Investment Associate in Slough

About Shop Circle

Shop Circle is an AI-native technology holding company that acquires and scales mission-critical B2B software, evolving it for the AI era. We focus on software powering the physical world, serving 200,000+ companies worldwide and enabling them to work smarter, scale faster, and stay ahead. Shop Circle is backed by leading global institutional investors and is building one of the most active software acquisition platforms globally.

The Role

We are looking for a high-calibre Investment Associate to join our M&A execution team on a full-time, permanent basis. The role can be based in London, with a hybrid working model. You will work closely with senior investment professionals across the full M&A lifecycle, from sourcing and evaluation to execution and post-acquisition value creation. This is a hands-on role with direct exposure to live transactions across Europe and North America, offering significant responsibility and ownership from day one. This is an opportunity to join a fast-scaling, AI-powered software group and help shape how mission-critical software companies are acquired, evaluated, and transformed in the AI era.

What You’ll Do

• Evaluate and execute technology acquisitions across multiple geographies.
• Screen inbound and proprietary opportunities against our investment framework to determine which targets the team should focus on.
• Lead financial modelling, valuation analyses, and investment return assessments.
• Conduct and coordinate due diligence across financial, tax, tech/AI, legal, and commercial workstreams, working with internal stakeholders and external advisers.
• Prepare investment memos and materials for internal investment committees and the Board.
• Support negotiations of transaction structures, SPAs, and related documentation alongside Legal.
• Work closely with Finance, Product, Legal, AI, and Value Creation teams before and after acquisition.
• Contribute to origination efforts, including market mapping, target screening, and broker/adviser relationship management.
• Support post-acquisition value creation initiatives, including performance tracking, strategic projects, and AI transformation opportunities.

What We’re Looking For

• 3–6 years of full-time experience in M&A, investment banking, private equity, corporate development, transaction services, or a similar investment role.
• Strong exposure to M&A execution, including financial modelling, valuation, due diligence, and transaction process management.
• Software, technology, or SaaS sector experience is a strong plus; alternatively, a demonstrable interest in technology, software, and AI is essential.
• Prior exposure to software or technology transactions is a plus.
• Experience with small- and mid-cap M&A transactions is a plus.
• Sell-side execution experience is a strong plus.
• Strong financial modelling, valuation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to manage complex workstreams independently and deliver under tight timelines.
• High attention to detail, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to interact confidently with senior stakeholders.
• Intellectually curious, commercially minded, and comfortable operating in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment.
• Based in London or willing to relocate.
• Fluency in English is required. Italian is a strong plus. Additional European languages, especially French, Spanish, or German, are a plus.

What You’ll Get

• Direct exposure to end-to-end M&A transactions in a high-volume, high-velocity acquisition environment.
• Significant responsibility and autonomy from day one.
• The opportunity to help build one of the most active AI-powered software acquisition platforms globally.
• Close working relationship with the CEO, CFO, COO, and other senior stakeholders.
• Exposure to software, AI, and value creation across a growing portfolio of mission-critical B2B software companies.
• Competitive compensation aligned with experience, plus long-term career progression opportunities.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you are intellectually curious, execution-driven, and eager to operate at the centre of a fast-scaling software group, we would love to hear from you. Apply now and help build the next generation of enterprise software infrastructure.