Private Client - M&A Advisor in Manchester

Job Overview

Are you ready to chart your own career path? With our refreshed strategy, we’re building on our rich heritage and transforming our business to be more scalable and efficient, unlocking the capabilities needed for future success. This includes significantly investing in technology, streamlining the way we work and creating an environment where colleagues feel engaged, empowered and accountable; where they can show up, speak up and perform.

LOCATION: Cirencester Office

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Employment Type: Permanent

Seniority: Mid-Senior Level

Role Purpose

The main purpose of this role is to represent St. James’s Place Private Clients as a specialist in business sales and acquisitions, supporting financial advisers in working with high‑net‑worth individuals and business owners. These clients often have a significant proportion of their personal wealth tied up in their businesses and may be planning a full or partial exit, seeking to release capital, improve cashflow, or invest in future growth. This role provides strategic insight to help advisers better understand these needs and deliver effective solutions.

This is a senior consultancy position combining expertise in financial planning with a strong understanding of the UK owner‑managed business market and corporate finance landscape. You will act as a trusted advisor to colleagues, offering guidance, identifying appropriate strategies, and connecting clients with specialist third‑party providers such as corporate finance advisers, lenders, and legal professionals.

You will also contribute to thought leadership and help raise the profile of St. James’s Place in the business owner and SME space.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a subject matter expert on business sales, acquisitions, and succession planning for UK owner‑managed businesses
• Provide consultancy and guidance on corporate finance considerations, including valuation awareness, deal structuring, and tax implications
• Work closely with financial advisers to understand client circumstances, goals, and long‑term objectives
• Support the identification of opportunities across business growth, capital raising, cashflow optimisation, succession planning, and exit strategies
• Translate complex financial and business information into clear, actionable insights
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external professionals (e.g. corporate finance advisers, accountants, legal specialists) to support client outcomes
• Facilitate introductions to third‑party partners where appropriate
• Contribute to thought leadership through articles, webinars, and internal knowledge sharing
• Act as a spokesperson on business owner and SME topics where required
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge across tax, trusts, and financial planning disciplines (investment, retirement, protection)
• Represent and promote the Private Client proposition at internal and external events
• Collaborate with colleagues to enhance capability and deliver strong client outcomes

Essential Criteria

• Strong knowledge of personal and corporate tax, trust planning, and financial planning across investment, retirement, and protection solutions
• Fellowship status (or actively working towards it)
• Proven experience supporting high‑net‑worth clients with complex financial and business planning needs
• Strong client‑facing skills and the ability to build trust and credibility
• Ability to analyse complex scenarios and develop tailored, practical solutions
• Experience working in corporate finance, business advisory, or a related field
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts clearly

Desirable Criteria

• Professional qualifications such as ACA, ACCA, CFA, or similar

Special Requirements

This position is a Certification role under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime.

Benefits and Rewards

We reward you for the work you do, whether that’s through our discretionary annual bonus scheme that reflects both personal and company performance, competitive annual leave allowance (28 days plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase an additional 5 days), or online rewards platform with a variety of discounts.

We also have benefits to support whatever stage of life you are in, including:

• Competitive parental leave (26 weeks full pay)
• Private medical insurance (optional taxable benefit)
• Non‑Contributory Pension – 10% (increasing with length of service up to 15%) with further pension matching.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are an equal opportunities employer and want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible and inclusive for all, if you require reasonable adjustment(s) at any stage please let us know by emailing us at careers@sjp.co.uk.

Research tells us that applicants (especially those from underrepresented groups) can be put off from applying for a role if they do not meet all the criteria or have been on an extended career‑break. If you think you would be a good match for this role and can demonstrate some transferable experience please apply, regardless of whether you tick every box.

Additional Information

As a business regulated by the FCA we would advise you to familiarise yourself with the conduct regulations and in particular consumer duty obligations prior to an interview with SJP.