Corporate Development Manager

Korn Ferry; Georgia; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Korn Ferry is partnering with a global client to hire a Corporate Development Manager. The role emphasizes identifying acquisition opportunities, leading financial analyses, and coordinating cross‑functional due diligence across North America with exposure to international targets.

The candidate will work closely with the Head of Corporate Development, bridging finance, strategy, and deal execution. Hybrid schedule and leadership exposure are core aspects of the role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related discipline required.
• Approximately three to six years of relevant M&A, transaction, or corporate development experience; level may flex based on the depth of experience.
• Significant hands-on experience supporting financial due diligence and transaction execution.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop acquisition opportunities with senior leadership.
• Support market research, industry mapping, and outreach for deal sourcing.
• Evaluate inbound opportunities from brokers, investment banks, or business leaders.
• Develop market intelligence to assess targets and growth opportunities.
• Build financial models to evaluate opportunities, valuation, returns, and deal structures.
• Coordinate diligence workstreams across functional teams and manage data rooms and timelines.
• Prepare executive presentations and recommendations for leadership and Board.
• Support transactions from LOI through diligence, negotiation, closing, and transition.

Skills

M&A experience

Financial modeling

Valuation

Communication skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related discipline

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Due diligence tooling

Job description

Korn Ferry has partnered with our client on their search for the role, Corporate Development Manager.

Corporate Development Manager

Reports to: Head of Corporate Development

Company & Opportunity Overview

A global services business with an established acquisition strategy is seeking a Corporate Development Manager to support its continued growth. The organization maintains an active acquisition pipeline and pursues opportunities through direct sourcing, relationships with business leaders, and external advisors.

Working within a lean corporate development team, this individual will gain significant exposure to senior leadership, acquisition targets, and the full transaction lifecycle. The opportunity is well suited for a transaction professional seeking broader deal ownership within an acquisitive operating business.

Position Overview

The Corporate Development Manager will partner closely with the Head of Corporate Development to identify, evaluate, diligence, and execute acquisitions. The role will primarily support North American acquisition activity, with exposure to international opportunities.

The successful candidate will combine strong financial and analytical capabilities with the communication skills and commercial judgment needed to work effectively with business owners, senior executives, advisors, and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with corporate development and business leaders to identify and develop acquisition opportunities.
• Support direct sourcing through market research, industry mapping, outreach, conferences, and relationships across the organization.
• Evaluate inbound opportunities from brokers, investment banks, business leaders, and other sources.
• Develop market and competitive intelligence to assess potential targets and strategic growth opportunities.

Financial Analysis & Transaction Evaluation

• Build financial models to evaluate acquisition opportunities, valuation, investment returns, transaction structures, and deal economics.
• Analyze historical and projected financial performance, quality of earnings, and key operating metrics.
• Identify transaction risks, opportunities, and critical assumptions.
• Prepare financial analyses and recommendations for senior leadership.
• Work with external advisors on valuation and other transaction-related analyses.
• Coordinate financial, operational, commercial, legal, technology, insurance, and other diligence workstreams.
• Manage data rooms, information requests, transaction timelines, and communication across internal and external stakeholders.
• Partner with third-party advisors, including quality-of-earnings providers and specialized diligence teams.
• Support transactions from initial evaluation and letter of intent through diligence, negotiation, closing, and transition to the operating business.

Executive & Business Partnership

• Collaborate with senior executives and business leaders to evaluate acquisition opportunities and advance strategic priorities.
• Participate in management presentations and meetings with acquisition targets.
• Build productive relationships with founders, management teams, and external advisors.
• Prepare executive presentations, transaction materials, and recommendations supporting acquisition decisions.
• Support strategic and financial projects for executive leadership and the Board.

International Collaboration

• Support acquisition and strategic initiatives across the company’s international operations.
• Coordinate with regional corporate development and operating leaders on relevant opportunities.
• Participate in industry conferences, management meetings, and acquisition-related travel.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related discipline required.
• Approximately three to six years of relevant M&A, transaction, or corporate development experience; level may flex based on the depth of experience.
• Background in investment banking, transaction advisory services, private equity, corporate development, M&A advisory, or a similar transaction-oriented environment strongly preferred.
• Significant hands‑on experience supporting financial due diligence and transaction execution.
• Strong financial modeling, valuation, Excel, and PowerPoint capabilities.
• Ability to evaluate businesses, identify key transaction considerations, and translate complex information into actionable recommendations.
• Candidates from a range of industries will be considered; the ability to quickly learn new sectors and business models is essential.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the maturity to engage effectively with founders, management teams, senior executives, and advisors.
• Ability to manage multiple transactions and competing priorities within a lean team.

Leadership & Working Style

The successful candidate will bring an entrepreneurial mindset, strong attention to detail, and a hands‑on approach to transaction execution. This individual should be comfortable taking initiative, working through ambiguity, and balancing detailed financial analysis with broader commercial considerations.

Sound judgment, relationship‑building skills, and the ability to communicate recommendations clearly will be essential.

Work Arrangement & Travel

The role offers a flexible hybrid schedule, generally including two to three days per week in the office and in‑person engagement with senior leadership. Approximately 25% travel is expected for acquisition‑related meetings, management presentations, and industry conferences.