestones

• Balance pace of integration with business continuity and operational realities

Transformation & Hands-On Delivery

• Lead elements of finance transformation, including:

  • Process standardisation and simplification

  • Strengthening of finance operating rhythm and controls

  • Improving data quality, systems usage, and reporting outputs

• Be close to the detail where needed, particularly in newly acquired or under-developed entities

• Step into problem areas to resolve issues pragmatically and at pace

• Build capability within the existing finance leadership team

Candidate Profile

Essential Experience

• Proven Interim CFO or senior CFO experience within large-cap organisations (€700m+ turnover)

• Strong track record in PE-backed and/or acquisitive buy-and-build environments

• Hands-on experience supporting M&A transactions and post-merger integration

• International, multi-entity experience across European operations

• Demonstrable success improving:

  • Forecasting and cash visibility

  • Working capital performance

  • Finance control and reporting at scale

Style & Mindset

• Gravitas to operate at board and investor level, with a pragmatic delivery mindset

• Commercial, outcomes-focused, and comfortable operating in ambiguity

• Able to build credibility quickly with senior stakeholders and finance teams

• Willing to operate both strategically and operationally as required

Practical Requirements

• Willing and able to travel weekly to Central Europe (2–3 days on site)

• Available to start immediately or at short notice

• Open to interim or interim-to-permanent arrangements

Head of UK – Commercial Director

Location: London, United Kingdom

IT Consulting

Competitive Package

We are exclusively partnered with a high-growth, PE-backed European technology consultancy that is redefining the ERP and digital transformation space. With a strong foothold in continental Europe and flagship clients in the automotive and manufacturing sectors, the business is now launching its UK growth journey—anchored by a major existing relationship with a world-renowned automotive brand.

This is a rare, high-impact opportunity to establish and lead the UK business from the ground up. You will be the company’s senior representative in the market—combining strategic leadership, commercial drive, and operational oversight to accelerate growth in one of Europe’s most competitive consulting sectors.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading the UK operation with full commercial and legal authority, reporting directly to Group leadership.
• Driving growth from an existing anchor client into new ERP and digital transformation engagements across manufacturing, automotive, and defence.
• Building and maintaining senior client relationships, winning large-scale ERP consulting projects (SAP, Oracle, Infor, etc.).
• Establishing and grow a London-based consulting team, ensuring delivery excellence and client satisfaction.
• Representing the business at the highest level in the UK market, building brand presence and credibility.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Senior commercial leader with significant experience within IT consultancies.
• Deep expertise in ERP consulting with a strong UK network in manufacturing and industrial sectors.
• Proven track record of winning and delivering large transformation programmes.
• Comfortable bridging corporate structure with entrepreneurial agility.
• Strong communicator and relationship builder with the credibility to operate at C-level.
• This role offers the chance to take the helm of a new market entry, shape its success story, and work with some of the most prestigious names in industry.

For more information, please apply for this role or contact Alba Amigo at alba.amigo@phippscameron.com

Director of M&A Integration

Overview

We are partnering with a leading private equity–backed education group that has doubled in size over the past three years and is accelerating its global expansion. This high-growth organization is committed to reshaping the education landscape through geographic growth and product innovation. To support this scale, we are seeking a Director of M&A Integration to ensure seamless post-merger integration across its international portfolio, driving operational excellence and unlocking the full value of each acquisition.

This is an unparalleled opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the integration strategy of a PE-backed, high-growth organization within the vibrant and meaningful sector of education. The successful candidate will bring expertise in M&A integration and operational transition services (OTS) while exuding resilience, adaptability, and thought leadership in complex environments.

The Role

As the Director of M&A Integration, you will:

1. Lead Global Integration Across Diverse Geographies:

   • Oversee post-merger integration across the UK, Canada, Australia, and Asia-Pacific regions, aligning acquired entities with the organization’s objectives, culture, and operational frameworks.
   • Design and implement a best-in-class integration framework to navigate cross-border complexities while ensuring consistency of execution.

2. Develop and Implement Integration Strategy:

   • Partner with the deal team during diligence stages to define integration strategy early in the M&A lifecycle.
   • Work collaboratively with functional leads across finance, HR, IT, legal, commercial, and operations to ensure seamless alignment with the group’s strategic goals.

3. Operational Excellence and Synergy Realization:

   • Establish robust processes to track and deliver synergies post-integration, ensuring all acquisitions meet their financial and operational objectives.
   • Drive structured post-merger reviews to gain insights and elevate the effectiveness of future integrations.

4. Champion Culture and Change Management:

   • Lead the charge in driving cultural alignment while respecting the unique identities of acquired businesses.
   • Foster inclusivity and collaboration, ensuring workforce transitions are rooted in engagement and clear communication.

5. Stakeholder Management at the Highest Level:

   • Report regularly to the leadership team and Board, providing accurate and actionable insights on integration progress, milestones, risks, and outcomes.
   • Provide the gravitas and expertise needed to engage with senior stakeholders and investors, ensuring alignment across strategic and financial objectives.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for candidates with demonstrable experience and capabilities, including but not limited to:

Experience:

• Proven Senior-Level Expertise:

  • Extensive experience (7-10+ years) in M&A integration, operational transition services (OTS), or comparable leadership roles.
  • A proven track record of delivering complex post-merger integrations, particularly across geographies and functions, in white-collar, people-focused industries such as education, professional services, or related sectors.

• Cross-Border Integration Knowledge:

  • Hands-on expertise in integrating businesses across international markets, understanding the cultural, operational, and financial nuances of different regions.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to link integration efforts to broader strategic and financial goals.
• Exceptional leadership skills and the gravitas to engage and influence C-suite, Board members, and investors.
• Outstanding project management capabilities, with a track record of on-time, on-budget integration delivery.
• Deep understanding of change management and the ability to balance empathy and execution during organizational transitions.
• Resilience, adaptability, and a problem-solving mindset in high-growth, fast-paced environments.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, management, or a related field (MBA or equivalent advanced degree strongly preferred).

Technical Acumen:

• Proficiency in integration dashboards, financial modeling, project management software, and systems alignments.

Cultural Sensitivity and Values Alignment:

• A collaborative, team-first mindset with a demonstrated ability to foster equity, diversity, and inclusion in global organizations.

Why This Role?

This is a career-defining role for a seasoned M&A professional looking to leave a tangible impact. Joining at this stage of growth, you will:

• Operate at the forefront of a global M&A strategy, owning integration for an ambitious PE-backed education group as it transforms into an international powerhouse.
• Shape and execute a vision of seamless and scalable integrations, ensuring every acquisition delivers maximum value for the business and its stakeholders.
• Be part of a purpose-driven organization that is expanding access to high-quality education at a global level.
• Thrive in an environment that is high-growth, fast-paced, and relentlessly focused on achieving excellence while honoring cultural richness across teams and geographies.

Join Us:

We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where every voice is valued, and every background is celebrated. If you’re ready to take on the challenge of leading integration within a fast-moving, innovative organization and are inspired by the opportunity to transform the global education sector, we encourage you to apply.