Mergers and Acquisitions Director

M&A Director Private Equity-Backed Business Services Group | UK Our client is an ambitious private equity-backed business services group and they are now seeking an experienced M&A Director to play a central role in delivering its buy-and-build strategy. M&A is a core component of the investment thesis, with significant capital available to acquire and integrate complementary businesses across a fragmented market. The M&A Director will take responsibility for the acquisition lifecycle from target identification and origination through to execution and completion, working closely with the CEO, CFO and private equity investor. This is not simply a transaction execution role. A critical element of the appointment will be the ability to bring an established network of potential acquisition targets, business owners and deal sources and use those relationships to create proprietary deal flow. The Role The M&A Director will build and manage a high-quality acquisition pipeline and lead transactions through to completion. Key responsibilities will include:

• Developing and executing the Group's acquisition strategy.
• Mapping the market and identifying priority acquisition targets.
• Leveraging an existing network to create direct and proprietary acquisition opportunities.
• Establishing relationships with founders and shareholders, including businesses not currently contemplating a sale.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with corporate finance advisers, accountants, lawyers and other sources of deal flow.
• Assessing the strategic and financial attractiveness of potential acquisitions.
• Leading initial approaches and discussions with shareholders.
• Negotiating valuations, deal structures and key commercial terms.
• Preparing investment cases and recommendations for the Board and PE investor.
• Leading financial, commercial, legal and operational due diligence.
• Coordinating external advisers and internal stakeholders.
• Managing transactions through to signing and completion.
• Supporting management with integration planning and post-acquisition value creation. The Candidate We are looking for an experienced M&A professional with a demonstrable track record of completing transactions within the UK lower mid-market. Candidates may have backgrounds in corporate development, private equity, investment banking or transaction advisory, but will ideally have subsequently gained direct experience within an acquisitive, PE-backed business. The successful candidate will demonstrate:
• Significant M&A transaction experience.
• Experience of a PE-backed buy-and-build strategy.
• A track record of personally originating as well as executing transactions.
• Strong relationships with business owners and potential acquisition targets.
• An established network of advisers and other deal sources.
• Evidence of generating proprietary/off-market opportunities.
• Strong commercial judgement and financial analysis skills.
• Experience negotiating directly with founders and owner-managers.
• The credibility to operate effectively with CEOs, CFOs, Boards and PE investors.
• An entrepreneurial, proactive and highly relationship-led approach.