At a Glance
- Tasks: Support M&A operations, manage projects, and automate workflows with cutting-edge tech.
- Company: Dynamic FinTech firm focused on innovation and growth.
- Benefits: Paid internship, flexible hours, medical insurance, and generous holiday.
- Other info: Collaborate with a small team and enjoy excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Gain hands-on experience in M&A while working on impactful projects.
- Qualifications: Strong academic background; interest in M&A, FinTech, or entrepreneurship.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 30000 £ per year.
Internship Overview
The internship is split into two phases to give you both breadth across the deal engine and depth on a project you own.
Phase 1: Core M&A Operations (first 2 months)
- Sell‑side execution: support sell‑side Transaction Managers across the deal lifecycle, qualify inbound and outbound vendor leads, prepare materials, populate Virtual Data Rooms, and coordinate buyer Q&A.
- Buy‑side execution: support buy‑side Transaction Managers managing the live pipeline of searchers and acquirers, qualify buyer mandates, match them to live sell‑side opportunities, and move deals through to LOI.
- Due diligence support: work with our DD Manager on company valuation and diligence for live sell‑side mandates, turning raw SME data into clear reports on business model, financial position, and fair valuation.
- Origination: identify SMEs likely to sell, run our "likely seller" models against iwoca's customer base, and convert matches into mandates.
- Product, data & AI: turn manual workflows into automated ones, map the data schema for our "Digital IM", and build AI‑enabled tooling that gives our Transaction Managers leverage. Work closely with the Venture Lead on this.
Phase 2: Project (months 3‑6)
Once the foundational work is complete, you will scope a project with the Venture Lead to solve a real problem or seize an opportunity identified during Phase 1. You will execute the project end‑to‑end with full ownership and regular check‑ins. Past examples of projects we back include:
- A model that scores acquisition targets against a buyer's mandate.
- An AI workflow that drafts a first‑pass IM from raw accounts.
- A structured outbound channel into a new vendor segment.
Who you are
- You’re interested in M&A, FinTech, or building things from scratch and want to do all three at once.
- You are smart, motivated, humble, and have a growth mindset.
- You are need‑driven: you take whatever is in front of you and move it forward, whether that’s fixing a broken spreadsheet, calling a vendor, or cleaning up CRM data.
- You don’t wait to be told what’s important.
- You are financially literate: you can read a P&L and a balance sheet, spot what’s odd, and ask the question that surfaces the real story behind the numbers.
- You are tech‑curious: you bring your own stack, you’re already using AI tools to multiply your output, and you treat any manual workflow you see as a candidate for automation.
- You are a clear communicator: M&A runs on trust. You write professional emails, you’re not afraid to pick up the phone, and you can hold a conversation with a 60‑year‑old business owner about the company they built.
Placement & Qualifications
- Available for a full‑time, off‑cycle placement of up to 6 months.
- Strong academic background, open to all disciplines though Finance, Economics, or Business preferred.
- Any experience, projects, or initiatives that show genuine M&A, FinTech, or entrepreneurial interest. We care more about evidence of initiative than a polished CV.
- Bonus: experience working with SME data, financing, or M&A workflows.
Salary & Conversion
This is a paid off‑cycle internship of up to 6 months, with annual compensation of £30,000. If it goes well and there is a fit on both sides, we would convert you into a permanent role on the team with compensation re‑benchmarked against the new position.
Location
Hybrid in London or Leeds, United Kingdom.
The Team
You will sit inside the Deal Team and work directly with the people running the platform: our sell‑side and buy‑side Transaction Managers, our Due Diligence Manager, and the Venture Lead. The team is small enough that you will be in the room for real decisions on live deals, and the tooling we use (CRM, VDR, AI automated workflows) is being built in parallel by the same people you will be working alongside.
The Benefits
- Flexible working hours.
- Medical insurance from Vitality, including discounted gym membership.
