M&A Integration Manager

Baker Tilly US; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 98,230 - 186,220; Full time

Job summary

Baker Tilly US is seeking an M&A Integration Manager in Irvine, CA to lead post-merger integration across acquired CPA and professional services firms. You will drive planning, governance, and execution from LOI through post-close integration, partnering with Corporate Development, Finance, HR, IT, and Practice Leadership.

The ideal candidate is a skilled project manager who can influence stakeholders without direct authority in a fast-paced acquisition-driven environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years leading complex cross-functional projects.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• CPA/consulting/professional services experience required.
• Experience supporting mergers & acquisitions or post-merger integration.
• PM certifications (PMP/CAPM/Prosci) a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end post-merger integration across multiple acquisitions.
• Coordinate pre-close planning through post-close execution.
• Maintain integration playbooks, dashboards, and executive reporting.
• Facilitate recurring integration meetings and steering committees.
• Monitor risks, timelines, and dependencies; escalate with solutions.
• Partner with HR, IT, Finance, Operations to coordinate integration.

Skills

Project leadership

Cross-functional

Stakeholder influence

Communication skills

MS Office proficiency

M&A experience

PM certifications

Tools

Smartsheet

Monday.com

Asana

Jira

MS Project

Job description

Overview

Baker Tilly is a leading advisory, tax and assurance firm, providing clients with a genuine coast-to-coast and global advantage in major regions of the U.S. and in many of the world’s leading financial centers – New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) provide professional services through an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable laws, regulations and professional standards. Baker Tilly US, LLP is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities provide tax and business advisory services to their clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities are not licensed CPA firms.

Overview

Baker Tilly is a leading advisory, tax and assurance firm, providing clients with a genuine coast-to-coast and global advantage in major regions of the U.S. and in many of the world’s leading financial centers – New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) provide professional services through an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable laws, regulations and professional standards. Baker Tilly US, LLP is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities provide tax and business advisory services to their clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities are not licensed CPA firms. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP, trading as Baker Tilly, are independent members of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 141 territories, with 43,000 professionals and a combined worldwide revenue of $5.2 billion. Visit bakertilly.com or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Please discuss the work location status with your Baker Tilly talent acquisition professional to understand the requirements for an opportunity you are exploring.

Baker Tilly is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable federal, state or local law.

Any unsolicited resumes submitted through our website or to Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, employee e-mail accounts are considered property of Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorized recruitment agency ("search firm") for Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by Baker Tilly's Talent Attraction team, to submit candidates for review via our applicant tracking system.

Job Description

The M&A Integration Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing the successful integration of acquired CPA and professional services firms. This role serves as the central project leader from Letter of Intent (LOI) through post-close integration, ensuring acquired firms are successfully transitioned into the organization's people, processes, technology, and culture.

Working closely with Corporate Development, Executive Leadership, Finance, HR, IT, Operations, Marketing, Practice Leadership, and external partners, the M&A Integration Manager drives integration planning, governance, execution, and continuous improvement while minimizing disruption to clients and team members.

The ideal candidate is an exceptional project manager who thrives in a fast-paced, acquisition-driven environment and can influence stakeholders across multiple functions without direct authority.

Responsibilities

Duties include:

• Lead end-to-end post-merger integration activities across multiple concurrent acquisitions, developing and managing detailed integration workplans, milestones, deliverables, dependencies, and timelines.
• Coordinate integration activities from pre-close planning through operational stabilization.
• Support transition from due diligence to post-close execution, ensuring consistent execution of the firm’s Integration Playbook.
• Facilitate recurring integration meetings and executive steering committees.
• Monitor project health, timelines, risks, and dependencies.
• Maintain project dashboards and executive reporting.
• Escalate critical issues with recommended solutions.
• Manage multiple acquisitions simultaneously.
• Ensure accountability for deliverables while proactively identifying risks and removing roadblocks.
• Support acquired firm leaders throughout the integration journey.
• Promote effective communication and organizational change.
• Assist with onboarding and orientation activities.
• Help preserve client relationships while integrating operational processes.
• Foster adoption of firm standards, systems, and best practices.
• Communicate project progress, risks, and accomplishments to leadership.
• Prepare executive presentations, status updates, and reporting.
• Serve as the primary integration contact for acquired firms.
• Build trusted relationships with partners and firm leadership.
• Continuously improve integration methodologies, templates, and playbooks.
• Capture lessons learned after each acquisition.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, and consistency.
• Support development of integration KPIs and performance metrics.
• Partner with functional leaders to coordinate integration and ongoing process improvement across:
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Finance & Accounting
• Operations
• Marketing & Business Development
• Risk Management
• Practice Management
• Facilities
• Learning & Development

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Management, or related field required
• 5+ years of experience leading complex cross-functional projects.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, including Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Project or comparable project management software.
• Experience within a CPA firm, consulting firm, or professional services organization required.
• Experience supporting mergers and acquisitions or post‑merger integration.
• PMP, CAPM, Prosci Change Management, Lean Six Sigma, or similar certification a plus.
• Familiarity with Smartsheet, Monday.com, Asana, Jira, or Microsoft Project required.
• Experience with CRM, ERP, HRIS, or practice management platforms a plus

The pay rate range for this job position are listed below. Actual compensation is influenced by a variety of relevant factors including but not limited to applicant’s skills, prior experience, qualifications, degrees, professional certifications, work arrangements and geographic location. Baker Tilly offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package to eligible employees.

The national pay rate range is $98,230 to $186,220