Assurance - Transaction Forensics - Sale & Purchase Agreements - Senior Manager - London/Manchester

EY’s Transaction Forensics – Sale and Purchase Agreements (SPA) team provides expert support to clients, investment banks, lawyers, and deal teams on Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) pricing mechanisms and the accounting aspects of SPAs, including support around any post-deal Completion Accounts. You will assist clients in their SPA negotiations and will interact with deal teams and clients across the transaction life cycle.

Your key responsibilities

You will lead and deliver advice around the price adjustment mechanisms on M&A transactions, working closely with clients, their bankers and legal advisers, transaction diligence teams, and other SPA team members. This may include analysis of cash, debt and working capital adjustments, preparation of pricing schedules, reviewing and commenting on the financial aspects of the SPA, assisting the client with their preparation or review of Completion Accounts and performing Leakage reviews.

• Playing a leading role in the delivery of Transaction Forensics engagements, reviewing the team’s output and steering projects per agreed timeline and budget

• Leading client calls to explain our outputs and liaising closely with other advisors and colleagues withing EY

• Taking ownership for Quality and Risk Management (QRM) to ensure client work is delivered consistently and in compliance with EY’s quality standards

• Advising on negotiations throughout the transaction, agreeing detailed and compelling outputs

• Providing insightful, deal-relevant points of view and recommendations to the client by leveraging your technical and commercial expertise

• Building valued relationships with internal contacts and external clients to support your own career development

People and performance management, coaching of junior colleagues throughout the performance year

Interpersonal skills and risk management are key as you will be working closely with due diligence teams to identify opportunities and mitigate risk for clients, as well as developing a strong internal and external network. For the right candidate, this opportunity will provide stimulation and challenge, and the prospect of career development in a key specialism within the firm.

To qualify for the role, you must have

• Fully qualified as a chartered accountant e.g. ACA / ACCA / CA / ICAS / ICAEW or international equivalent

• Significant experience of M&A transactions in a senior managerial or equivalent capacity

• Expertise in financial information analysis, including modelling, testing, documenting financial scenarios and anticipating challenges

• Excellent technical expertise and commercial acumen with proven industry knowledge

Ideally, you’ll also have

• Have experience of reviewing SPAs and pricing mechanisms from an accountants perspective, preferably with SPA team experience

• An application and solution-based approach to problem solving and a collaborative approach to management

• Strong negotiation capabilities, able to analyse strengths and weaknesses of opposing cases, formulate alternative scenarios, and advise on strategic implications

• Ability to simultaneously handle multiple pressing assignments, and sensitive and adversarial situations

• Ability to communicate clearly to clients and other advisors, including confidently preparation and delivery of high calibre presentations and thought leadership, We are looking for highly motivated team players who are hands-on and rigorous in their working style, and capable of thriving in a fast-paced environment. We’re interested in people with excellent analytical and negotiation techniques, and a desire to develop their specialist skill set in a high value-add area for corporate and private equity clients.

What we offer

EY is committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We strive to achieve the right balance for our people, enabling us to deliver excellent client service whilst allowing you to build your career without sacrificing your personal priorities. While our client-facing professionals can be required to travel regularly, and at times be based at client sites, our flexible working arrangements can help you to achieve a lifestyle balance.

We offer a competitive remuneration package. Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with FlexEY you can select benefits that suit your needs, covering holidays, health and well-being, insurance, savings, and a wide range of discounts, offers and promotions. Plus, we offer:

• Continuous learning: You’ll develop the mindset and skills to navigate whatever comes next.

• Success as defined by you: We’ll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.

• Transformative leadership: We’ll give you the insights, coaching and confidence to be the leader the world needs.

• Diverse and inclusive culture: You’ll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.