Head of M&A

Job Description

Head of M&A

Sector: Wealth Management / Financial Services

Location: London / Flexible (UK)

Reports to: CEO / CFO

Experience: 812 Years PQE

The Opportunity

Backed by a leading Private Equity firm our client is a rapidly expanding wealth management group with a mandate to become a market leader through an aggressive buy-and-build strategy. Having already completed several successful acquisitions the business is now seeking a Head of M&A to professionalise the function accelerate the deal pipeline and lead end-to-end execution.

This is a pivotal hire for the C-suite offering a clear path to significant equity participation and a seat at the table for all major strategic decisions.

The Role

As the Head of M&A you will own the entire deal lifecyclefrom initial market mapping and coffee chats with principals to the final SPA negotiations and handover to the integration team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategy & Pipeline: Refine the groups M&A strategy. Maintain a living database of targets within the UK wealth and IFA space.

• Origination: Build and leverage a network of brokers and industry contacts; however you must be comfortable with direct origination and cold-outreach to business owners.

• Execution & Transaction Management: Lead the financial modelling valuation and due diligence processes. You will manage external advisors (legal tax FDD) to ensure deals remain on track and within budget.

• Stakeholder Management: Present investment papers and Deep Dives to the Board and PE investors. You will be the primary bridge between the business and its financial backers.

• Negotiation: Lead complex negotiations with sellers often founders of boutiques requiring a balance of commercial firmness and emotional intelligence.

The Candidate

We are looking for a high-performing professional who combines the polish of a top-tier advisor with the pragmatism of an in-house corporate development lead.

Required Experience & Skills:

• 812 years of relevant experience. This likely includes a foundation in Investment Banking (FIG) Big 4 Lead Advisory or a specialist M&A boutique followed by a successful stint in a Corporate Development/M&A role.

• Wealth Management/FS Exposure: A deep understanding of recurring revenue models AuM-based valuations and the UK regulatory environment (FCA) is highly desirable.

• The Hybrid DNA: You possess the technical excellence to build a model from scratch but also the interpersonal skills to sit in a living room and convince a retiring IFA founder to trust you with their legacy.

• PE Mentality: Accustomed to the pace reporting rigour and exit-centric mindset of Private Equity.

Why This Role

• Autonomy: You arent just a cog in a machine; you are the architect of the groups expansion.

• Equity: Unlike traditional advisory roles this position offers a lucrative sweet equity or management incentive plan (MIP) tied to the ultimate exit.

• Velocity: In a highly acquisitive environment you will see more deal flow in 18 months than most see in 5 years.