SPA Manager / AD

Grant Thornton UK LLP; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading advisory firm in Bristol is seeking a Manager to join their Sale and Purchase Agreement Advisory team. The ideal candidate will possess a professional qualification and relevant experience in mergers and acquisitions. Responsibilities include managing client relationships, identifying risk management issues, and drafting key documents. The position offers a hybrid working model and emphasizes flexibility and professional development.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Personal Development Plan support

Qualifications

• Minimum criteria: a professional qualification with post-qualification experience.
• Confidence managing a large portfolio of audit clients.

Responsibilities

• Act as second-level client relationship contact in the absence of senior staff.
• Understand different client perspectives and build trust.
• Identify and resolve risk management issues.
• Draft letters of engagement and manage assignment costs.

Skills

Experience negotiating Sale and Purchase Agreements

Understanding of mergers and acquisitions

Knowledge of enterprise value (EV) to equity value bridges

Client relationship management

Education

Professional qualification (ACA, ICAS, CA, ACCA or CIPFA)

Job description

Our market leading Sale and Purchase Agreement Advisory team at Grant Thornton is hiring at Manager grade to continue our rapid growth! We operate within the wider Deals Advisory and Consulting service line. We are seeking Managers with the technical and commercial skills who enjoy optimizing value for clients undertaking acquisitions and disposals. Ideal candidates should have experience working on transactions involving mergers and acquisitions, a thorough understanding of completion mechanisms, enterprise value (EV) to equity value bridges, the financial aspects of a Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) and experience in assisting buyers and / or sellers in their preparation or review or dispute of completion accounts and earn‑out accounts. An SPA Manager / AD must be capable of handling transactions with minimal involvement of a partner; must interface with client management, and other professionals; know when to seek advice from other specialists and partners and demonstrate commercial ability. The TAS team within Grant Thornton is an increasingly flexible and diverse team, which truly values its people. To enable our people to be the best they can be, we are happy to discuss a number of flexible working options, such as reduced days, annualised days or term time working. We appreciate the different perspectives a diverse team brings, and we want to continue to provide more agility and choice to our people. As with all of our roles, a hybrid working model will apply, enabling a mix of office / client time and remote working.

Responsibilities

• Take a second‑level client relationship position behind associate director / director / partner, and can act as the primary contact in their absence.
• Understand the perspective of different clients on the same job and build trust and respect by responding to client demands and keeping them updated on progress.
• Identify and resolve risk management issues, applying knowledge to manage site issues and involving senior staff and specialists to mitigate risk.
• Accurately draft letters of engagement and ensure take‑on work is completed before associate director / director review and submission.
• Demonstrate understanding of technical issues, offering potential solutions and seeking advice when needed.
• Produce high‑quality financial analysis with minimal input from associate directors.
• Draft fee estimates and budgets for the review by the director / partner.
• Participate in the presenting of conclusions and recommendations to clients, discussing implications and action points.
• Monitor and manage assignment costs versus budgets, including challenging team member time charged to other departments.
• Demonstrate understanding of the firm’s products, services and capabilities and actively cross‑sell.
• Show a clear appetite for self‑development through performance reviews and Personal Development Plan (PDP) processes.

Qualifications

Minimum criteria: a professional qualification (ACA, ICAS, CA, ACCA or CIPFA) with post‑qualification experience, and confidence managing a large portfolio of audit clients.

Desirable skills (but we will help you develop if you’re missing any):

• Experience EV to equity value bridges.
• Advising on the financial and accounting aspects of sales and purchase agreements.
• Experience advising in relation to the preparation or review or dispute of completion accounts and earn‑out accounts.

Join to apply for the Transaction Advisory Services, Sale and Purchase Agreement Manager / AD role at Grant Thornton UK.

The UK member firms of Grant Thornton are part of a global network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, made up of some 76,000 professionals in over 150 countries. We are a team of independent thinkers who put quality, inclusion and integrity first. Our culture thrives on the contributions of all our people, encouraging diversity, flexibility and a healthy work‑life balance. We look for individuals who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations.