Manager M&A – Corporate Development

Manager M&A – Corporate Development

Location: Western Germany / Rhine-Ruhr Region (Hybrid)

The Firm

A highly regarded corporate group with a strong international footprint, distinguished by its commitment to strategic, long-term growth. The central corporate M&A team plays a pivotal role in driving the organisation’s inorganic growth strategy, executing highly visible transactions, and shaping the future portfolio. The team combines rigorous financial discipline with strategic agility, working closely with executive leadership to accelerate expansion, enter new markets, and enhance enterprise value.

The Opportunity

The incoming Manager M&A will join the central corporate team with responsibility across the full transaction lifecycle. With a focus on strategic acquisitions and portfolio optimization, this role offers the chance to take on significant project leadership within a highly professional group. The position provides broad exposure to corporate strategy, deep engagement with senior stakeholders, and high autonomy in driving projects from the initial deal pipeline all the way through to successful closing.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-End Transaction Execution – Lead comprehensive M&A projects from initial pipeline generation through to deal closing; coordinate multidisciplinary deal teams, external advisors, and cross-functional internal stakeholders.
• Financial Analysis & Valuation – Drive rigorous financial analysis, including deep-dive P&L and balance sheet assessments; build complex financial models and conduct corporate valuations to support strategic decision-making.
• Deal Origination & Pipeline Management – Evaluate market opportunities, actively manage the deal pipeline, and assess targets against the firm’s strategic acquisition criteria.
• Due Diligence Leadership – Steer commercial, financial, and legal due diligence workstreams; identify key risks and value drivers to form clear, actionable investment recommendations.
• Strategic Alignment – Partner with business unit leaders and executive management to ensure potential acquisitions align with the broader corporate strategy and integration capabilities.

Candidate Profile

• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in Corporate M&A, Investment Banking, Transaction Services, or Private Equity.
• Demonstrable track record of leading complex M&A projects from early-stage deal pipeline development through to transaction closing.
• Deep financial acumen with exceptional, hands-on skills in corporate valuation, financial modelling, and comprehensive P&L/Balance Sheet analysis.
• Ideally, a background that includes direct corporate environment experience alongside strong project management capabilities.
• Excellent analytical and commercial judgement, with the ability to distil complex financial data into clear, strategic recommendations.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the credibility to interact effectively with senior management and external partners.
• Willingness to work in a hybrid model, requiring office presence at the central headquarters (Western Germany / Rhine-Ruhr area) for approximately 3 days per week.

About the Role

This is a highly visible appointment within a central corporate development team that sits at the core of the firm's strategic agenda. The role provides the autonomy to lead transactions, work closely with executive leadership, and directly influence the company’s inorganic growth trajectory. It is an outstanding opportunity to join a well-resourced platform with a long-term perspective and a collaborative, high-performance culture.