S&VC, M&A Operations – Technology (Pre-Deal), Manager in London

About the role:

PwC’s S& M&A Operations team assists both Corporate and Private Equity (PE) clients in a wide range of business critical operational and transformational challenges, driven by Merger and Acquisition (M&A) activity. We advise our clients on deals with values ranging from £50 million to over £100 billion and our clients include some of the most well-known brands and businesses in the world.

We have around 200 dynamic and friendly people from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines. We recruit proactively from industry, consulting, private equity and audit to create a blend of relevant experience to support each transaction. We have a team of technology specialists with deep experience and are looking to enhance this team with individuals who can contribute to achieving our ambitious growth goals.

What your days will look like:

• Pre-deal value creation advisory (i.e. helping clients to prepare their business, or parts of their business for sale)
• Buy and sell side operational due diligence (i.e. reviewing and reporting on the technology risks and opportunities for the business)
• Synergy development and review (i.e. helping to develop or providing an external independent review on the level of synergies available from putting two or more businesses together)
• Carve out and divestment support (i.e. helping to develop the standalone operating model, one-off costs and standalone operating costs of a divestment)
• Taking control and 100 day planning (i.e. helping our clients to safely take control of the business, manage risks and deliver ‘quick wins’ during the first 100 days of ownership)
• Mergers & Acquisitions Integration (i.e. helping our clients protect and grow the value of an acquisition, develop a robust and realistic integration plan and then executing on it)
• Post-acquisition performance improvement (i.e. reviewing where the value might lie in the business and how realistic and sustainable cost savings can be achieved)

A career in the S& MA& Operations team is a unique and rewarding challenge. When working in an M&A environment, the work is often complex and done under tight deadlines as we have to rapidly develop an understanding of the target / client business in order to quickly assimilate the key issues around the transaction. As a result, the opportunity for personal and career development is extraordinary, with great opportunities for progression however this can also be challenging at times.

Whilst the team is London based, deal activity is global in nature and therefore projects can involve international travel which can be at short notice. Occasionally, projects may also involve being temporarily based overseas and candidates should be prepared for this.

The role is for you if:

• You have the ability to undertake IT strategy formulation and analysis and IT operating model design review/formulation.
• Experience of key business applications design and/or implementation; to include one or more of ERP, CRM, MI, Middleware, eCommerce or any industry specific front office systems.
• Comfort around IT and operational analysis to quickly understand the core IT, operational and back offices processes and their associated costs to the business.
• Proficiency in creating detailed IT cost financial models and IT budgets, interpreting data, and performing scenario analysis.
• Experience of reviewing one or more of the following areas: IT enabled performance improvements, IT enabled cost reduction plans, IT cost out strategies, business case development or capital expenditure needs.
• A demonstrable ability to ‘read’ a business/process and to anticipate issues as well as identify potential upside opportunities.
• Familiarity with Enterprise IT and data architecture concepts.
• Experience of IT project support and development, including planning and costing changes.
• Capability to quickly assimilate large amounts of information and identify key messages.
• Expertise in creating clear, concise presentations and drafting comprehensive board papers for executive audiences.
• Must possess an ACA/CA/ACCA qualification (or international equivalent) or have equivalent work experience. This includes international candidates who qualify through experience in their home country.

What you’ll receive from us:

No matter where you may be in your career or personal life, our benefits are designed to add value and support, recognising and rewarding you fairly for your contributions. We offer a range of benefits including empowered flexibility and a working week split between office, home and client site; private medical cover and 24/7 access to a qualified virtual GP; six volunteering days a year and much more.