Job Description: Head of M&A

Title: Head of M&A
Location: Flexible (monthly in-person meetings)
Reports To: CEO and CFO

Summary

As the Head of M&A, you will lead the development and execution of our M&A strategy to build a leading European IFS partner platform. With a hands-on and strategic mindset, you will identify acquisition opportunities, manage end-to-end deal processes, and oversee integrations, aligning with the company's international buy-and-build growth objectives.

Key Responsibilities

M&A Leadership

• Define and execute M&A strategies to support international growth.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of strategic acquisition opportunities.
• Work closely with the leadership team to ensure alignment with business goals.

Deal Sourcing and Due Diligence

• Source acquisition targets by engaging brokers, intermediaries, and key networks.
• Lead comprehensive due diligence across financial, legal, operational, and commercial areas.
• Conduct financial modeling, valuations, and assessments of acquisitions' strategic fit and impact.

Negotiation and Execution

• Negotiate key deal terms and manage transaction documentation in collaboration with advisors.

Post-Merger Integration (PMI)

• Develop and implement integration plans for acquired businesses, ensuring operational cohesion and a seamless transition.

Ideal Candidate

Experience

• 5+ years of M&A, corporate development, or investment banking experience, ideally in private equity or IT services/software sectors.
• Proven track record of successfully driving M&A activities from sourcing to execution.
• Strong knowledge of post-merger integration processes.

Skills and Qualities

• Strategic Thinker: Analytical skills with strong financial modeling and business evaluation expertise.
• Negotiator: Excellent communication and negotiation skills to manage deals while fostering positive relationships.
• Leader: Collaborative, hands-on approach with the ability to guide cross-functional teams and deliver results.
• Bilingual Proficiency: Fluency in German and English; other languages are a plus.
• Self-Starter: High level of independence, adaptability, and resilience to thrive in a dynamic environment.

Why Join Us

• Be part of an ambitious leadership team building a European IT services leader.
• Flexible work environment with monthly in-person meetings.
• Competitive compensation, including performance-based incentives.
• Opportunities for professional growth and impactful leadership.

Apply now to make a transformative impact as our Head of M&A!

Head of M&A

Sector: Wealth Management / Financial Services

Location: London / Flexible (UK)

Reports to: CEO / CFO

Experience: 8–12 Years PQE

The Opportunity

Backed by a leading Private Equity firm, our client is a rapidly expanding wealth management group with a mandate to become a market leader through an aggressive "buy-and-build" strategy. Having already completed several successful acquisitions, the business is now seeking a Head of M&A to professionalise the function, accelerate the deal pipeline, and lead end-to-end execution.

This is a pivotal hire for the C-suite, offering a clear path to significant equity participation and a seat at the table for all major strategic decisions.

The Role

As the Head of M&A, you will own the entire deal lifecycle—from initial market mapping and "coffee chats" with principals to the final SPA negotiations and handover to the integration team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategy & Pipeline: Refine the group’s M&A strategy. Maintain a "living" database of targets within the UK wealth and IFA space.

• Origination: Build and leverage a network of brokers and industry contacts; however, you must be comfortable with direct origination and cold-outreach to business owners.

• Execution & Transaction Management: Lead the financial modelling, valuation, and due diligence processes. You will manage external advisors (legal, tax, FDD) to ensure deals remain on track and within budget.

• Stakeholder Management: Present investment papers and "Deep Dives" to the Board and PE investors. You will be the primary bridge between the business and its financial backers.

• Negotiation: Lead complex negotiations with sellers, often founders of boutiques, requiring a balance of commercial firmness and emotional intelligence.

The Candidate

We are looking for a high-performing professional who combines the "polish" of a top-tier advisor with the "pragmatism" of an in-house corporate development lead.

Required Experience & Skills:

• 8–12 years of relevant experience. This likely includes a foundation in Investment Banking (FIG), Big 4 Lead Advisory, or a specialist M&A boutique, followed by a successful stint in a Corporate Development/M&A role.

• Wealth Management/FS Exposure: A deep understanding of recurring revenue models, AuM-based valuations, and the UK regulatory environment (FCA) is highly desirable.

• The "Hybrid" DNA: You possess the technical excellence to build a model from scratch but also the interpersonal skills to sit in a living room and convince a retiring IFA founder to trust you with their legacy.

• PE Mentality: Accustomed to the pace, reporting rigour, and "exit-centric" mindset of Private Equity.

Why This Role?

• Autonomy: You aren't just a cog in a machine; you are the architect of the group's expansion.

• Equity: Unlike traditional advisory roles, this position offers a lucrative "sweet equity" or management incentive plan (MIP) tied to the ultimate exit.

• Velocity: In a "highly acquisitive" environment, you will see more deal flow in 18 months than most see in 5 years.

Interim Chief Financial Officer (m/f/d)
Sector: Healthcare Services
Location: Germany (South) (Hybrid / Multi-site)
Revenue: over €250 million
Duration: 6 months

The Role
Our client is a private equity–backed healthcare services platform undergoing a phase of operational and financial transformation. The Interim CFO will partner closely with the CEO, PE sponsor and executive leadership to stabilise and professionalise the finance function, enhance transparency and performance management, and support value creation initiatives across a multi-site operating model.

This is a hands-on leadership role combining strategic finance, operational excellence and transaction readiness in a regulated, high-growth healthcare environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as strategic finance partner to the CEO and PE sponsor, driving financial governance, reporting quality and value creation initiatives.

• Lead and stabilise the finance organisation across central and regional teams, strengthening controllership, FP&A and shared services.

• Own monthly reporting, KPI frameworks and board-level performance packs aligned with PE standards.

• Oversee budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management, including working capital optimisation and liquidity planning.

• Lead or support ERP, BI and finance systems enhancement to improve data quality, transparency and scalability.

• Manage banking relationships, debt covenants, refinancing processes and financial risk management.

• Support M&A activity, including financial due diligence, integration and post-merger finance professionalisation.

• Ensure compliance with German regulatory, tax and healthcare-specific requirements.

Candidate Profile

• Proven Interim CFO or senior finance leader experience in PE-backed or highly leveraged environments, ideally within healthcare services, medtech, life sciences or regulated multi-site businesses.

• Track record in leading finance transformations, ERP/BI implementations and building “exit-ready” finance functions.

• Strong command of German GAAP (HGB) and IFRS, with solid tax and regulatory understanding in the German healthcare context.

• Hands-on, resilient and comfortable operating in complex, fast-paced and ambiguous environments.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, able to work effectively with PE investors, lenders, management teams and external advisors.

• Fluency in German and English required.