Group Strategy Manager (M&A)

JR United Kingdom; England; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading business services group is seeking a Group Strategy Manager to drive M&A activities and strategic planning in East Anglia. The role offers significant professional growth opportunities in a fast-paced, innovative environment focused on creating value and driving long-term success.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years in corporate strategy or related field.
• Experience in M&A transactions and corporate finance required.
• Proficient in strategic planning frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Define and develop the group’s strategic direction.
• Lead strategic planning processes.
• Identify and evaluate acquisition targets.

Skills

Strategic planning

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Financial modelling

Communication

Education

Degree in Business, Economics, Finance or related

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

Group Strategy Manager (M&A), east anglia

col-narrow-left

Client:

GARY CHAPLIN LTD

Location:

east anglia, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

-

EU work permit required:

Yes

col-narrow-right

Job Views:

4

Posted:

10.06.2025

Expiry Date:

25.07.2025

col-wide

Job Description:

c£80-100,000 plus bonus & package (can be 4 days/wk)

This is an outstanding opportunity to join an innovative business services group.

Differentiating themselves by remaining totally independent and providing bespoke solutions through numerous highly qualified and focussed teams to provide swift solutions and resolutions, whilst creating maximum value for their client & consumer bases underpinned by highly principled humility and passion for what they do.

Replicating that human-focus internally, they have created an upbeat, friendly, innovative, and fast-paced environment with, crucially, market-leading opportunity for advancement. But they seek to continue the development of that culture and environment for the personal and professional benefit of all employees.

Their innovative service has won them huge recognition and an enviable client list within highly regulated environments as well as huge respect amongst the consumer base but all with an underlying reputation for objectivity. Two decades of achievements and award wins set this ground-breaking business apart from their competitors, and with continued demand for their services and increased capability in their product and service portfolio, their future is as impressive as their history. But this role is about their future.

A key part of their recent success has been their organic and inorganic growth which in turn has seen diversification and penetration into new and exciting markets. That path is set to continue, and expand, particularly through an M&A strategy.

A critical element to that future growth, development and innovation, is the recruitment of a Group Strategy Manager. a motivated and strategically experienced analytical leader, bringing together astute strategic planning with ideation, class-leading external and internal engagement, and working towards a group-wide delivery focus.

This appointee will take an influential role in the Strategy Department, providing key insight and analysis to challenge and inform strategic decision making, lead data room functions for M&A activity and play a key role in supporting the debt/fundraising process(es).

They will be a kingpin for the department, not only in the way they support the Strategy Director but also in their ability to lead by example, seeing no task beneath them as they increase the scale and scope of this new department with drive, attention to detail, analytical rigour and entrepreneurial spirit.

This is a pivotal role in shaping the growth trajectory and long-term success of the Group, particularly one on a scale-up journey. This individual is responsible for developing, executing, and refining the Group’s strategic roadmap, with a significant focus on identifying, analysing, and delivering M&A opportunities that align with the company’s commercial ambitions and purpose.

Working closely with the Group Strategy Director, CEO, CFO, and senior stakeholders across the group, the Group Strategy Manager acts as an internal consultant, corporate development lead, and strategic business partner, combining market insight, financial acumen, and operational awareness to drive value creation.

Key responsibilities

• Help define and develop the group’s strategic direction in alignment with its mission, values, and growth ambitions.
• Lead strategic planning processes, including the creation of multi-year business plans, strategic goal-setting frameworks, and market positioning strategies.
• Conduct market scans, competitor analysis, and scenario modelling to inform board-level decisions.
• Support strategic initiatives such as new market entry, operational optimisation, digital transformation, or service line diversification.

