Director (Acquisition Search, Mergers and Acquisitions) – Remote

SJC Partners; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A mergers and acquisitions firm in the UK is seeking an Acquisition Search Director to lead end-to-end client management processes. This role involves liaising with clients, understanding and discussing complex business models with target businesses, and facilitating introductions. The ideal candidate should have strong commercial understanding and experience at board level. The position offers a competitive salary with an uncapped bonus structure, and is fully remote.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Attractive bonus structure

Qualifications

• Experience at board level managing relationships with business owners.
• Ability to discuss and understand complex business models.
• Proven track record in winning business and converting leads.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end client management in acquisition searches.
• Liaise with research teams to identify suitable target businesses.
• Conduct commercial conversations with business owners via video call.
• Facilitate introductions between clients and target businesses.
• Lead pitches with private equity and corporates.

Skills

Understanding business models

Commercial nous

Board-level operation

Client relationship management

Excellent communication

Job description

SJC Partners is currently managing the recruitment process for the hire of an acquisition search director into an innovative mergers and acquisitions deal sourcing business.

Our client specialises in sourcing off‑market businesses for acquisition by private equity investors, PE‑backed companies, listed businesses and some private companies.

Businesses wishing to acquire or invest in other businesses engage our client to embark on a bespoke acquisition search process, identifying and engaging target businesses within their specific criteria and facilitating introductions to these businesses. Companies rely on our client to have thorough board‑level conversations with business owners, quickly understanding different business models and building trust with target businesses.

In this role, the successful candidate will take responsibility for the end‑to‑end client management across the below process:

• Agree the scope of the acquisition search with clients, at board level.
• Liaise with the research team to uncover businesses within the client’s search criteria. You will not perform the research yourself as this will be delivered by an in‑house research function.
• Approach the majority shareholders of the target businesses and hold lengthy, highly commercial conversations via video call to discuss their business model, track record, growth trajectory, financials and the aspirations of the owners regarding selling their business.
• Discuss each interested business with the client and agree on which targets they would like to meet before facilitating the introduction of these businesses.
• Relationship manage the acquisition process thereafter (this does not require financial qualifications but does require commercial nous).

Additionally, the successful candidate will be responsible for work‑winning, sitting pitches with private equity, private‑equity‑backed portfolio businesses and corporates to explain the offering and convert leads into retained clients.

Applicants should be able to quickly understand different business models and experience operating at board level is important given you will be managing client relationships at owner/CEO level, often with large corporates, private equity and private‑equity‑backed businesses.

Due to the unique nature of this role, applicants from a range of commercial backgrounds will be considered. The current team is made up of individuals who have run their own businesses previously, or operated at board level. This role offers a competitive salary with a very attractive and transparent bonus structure, which is paid at multiple intervals over the course of the year, based on deal activity. The bonus scheme is uncapped and in a good year, it is possible to earn bonuses amounting to 100% of your salary, and sometimes more.

This is a remote working position.