Director of Corporate Development

Finatal; London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading PE-backed specialist advisory firm is seeking a Director of Corporate Development to drive mid-market acquisitions. This pivotal role involves sourcing, evaluating, and executing transactions, requiring strong strategic judgment and extensive experience in M&A. The successful candidate will work closely with C-suite executives and investment partners, ensuring effective deal execution and integration.

Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years in a relevant M&A role.
• Experience in leading full-cycle M&A transactions.
• Background in top-tier investment bank or advisory firm is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Build understanding of company’s strategy and market positioning.
• Identify and assess potential acquisition targets.
• Oversee full transaction lifecycle including financial modelling and negotiations.

Skills

Strategic judgment

Financial modelling

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Education

ACA or CFA

Job description

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Full Job Description

Title: Director of Corporate Development

Salary: Attractive salary + equity

Location: London

Ref: HG13155

The Opportunity:

Finatal is working with a leading PE-backed specialist advisory firm looking for an analytical and creative thinker to be the Director of Corporate Development in a full cycle M&A role. Reporting directly to the C-Suite and majority shareholder, you’ll play a pivotal role in sourcing, evaluating, and executing mid-market acquisitions to drive the business’s scale-up journey.

Responsibilities:

1. Build a comprehensive understanding of the company’s positioning, strategy, and competitive environment to refine and expand the company’s market map of acquisition targets.
2. Proactively identify and assess potential acquisition targets using clear criteria such as ownership structure, strategic alignment, and integration potential, while working closely with internal leadership and investment partners to shape deal terms.
3. Oversee the full transaction lifecycle, from coordinating cross-functional diligence and financial modelling to managing legal processes and closing negotiations.
4. Prepare and deliver high-quality materials and recommendations for executive and investor decision-making, including presentations and investment papers.
5. Maintain oversight of the deal pipeline and provide regular insights on market activity, transaction progress, post-deal integration, and key performance indicators.

Requirements:

• Proven experience leading full-cycle M&A transactions in the mid-market space (£20–500m deal sizes), with a minimum of seven years in a relevant role.
• Background in a top-tier investment bank or advisory firm is advantageous, and professional credentials such as ACA or CFA are viewed positively.
• Previous in-house experience within a corporate development team is beneficial, particularly for those with a track record in deal origination.
• Strong strategic and commercial judgment, with financial modelling capabilities and the ability to critically evaluate business plans and commercial drivers. Meticulous attention to detail and a hands-on, delivery-focused mindset are essential.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders, from initiation through to execution.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the presence and emotional intelligence to build rapport with senior executives and leadership teams across target businesses.
• Experience within professional services / business services or other people-centric services industries is valuable.
• Familiarity working alongside private equity investors and comfort operating in an international environment are both important.