At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to drive strategic projects and M&A transactions in a fast-paced banking environment.
- Company: Starling Bank, a disruptive tech company reshaping the banking experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission to transform banking and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: 2-4 years in investment banking, strategy consulting, or corporate development.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Hello, we’re Starling. We built a new kind of bank because we knew technology had the power to help people save, spend and manage their money in a new and transformative way. We’re a fully licensed UK bank with the culture and spirit of a fast-moving, disruptive tech company. We’re a bank, but better: fairer, easier to use and designed to demystify money for everyone. We employ more than 3,500 people across our London, Southampton, Cardiff and Manchester offices.
We are looking for a highly motivated and curious Associate to join our Group Strategy and Corporate Development team. This is a high-impact role designed for a professional who thrives on rigor and wants to play a foundational part in our inorganic and organic growth initiatives.
As an Associate, you will be deeply embedded in the execution of strategic projects and M&A transactions, providing the data-driven insights that inform the long-term roadmap for both the Bank and our global SaaS business, Engine.
Responsibilities- Strategy & Transaction Execution
- Workstream Execution: Support complex strategic projects by owning specific workstreams, disaggregating problems, and conducting the analysis required to reach a recommendation.
- Deal Support: Act as a core member of the execution team for M&A, joint ventures, and partnerships. This will include valuing businesses, supporting the development of deal rationales, managing data rooms, coordinating due diligence providers, and preparing initial drafts of investment committee materials.
- Owning Deliverables: Draft clear, high-quality presentations and board papers. You will be responsible for ensuring that complex data is synthesized into a narrative that is succinct and clear.
- Analysis & Financial Understanding
- Financial Modelling: Build and maintain financial models (new ventures, M&A target business plans, and bank merger models) to evaluate new business cases and corporate opportunities.
- Valuation & Research: Perform detailed valuation analysis using multiple methodologies (Comps, Precedents, Fundamental).
- Market Intelligence: Monitor the global FinTech, Banking, and TMT landscape, providing regular briefings on competitor moves, regulatory shifts, and emerging trends.
- Team & Culture
- Cross-Functional Liaison: Work closely with FP&A, Investor Relations, Finance, Legal, and other teams to gather data and validate assumptions for strategic initiatives.
- Execution Rigour: Maintain a high velocity of output, ensuring all deliverables are accurate, formatted to a high standard, and delivered ahead of schedule.
- Continuous Improvement: Proactively suggest ways to improve internal processes.
- Experience & Background
- We are looking for 2–4 years of experience in a high performing, and analytical environment, typically:
- Investment Banking: Senior analyst level, preferably within a FIG, FinTech, or TMT coverage group.
- Strategy Consulting: Senior associate level, with experience in commercial due diligence or corporate strategy.
- Corporate Development / PE: Early-career experience in a deal-oriented environment within the financial services or technology sectors.
- Technical & Analytical Skills
- Problem Solving: Ability to structure a clear approach to complex questions.
- Excel Technical Skills: Strong financial modeling skills. You should be comfortable building models from scratch that are logical, flexible, and error-free.
- Communication: Strong PowerPoint skills and the ability to write concise, professional long-form documents.
- First-Principles Thinking: You take a logical and data-driven approach to any task, even if it’s something you’ve never done before.
- Attention to Detail: You have minimal tolerance when it comes to data accuracy and presentation formatting.
- Drive & Autonomy: You are a self-starter who can manage your own time and take initiative without constant supervision.
- Low Ego: You are happy to roll up your sleeves on any task, from high-level strategy to administrative deal management, to help the team succeed.
Applications for this role will close at 9am on Monday April 13th.
Benefits- 25 days holiday (plus take your public holiday allowance whenever works best for you).
- An extra day’s holiday for your birthday.
- Annual leave is increased with length of service, and you can choose to buy or sell up to five extra days off.
- 16 hours paid volunteering time a year.
- Salary sacrifice, company enhanced pension scheme.
- Life insurance at 4x your salary.
- Private Medical Insurance with VitalityHealth including mental health support and cancer care. Partner benefits include discounts with Waitrose, Mr & Mrs Smith and Peloton.
- Generous family-friendly policies.
- Perkbox membership giving access to retail discounts, a wellness platform for physical and mental health, and weekly free and boosted perks.
- Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work and Salary Sacrificed Gym partnerships.
You may be put off applying for a role because you don't tick every box. Forget that! While we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we're always open to discussion. So, if you're excited about working with us, but aren’t sure if you're 100% there yet, get in touch anyway.
We’re on a mission to radically reshape banking – and that starts with our brilliant team. Whatever came before, we’re proud to bring together people of all backgrounds and experiences who love working together to solve problems.
Starling Bank is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster diversity & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Starling Bank are considered without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
By submitting your application, you agree that Starling Bank may collect your personal data for recruiting and related purposes. Our Privacy Notice explains what personal information we may process, where we may process your personal information, its purposes for processing your personal information, and the rights you can exercise over our use of your personal information.
Group Strategy & Corporate Development Associate in London employer: Starling Bank
At Starling Bank, we pride ourselves on being a forward-thinking employer that combines the innovation of a tech company with the stability of a fully licensed bank. Our vibrant work culture fosters collaboration and creativity, offering employees ample opportunities for professional growth and development. With generous benefits, including flexible holiday options and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, we empower our team members to thrive both personally and professionally in our dynamic London office.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Strategy & Corporate Development Associate in London
✨Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities
Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!
✨Attend Industry Conferences and Events
Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like Starling Bank!
✨Showcase Your Strategy Skills
Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Group Strategy & Corporate Development Associate position at Starling Bank via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.
We think you need these skills to ace Group Strategy & Corporate Development Associate in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at Starling Bank.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to Starling Bank’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.
Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!
Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!
How to prepare for a job interview at Starling Bank
✨Master the Numbers
Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to Starling Bank. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.
✨Engage in Strategic Conversations
In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at Starling Bank. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to Starling Bank.
