Head of Sales - New Business Origination (M&A / Sell-Side Advisory)

About Churchill Mergers

Churchill Mergers is an international M&A advisory and corporate finance firm advising business owners on sell-side mandates, partial exits, and capital raising. We operate across the UK, US, and Middle East, focusing on mid-market transactions and founder-led businesses.

Role Overview:

We are hiring a Head of Sales whose primary responsibility is to originate and convert new business for Churchill Mergers.

This role is focused on winning mandates , not running transactions. You will be responsible for generating new client opportunities, converting them into signed sell-side advisory or capital raising engagements, and securing retainers where appropriate.

Once a mandate is signed, the transaction is handed over to the M&A execution team.

Key Responsibilities:

New Business Origination (Core Focus)

• Actively originate new sell-side and capital raising opportunities
• Source opportunities through:
• Direct outreach to founders and shareholders
• Personal and professional networks
• Accountants, lawyers, wealth managers, and introducers
• Build and maintain a consistent pipeline of qualified prospects

Sales & Conversion

• Be the first commercial point of contact for business owners considering:
• Full or partial exits
• Minority or majority investment
• Growth capital or structured finance
• Qualify opportunities based on readiness, valuation expectations, and fee viability
• Lead all commercial discussions through to signed terms of business

Mandate Structuring

• Negotiate and secure:
• Sell-side advisory mandates
• Capital raising engagements
• Retainers and exclusivity where appropriate
• Confidently handle fee discussions and objections at shareholder level

Internal Handover

• Conduct a structured handover to the execution team once mandates are signed
• Clearly communicate client objectives, sensitivities, and commercial terms

Introducer & Referral Development

• Build and manage introducer relationships with professional firms
• Support the development of repeat and scalable referral pipelines

Reporting & Pipeline Management

• Maintain a clear and disciplined sales pipeline
• Report regularly on:
• New business activity
• Mandates signed
• Conversion metrics

What This Role Is Not

• You will not :
• Run M&A transactions
• Manage buyer processes
• Negotiate SPAs or deal documentation
• Execute deals post-mandate

This is a pure origination and conversion role .

Required Experience

Essential

• Proven track record of bringing in new business within:
• M&A advisory
• Corporate finance
• Investment banking
• Capital raising
• High-value professional services sales
• Experience selling advisory mandates and structured fees
• Comfortable engaging founders, shareholders, and boards
• Strong commercial judgement and negotiation skills

Desirable

• Existing network of business owners or professional introducers
• Experience in the £5m – £250m enterprise value range
• Exposure to cross-border or international clients

Compensation & Incentives

• Competitive base salary or senior contractor arrangement
• Performance-based commission linked directly to new mandates signed
• Long-term upside aligned with firm growth

How Success Is Measured

• New business originated
• Mandates signed
• Retainers and fees secured
• Conversion rates and pipeline quality

Applicants are also welcome to submit their CVs by email to Imad@churchillmergers.net