Senior Associate Junior VP - Consumer M&A

Senior Associate / Junior VP – Consumer M&A. We have partnered with a leading mid-market US investment bank who are expanding its London Consumer M&A franchise and is looking for a Senior Associate or Junior VP with 6+ years' M&A or corporate finance experience and a strong track record in consumer and retail transactions. This is a high-visibility role with real client responsibility. You will own live mandates from origination to completion, advising founders, management teams and private equity sponsors on European consumer deals. Responsibilities

• Lead sell-side and buy-side M&A transactions for European consumer businesses, typically in the £50m–£500m range, across branded consumer goods, food and beverage, beauty and personal care, health and wellness and pet nutrition.
• Drive origination by spotting opportunities, developing sector-led pitch ideas and building relationships with founders, private equity firms and strategic acquirers.
• Own financial modelling, valuation and transaction analysis, including DCF, LBO, merger and contribution, accretion and dilution, and trading and transaction comparables.
• Apply a strong grasp of consumer value drivers, including brand strength, channel mix, customer cohorts, like-for-like performance, gross margin and supply chain dynamics.
• Prepare and quality-check CIMs, management presentations and pitch materials, and present confidently to C-suite executives and investment committees.
• Manage due diligence processes, coordinate legal, accounting and commercial advisers, and support buyer and seller negotiations.
• Mentor and develop Associates and Analysts, making sure work is high quality and on time across several concurrent mandates. Candidate profile
• 6+ years in investment banking, M&A or corporate finance, with clear experience of consumer, retail or leisure transactions.
• Proven ability to lead live M&A mandates from pitch to close.
• Established experience selling to, or working closely with, mid-market private equity sponsors active in the consumer sector.
• Advanced modelling and valuation skills, with the ability to run complex workstreams independently.
• A strong client-facing presence and credibility with founders, entrepreneurs, sponsors and senior executives.
• Commercial curiosity about consumer brands, trends and changing customer behaviour. What's on offer
• A senior, high-impact role in a growing US mid-market platform.
• A clear path to promotion, with real exposure to deal leadership and origination.
• Broad exposure to European consumer transactions, including founder-led businesses and private equity-backed deals.