- A private GP service (separate from Vitality) for you, your partner, and your dependents.
- 25 days' holiday per year, an extra day off for your birthday, the option to buy or sell an additional five days of annual leave, and unlimited unpaid leave.
- A one‑month, fully paid sabbatical after four years.
- Instant access to external counselling and therapy sessions for team members that need emotional or mental health support.
- 3% Pension contributions on total earnings.
- An employee equity incentive scheme.
- Generous parental leave and a nursery tax benefit scheme to help you save money.
- Electric car scheme and cycle to work scheme.
- Two company retreats a year.
M&A Intern in Leeds employer: Iwoca
At our company, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that empowers interns to take ownership of meaningful projects while gaining invaluable experience in M&A operations. With flexible working hours, comprehensive benefits including medical insurance and generous holiday allowances, and a strong focus on employee growth through mentorship and real decision-making opportunities, we are committed to nurturing talent in the vibrant cities of London and Leeds. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team where your contributions truly matter and innovation is at the forefront of everything we do.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land M&A Intern in Leeds
✨Tap into Campus Resources
Universities often have strong ties with banks and financial institutions. Make sure to check in with your career services for any internship fairs or networking events. These can be golden opportunities to meet representatives from firms like Iwoca and make a lasting impression.
✨Join Finance Societies and Clubs
Get involved with finance or investment clubs at your university. These not only offer great networking potential but often host guest speakers from the industry. Show your enthusiasm and engage with these professionals—who knows, they might tip you off about internship openings at Iwoca!
✨Have Your Application Ready to Go
Internship applications can be competitive and come with tight deadlines. Be proactive! Have your CV and cover letter prepared and tailored for roles at Iwoca. When the openings go live, you’ll want to be one of the first to apply.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
LinkedIn is a powerful tool, especially in the banking sector. Follow recruiters from Iwoca and connect with alumni who are working in similar roles. Don’t hesitate to drop them a message to introduce yourself and express your interest in internships—they might have insider info or even refer you!
We think you need these skills to ace M&A Intern in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Those Grades!:In banking and financial services, your academic background is super important. Make sure to highlight your grades, especially in finance, economics, or maths. If you've got any relevant coursework or projects, don’t hesitate to include them in your CV!
Craft Your Cover Letter with Care:For an internship, we want to see your enthusiasm and motivation. Use your cover letter to explain why you’re excited about this opportunity at Iwoca and what you hope to learn. Be personal and connect the dots between your education and the role of M&A Intern.
Squeaky Clean CV:Your CV should be clear and free of jargon. Focus on the skills that matter most in the banking sector, like analytical thinking and attention to detail. Don't forget to include any internships or part-time jobs that show your experience in a banking environment!
Utilise Relevant Experiences:If you've been involved in finance-related clubs or societies at university, mention that in your application. Showing your practical experience alongside your studies can make a real difference and demonstrate your passion for the financial world. We love seeing candidates who go the extra mile!
How to prepare for a job interview at Iwoca
✨Show Us Your Analytical Skills
As an intern in the banking and financial services sector, you'll want to showcase your analytical skills. Be ready to tackle numerical and case questions during your interview. Brush up on your data interpretation abilities and consider scenarios where you've used data to solve problems.
✨Know Your Financial Tools
Familiarise yourself with the financial tools and software commonly used in banking, like Bloomberg or Excel for financial modelling. We recommend having a couple of examples where you've applied these tools in your studies or projects to impress the interviewer.
✨Be Passionate About Learning
Internships are all about learning, so express your enthusiasm for the banking industry. Share what trends you're excited about, or recent news you've followed, to show you're motivated and engaged. This can set you apart from other candidates who might be less enthusiastic.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Expect behavioural questions that assess your fit within a team and your ability to handle challenges. Think of examples from your studies or group projects that highlight your teamwork, adaptability, and communication skills. We want to see how you've navigated situations that are relevant to the workplace!
