Senior Corporate Finance Manager

Location: Midlands offices

Contract: Full-time

Salary: Dependent on experience but with a clear bonus culture based on delivery.

PKF Smith Cooper is actively looking for a talented Senior Manager to join its award-winning Corporate Finance team. This role will play a key part in our firm’s ambitious growth plans to double in size over the next five years. The team specialises in mergers and acquisitions and is known for being a market-leading advisory team. Our expertise lies in guiding clients on buying, selling, and raising growth finance for a range of privately owned businesses and their shareholders.

With a strong reputation for completing high-quality transactions, we are nationally recognised as the 5th largest firm for transaction volume creating a platform for growth. Our deals range from £1 million to £250 million, and clients choose us for our interpersonal skills, extensive experience and high-intensity deal management.

We are looking for a bright, talented individual who has experience leading and managing projects, with an existing network of professional contacts, to originate deals and contribute to the strategic direction of the department. The individual should be at a point where they are or can quickly become a key interface for clients with director/partner support as needed.

The role will involve leading and managing corporate finance projects, from origination through to completion, including:

• Managing all elements of financial analysis, preparation of deliverables, and full project management.
• Managing and developing more junior team members.
• Taking an active part in networking and deal origination, including a focus on a preferred business sector.

The candidate will need strong interpersonal skills, excellent project management capabilities and commercial awareness. The candidate will work closely with clients and will be involved in corporate acquisitions, disposals, management buyouts, management buy-ins, and fundraising.

This position is ideal for an experienced Corporate Finance professional who enjoys building relationships, providing high-quality service, working in a dynamic team and being rewarded for delivery of projects.

The important work you will be doing:

• Managing and leading transactions by taking responsibility for project management and client interactions with support from the team where required.
• Liaising with transaction stakeholders including opposing advisors, legal teams, due diligence providers, tax advisers and other intermediaries.
• Supporting transaction strategy and negotiations.
• Managing deal origination, creating ideas to generate new business.
• Commercial analysis of individual businesses including preparation of marketing materials and other documentation including pitches, information memorandums, management presentations and strategic review papers.
• Undertaking financial analysis including valuations, private equity returns models, leverage buy-out models and assessing the financial impact of transactions.
• Building and maintaining relationships with the M&A community, including private equity, funders, corporates, law firms and other advisers.
• An ability to support and challenge junior members of the team on research, and to be able to step in if required to support that team - including analysing industry and sector trends.
• Actively participate in the CF team’s strategy and strategic direction.

The skills and experience you will bring:

• ACA, CFQ or ACCA qualified.
• Experience within M&A from a reputable IB / CF Boutique / Professional Services firm within an Advisory team.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen; operating strategically but with attention to detail.
• Proven time and project management skills.
• Spreadsheet/modelling experience and a logical, analytical mind with an ability to gently challenge junior members of the team on financial modelling.
• Exceptional communication skills including: gaining the confidence and respect of clients and referrers to become a key contact point combined with clear succinct report writing.
• Be a team player; embracing and supporting all team members doing the right thing and managing expectations for the team.
• An aptitude for and desire to be actively involved with business development.
• A strong desire to progress and develop your career.

Why PKF Smith Cooper?

Our company culture, built on our values – Engage, Empower and Excel – encourages initiative, personal growth, and collaboration. Every team member is appreciated and celebrated; a notion embodied in our Kudos Reward Scheme. The firm’s Partners, who remain actively invested in the development of employees, will both support and champion your professional development and progression.

We work with ambitious businesses of different sizes across a variety of sectors, so no two jobs are the same. We are multi-award-winning accountants and business advisors, ranked the 13th biggest firm by UK fee income in the Accountancy Age Top 50+50.

PKF International

As an active member of PKF International, we are part of a large global network of legally independent accounting firms. Located in the 5 fastest growing global markets, we have ground presence in 150 countries and span across many jurisdictions. An ambitious, future-focused network, PKF provides a comprehensive range of services.

What’s in it for you?

Our benefits package has been designed around our people and shaped by our values. As part of Team PKF Smith Cooper, here are some of the things you can expect:

• A working environment that empowers you to perform at your best, through our flexible working policy and dress for your diary scheme.
• Time to do what matters to you – 25 days annual leave plus statutory bank holidays, the option to reduce annual hours for additional annual leave, and your birthday off, on us.
• Long-serving employees can also request a sabbatical, giving you the chance to make truly unforgettable memories.
• Rewards for those who actively embrace and embody our values and culture through our Kudos Reward Scheme.
• Regular social events and annual, company-wide away days, giving you the opportunity to engage with colleagues across your division and office, as well as the wider firm.
• Bonus referral schemes for introducing new talent or clients.
• Life assurance, discounts on a huge variety of retailers through the PKF Smith Cooper Rewards Scheme, and cashback on healthcare (including dental visits, physiotherapy etc) through Healthshield.

How to apply?

Apply now if you believe you have what we are looking for! Even if you do not tick 100% of the boxes, we would encourage you to apply. To do so, please upload a copy of your CV and a cover letter to our job portal. Should you have any questions, please contact a member of the People team - email careers@pkfsmithcooper.com or call 01332 332021.

Please note that whilst we welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply for our vacancies, we are unfortunately unable to accept applications from candidates requiring a visa to work in the UK. Please no agencies unless we have contacted you directly.