2. Mergers, Acquisitions & Investment

• Identifying, evaluating, and prioritising acquisition targets, using strategic criteria (e.g. market access, customer base, synergy potential, risk profile).
• Building a target pipeline through direct sourcing, networking, and partnerships with external advisors (e.g. corporate finance firms, brokers).
• Leading or supporting due diligence processes; commercial, operational, financial, working with legal, tax, HR, and IT advisors as needed.
• Contributing to valuation modelling (e.g., DCF, EBITDA multiples, accretion analysis) and deal structuring.
• Coordinating internal governance and approval processes, preparing investment committee materials and board papers.
• Driving or supporting post-merger integration to ensure value capture, cultural alignment, and operational continuity.
• Create robust, dynamic financial models to support business cases, acquisitions, investments, and resource allocation decisions.
• Assess financial implications of strategic options, including scenario planning, sensitivity analysis, and downside risk mitigation.
• Align financial insights with operational realities, bringing together data from across finance, sales, operations, and technology.
• Analyse sector trends, peer performance, and internal frameworks to inform forward-looking financial strategies.
• Ensure modelling integrity through rigorous testing, cross-functional alignment, and regular updates.

4. Stakeholder Engagement & Presentations

• Create clear, engaging, and evidence-based presentations to influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Present strategic options and recommendations that balance financial, operational, and reputational outcomes.
• Translate complex data into actionable insights for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Collaborate with business unit leaders, functional heads, and external stakeholders to ensure strategic initiatives are actionable and widely supported.
• Prepare and present clear, compelling board presentations and strategy papers for senior decision-makers and investors.
• Serve as a thought partner to the leadership team, offering structured thinking and analytical rigour to complex business issues.
• Champion a strategy-led, continuous improvement mindset across the organisation, fostering data-driven decision making, cross-functional collaboration, and accountability.
• Coach and mentor junior team members or seconded colleagues working on strategic projects.
• Set and monitor performance targets, holding self and others accountable to high standards.
• Help create a scalable strategic operating model, including tools, templates, governance structures, and tracking mechanisms.

Candidate profile and chemistry fit is critical for this pivotal role. Working within a fast-paced, innovative, entrepreneurial environment, attitude is as important as experience. The person is everything. The Group Strategy Manager will be immersed in adding to the tone, energy and culture for the business as well as being both innovator and commercial planner. The gravity of success is all about having the right attitude, underpinned with demonstrable experience.

Suitable candidates will already be high achieving, commercially experienced strategic leaders with a track record of personal success. They will possess a strong ethos in delivery through strategic planning, an innovative approach, supreme insight and ideation and a ‘do’ not ‘think’ mindset.

The appointee should be people, results and delivery oriented; hands-on and possess the ability to create a sense of mission and attentiveness to current and future requirements and challenges.

Qualifications & Knowledge

• A strong academic background with a degree in Business, Economics, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Background in strategy consulting, Big-4 corporate finance/TS, investment banking, or in-house corporate development.
• Deep knowledge of corporate finance, the full M&A lifecycle, and valuation methodologies (e.g. DCF, market comps).
• Proficient in strategic planning frameworks, financial modelling tools, and industry benchmarking practices.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in corporate strategy, strategic finance, management consulting, or a closely related field.
• Proven track record of leading or supporting M&A or investment transactions, including end-to-end deal execution.
• Advanced skills in financial modelling, including forecasting revenue, costs, and cash flows.
• Demonstrated success in producing executive-level presentations, strategic documentation, and board-ready materials.
• Experience within regulated sectors such as energy, communications, or financial services is highly desirable.
• Comfortable with ambiguity, change, and high-growth environments.

Attributes

• Commercially astute with strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Confident communicator with excellent storytelling, visualisation, and presentation abilities.
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and results-driven, with a proactive mindset.
• Strong interpersonal skills, capable of building relationships and influencing stakeholders at all levels.
• A clear alignment with the Group’s values of fairness, advocacy, and collaboration.

Awareness & Influence

• Understands that true influence comes from earning authentic buy-in across diverse stakeholders.
• Communicates with clarity and empathy, translating complex concepts into actionable insight for all audiences.
• Brings a growth mindset, driven by curiosity and a desire to challenge assumptions constructively.
• Leads through emotional intelligence, fostering trust, inclusion, and human-centred decision making.

Personal Qualities

• Sleeves rolled up mentality. Balancing high-level thinking with hands-on execution.
• Commercially savvy and pragmatic. Understanding the operational and cultural realities of the business.
• Influence without authority. Building trust and credibility across different levels and functions.