M&A Associate Director — Lead High-Impact Deals, Flexible in Birmingham

At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance.

Grant Thornton is one of the UK’s most active M&A advisers, delivering some of the most interesting and exciting mid-market transactions across the country. Our Midlands team is in a period of exceptional growth, fuelled by a strong and rapidly expanding pipeline of high-quality deals involving dynamic owner-managed businesses and private equity clients. To build on this momentum, we’re recruiting an Associate Director or experienced Manager who will play a pivotal role in both delivering our current deal flow and shaping the next phase of our growth across our Midlands team – either based from our Birmingham or Nottingham office.

We operate in a genuinely dynamic, fast-paced environment, balancing multiple live transactions while also building relationships that drive new opportunities for our team and the wider firm. No two days look the same, and the pace of activity creates a brilliant platform for ambitious individuals who want to accelerate their career.

We’re looking for self-motivated individuals who thrive in a high-performing, collaborative team and who are excited by the opportunity to take real ownership of deals, clients and business development. We’ll support you to balance your work and life, and we are open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

A look into the role

• Take responsibility for the day-to-day project management of transactions of varying types, including selling to trade and private equity, and driving them to a successful conclusion.
• Lead the preparation of key marketing materials including teasers, information memorandums and management presentations.
• Oversee or perform financial analysis, including high-level modelling, valuation work, and private equity returns modelling.
• Provide technical insight and identify key business issues, helping clients navigate complex commercial, financial, or strategic challenges.
• Contribute to deal structuring considerations and provide strategic input to clients throughout the process.
• Coordinate and manage all stakeholders involved in a transaction (clients, investors, legal advisors, lenders, and other intermediaries), resolving issues as they arise.
• Identify and evaluate risk management issues, mitigating risk appropriately.
• Support and contribute to business development activity, including attending networking events, building relationships with prospective clients, and converting new opportunities.
• Participate in and help prepare pitches, proposals, and wider marketing initiatives.
• Take on broader departmental responsibilities such as recruitment, mentoring, people management, and developing junior team members.
• Help strengthen internal relationships across the firm to support cross-service collaboration and internal deal origination.
• Coach junior team members and support their development.

Knowing you’re right for us

The minimum criteria you’ll need is to have:

• Demonstrable experience across all stages of an M&A transaction within a corporate finance, investment banking, or private equity environment.
• A recognised professional qualification (ACA, ICAS, ACCA or equivalent) is preferred but not essential where you can demonstrate depth of transaction experience.

It would be great if you had some of the following skills, but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box, we’ll help you develop along the way:

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, both internally and externally.
• Strong analytical capabilities, with the ability to interpret financial data and form a clear commercial view of a business.
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills to carry out financial analysis and prepare client and target documentation (e.g. IM, teaser, pitch decks etc.).
• Demonstrable practical experience of managing multiple deliverables, showing prioritisation skills and meeting deadlines within an expected timeframe.
• A network of intermediaries across the regional M&A market.

Knowing we’re right for you

The culture at Grant Thornton is what sets us apart, we’re known for our inclusive culture and creating environments where all our people can flourish. The things that set you apart, we value them, and this helps us all to perform at our best.

Our values are the unwavering principles that shape our daily behaviours and decisions, alongside our drive to do the right thing. We’re looking for people who align with our values and are purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.

In addition to a competitive salary and reward package, you’ll also get:

• Tailored development programmes and access to coaching.
• Flexible bank holidays – allowing you to celebrate the days that are important to you.
• Benefits including pension, life assurance and private medical, additional holiday purchasing and health benefits.
• Access to shopping discounts, gym memberships, financial advice and more.

How we work

We have a trust-based way of working, driven by responsible people who have the best interests of our firm and our clients at heart. Our framework gives flexibility in where, how, and when we work to deliver the best results for our clients, whilst helping you keep a balance between work and life.

Life is more than work, the things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles.

We’re looking for people who can help drive the business forward, who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves.