Transaction Services Associate Director

Cooper Parry; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing accountancy firm located in Manchester is seeking an Associate Director to help build their Transaction Services team. The role involves financial due diligence, co-developing client strategies, and managing projects effectively. Candidates should possess an ACA, ACCA qualification and have at least 4 years of related experience. The company offers a flexible work environment, generous benefits including an enhanced pension and parental leave, and a focus on employee wellbeing and development.

Benefits

Flexible work approach

Generous holiday entitlement

Enhanced parental leave policy

Enhanced pension scheme

No dress code

Wellbeing offering

Volunteering opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of financial due diligence experience including buy side & sell side.
• Strong commercial acumen required.
• Ability to manage client relationships and negotiations effectively.

Responsibilities

• Co-develop approach and objectives with clients.
• Plan and monitor live projects to identify risks.
• Establish as a key client contact and project manage teams.

Skills

Financial due diligence experience

Report writing

Project management skills

Client relationship management

Business development capability

Education

ACA, ACCA or equivalent qualification

Job description

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About the role

Following securing investment from US private equity firm Lee Equity Partners earlier this year, after two years of successfully partnering with Waterland Private Equity, Cooper Parry has just completed its seventh acquisition of its own in this calendar year. The acquisition takes its pro forma turnover above £250m as Cooper Parry works toward a £600m revenue target by 2028. The transactions in 2025 include transformational deals with the leading specialist management adviser Liberty Corporate Finance and the mid‑market debt advisory firm Fellwood Advisory, as well as a number of acquisitions in our fast‑growing digital services division.

At CP we have a fully integrated Deals business comprising of Corporate Finance, Transaction Services, Transaction Tax, Debt Advisory and Liberty Corporate Finance. We have over 120 Deals professionals nationally, with hubs in the Midlands, London, Reading, Manchester, Scotland and Northern Ireland, who go to market together serving owner managers, private equity owners , private equity backed businesses and corporates in all aspects of M&A.

Putting it simply, we work with clients to make the buying or selling of businesses feel more straightforward and to maximise the value achieved from the process. Business transactions, no matter the size, can be a complicated process, so we bring refreshingly clear advice that’s backed by insightful financial analysis.

Our financial due diligence process involves checking each key financial aspect of a transaction important to our clients. Specifically, we identify the key value drivers of performance and profitability, identify potential value adjustments, provide input to the sale & purchase agreement (‘SPA’), mitigate risks and challenge assumptions about future performance.

About the team

We are currently building a Manchester/Leeds based Transaction Services ("TS") team, as part of our nationally integrated TS practice, and are looking for an Associate Director to join us to help build out our ambitious growth plan. This is a unique opportunity for an individual looking to play a significant role in building a successful business covering the North particularly Manchester and Leeds. We are looking for someone who is great at…

About the day to day

• Co‑developing our approach, scope and objectives with the client, understanding key business performance drivers, and providing value through insights, factual conclusions and advice
• Gathering, verifying and assessing information, and formulating views and conclusions
• Planning, preparing and reviewing outputs from our work, including written reports and presentations/meetings with the client, ensuring insightful data analysis and presentation.
• Planning and monitoring the progress of live projects, including sharing of potential key issues on a timely basis, such as identification of risk for our client or items impacting price
• Establishing yourself as a key client contact
• Project managing teams as well as working together with team members, plus forming relationships with other Cooper Parry teams
• Sharing your technical and wider knowledge with the team and providing coaching to others
• Understanding the wider capabilities of Cooper Parry and look for opportunities to broaden the services provided to our clients
• Playing a leading role in the Transaction Services team and business opportunity initiatives, as well as taking responsibility for own career development

About you

At Cooper Parry, we’re in it together. All we ask of our people is that they play all in. You’ll continuously strive to keep learning – whether you’re a trainee or a Partner – and you’ll be brave, stepping out of your comfort zone to tackle new challenges. Above all, be nice. A simple notion, but an irreplaceable part of what makes CP, CP.

In addition to those core values, as a Associate Director you should;

• Have an ACA, ACCA or equivalent qualification
• Have at least 4 years of financial due diligence experience (ideally both buy side & sell side due diligence, completion accounts and SPA experience) and strong commercial acumen
• Have accomplished report writing experience
• Be a highly effective time manager, with the ability to keep calm when under deadlines
• Have strong project management skills and technical knowledge
• Have experience of managing client relationships and negotiations
• Have business development capability. Ideally having already worked with lower mid‑market Private Equity houses

About us

We’ve been dubbed "the rebels of accountancy". We’re straight‑talking. Never afraid to share our opinions. We put people and relationships before products and services, and deliver a streamlined, client‑focused service – free from unnecessary red tape.

Check out our recent achievements:

• Best Companies' No.1 Accountancy Firm & No.30 Best Large Company to Work For in the UK
• Became B Corp Certified in 2023 and we’re still the UK’s largest accountancy B Corp, measuring and improving our impact beyond business for a brighter tomorrow
• Achieved 5 awards at the Inspiring Workplace Awards in 2025: winner in the Large Business category and best in class for inspiring People & Culture, Wellbeing, Inclusion and Employee Experience

What’s in it for you?

Our people are the beating heart of our culture. We know that if you love working here, and you’re given the trust and autonomy to work in a way that best suits you, you’ll produce amazing results.

That’s why we offer things like:

• A flexible approach to work – balancing working from home, in office or with clients
• A generous holiday entitlement
• An enhanced parental leave policy
• An enhanced pension scheme
• No dress code – just "wear something!"
• A multi‑award‑winning wellbeing offering to support your physical, mental, spiritual and financial health
• Volunteering opportunities to work closer with local communities and charities
• Cooper Parry social/sports clubs

Feeling supported and welcomed is such a big part of bringing your whole self to work. As an equal opportunities employer, we’ll work with you to ensure you have everything you need to develop your skills and achieve your best.

Get in touch if you have any questions about our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion or about accessibility/accommodations during your application process.

For the attention of agencies – unsolicited CVs will not be honoured. We will only accept CV submissions for roles briefed to you by our Talent Acquisition team.