Transaction Services Manager

About Cortus

Cortus Advisory Group is an independent, award-winning M&A advisory firm operating across six UK offices. With over 55 professionals, we support buy, sell, fund, grow and fix businesses and strive to create a collaborative and inclusive professional environment.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Transaction Services Manager to join our growing Financial Due Diligence (FDD) team. This key role leads and manages due diligence engagements, supports Partners in delivering high-quality advice, and coaches junior team members.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Transaction Services engagements from planning through to completion.
• Take responsibility for engagement set-up, including client acceptance, risk management procedures, drafting engagement letters, scopes and information request lists.
• Develop a clear understanding of client needs and required deliverables, and articulate these effectively to the project team.
• Monitor project progress, budgets and timelines, escalating issues, delays or cost implications proactively.
• Produce full draft due diligence reports and analysis sections for Partner review on smaller engagements, and fully drafted sections on larger assignments.
• Ensure reports are concise, commercially focused, and clearly highlight key risks, opportunities and value drivers.
• Anticipate next steps for both the engagement and the client, maintaining momentum throughout the transaction.
• Oversee and review detailed analysis of financial statements, cash flows, working capital and key performance indicators.
• Assess quality of earnings, normalised EBITDA, run-rate performance and pro-forma adjustments.
• Challenge assumptions within forecasts and business plans, identifying risks and sensitivities.
• Apply judgement to complex or subjective accounting areas and ensure issues are addressed appropriately.
• Ensure analysis and outputs are robust, well-structured and suitable for client decision-making.
• Act as a confident day-to-day contact for clients and other advisers on assigned engagements.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, investors, lenders and professional advisers.
• Develop confidence presenting findings and recommendations to senior client stakeholders, including Finance Directors, private equity principals and bankers.
• Maintain communication with clients after transactions complete, supporting long-term relationship building.
• Develop a strong understanding of the wider Cortus Advisory Group and identify opportunities for collaboration and cross-referrals.
• Coach, mentor and review the work of Executives and Analysts, providing clear, constructive feedback.
• Inspire confidence within the team through strong technical knowledge, clear direction and professional presence.
• Support the development of junior team members through on-the-job training and participation in internal learning initiatives.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture aligned to Cortus values.
• Take full accountability for the quality and timeliness of your work and engagement outcomes.
• Make timely, well-reasoned decisions and balance multiple priorities across concurrent engagements.
• Contribute to non-client-facing activities such as training, risk management initiatives and team development.

Build and brand

• Build and manage your personal and the Cortus brand through thought leadership and professional networking.

Technical Requirements

• ACA, ACCA or equivalent qualification.
• Strong background in Transaction Services, audit or related corporate finance roles.
• Proven experience managing due diligence engagements and client relationships.
• Excellent technical accounting knowledge (UK GAAP and IFRS) and strong financial analysis skills.
• Ability to explain complex financial matters clearly and pragmatically.
• Strong project management, communication and report-writing skills.
• Advanced Excel capability and confidence working with large datasets.

Preferred (but not essential)

• Prior experience working with private equity or mid-market entrepreneurial businesses.
• Exposure to a wide range of sectors and transaction types.
• Interest in data analytics, automation or AI-enabled approaches to due diligence.

Personal Attributes

• Commercial mindset with an interest in deals, business performance, and value drivers.
• Commercially focused with strong deal awareness and client empathy.
• Confident, credible and able to challenge constructively.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage competing demands.
• Collaborative leader who enjoys developing others.
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, deal-driven environments.
• Curious, forward-thinking and committed to continuous improvement.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary and bonus (benchmarked twice a year to market).
• Annual Leave – 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays.
• Birthday Leave – Take the day off to celebrate your birthday.
• Company sick pay.
• Option to purchase annual leave.
• One-to-one mentoring.
• Flexible working options.
• Enhanced paternity/maternity/sick leave.
• Annual Peer/Mentoring allowance.
• Health cash plan.
• Pension salary sacrifice scheme – employer contributions paid on full salary.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Annual Corporate Conference.
• Annual CSR day.
• Mental health support.
• Supported study programmes.
• Referral bonus.

Equal Opportunities

At Cortus we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If you need any adjustments during the hiring process, let us know so we can support you.