Director, Finance & M&A — Strategic Deals Leader

Ascend Learning; Burlington (MA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible PTO

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) with match

Parental leave

Wellness resources

Charitable matching

On-site gym

Job summary

Ascend Learning seeks an experienced Director of Finance M&A to lead financial analysis, planning, and execution of M&A transactions. You will partner with the CFO, M&A Leader, and CEO, while coordinating with the Controller and FP&A to support acquisitions.

This role offers exposure to private equity settings and interaction with major shareholders. The ideal candidate has significant M&A transaction analysis, integration experience, and a track record of strategic project

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience in public accounting, corporate finance, corporate development, or related fields.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; Masters preferred.
• Strong quantitative skills and financial modeling ability.
• Experience leading M&A due diligence and interfacing with senior leadership.
• Proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint for executive materials.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate, quantify, and value M&A and business development opportunities.
• Build financial models and identify key risks and synergies.
• Conduct scenario and sensitivity analyses for transactions.
• Structure recommendations and present alternatives to leadership.
• Lead due diligence with control, FP&A, and legal teams.
• Prepare executive-level materials for CFO and senior executives.
• Provide insights into business drivers and forecasts.

Skills

Financial modeling

Financial analysis

M&A due diligence

Cross-functional collaboration

Advanced Excel

PowerPoint

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting or Finance

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Ascend Learning seeks an experienced Director of Finance M&A to lead financial analysis, planning, and execution of M&A transactions. You will partner with the CFO, M&A Leader, and CEO, while coordinating with the Controller and FP&A to support acquisitions.

This role offers exposure to private equity settings and interaction with major shareholders. The ideal candidate has significant M&A transaction analysis, integration experience, and a track record of strategic project