We are seeking a high-calibre M&A Director to drive the inorganic growth strategy of a rapidly scaling accounting group. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal leadership role, sourcing and executing acquisitions that will shape the future footprint of the business across the UK.

Working closely with the CEO and senior leadership team, you will lead the full transaction lifecycle — from origination and deal structuring through to execution and post-merger integration — building a strong pipeline of acquisitions including revenue books, bolt-on firms, and regional hub practices.

This role offers the chance to combine strategic thinking, commercial deal-making, and operational integration, ensuring every acquisition drives measurable value creation, cultural alignment, and long-term scale advantages.

The Opportunity

As M&A Director, you will lead the group’s end-to-end acquisition programme, identifying opportunities across a fragmented market and building regional density through a hub-and-spoke consolidation strategy.

You will represent the business externally as a trusted and credible M&A leader, building relationships with firm owners, advisors, and industry networks while delivering high-quality transactions.

Key Responsibilities

Deal Origination & Market Mapping

• Build and manage a robust pipeline of acquisition opportunities across the UK accounting sector.
• Develop relationships with firm owners, brokers, corporate finance advisors, and industry networks.
• Map fragmented regional markets to identify priority areas for hub creation and consolidation.
• Assess inbound opportunities and conduct initial commercial and strategic screening.
• Design creative deal structures aligned with vendor motivations, including deferred consideration, earn-outs, equity rollovers, and revenue book purchases.
• Develop and review financial models covering revenue quality, client retention, partner transition economics, and synergy potential.
• Work closely with legal, tax, and finance advisors to optimise transaction structures.
• Prepare investment papers and present recommendations to the Board and Investment Committee.

Deal Execution

• Lead the full M&A process from initial discussions and LOI through to completion.
• Manage due diligence processes and coordinate legal, financial, tax, HR, and compliance advisors.
• Drive timelines and manage stakeholders to ensure efficient and successful deal delivery.
• Identify and mitigate operational, regulatory, and cultural risks.
• Develop and implement repeatable integration frameworks for revenue books, bolt-on practices, and regional hubs.
• Partner with internal teams to integrate; client services and onboarding, branding and communications, reporting and financial controls, partner and team transitions
• Track and report synergy delivery and performance against acquisition cases.

Strategic Leadership

• Advise the CEO and executive team on inorganic growth strategy and market opportunities.
• Shape the company’s regional consolidation strategy to accelerate scale and operational leverage.
• Support fundraising, refinancing, and lender reporting related to acquisition performance.
• Represent the organisation as a credible and respected voice in the accounting M&A market.

About You

We’re looking for a commercial deal-maker with strong strategic instincts and experience operating in fast-moving acquisition environments.

Experience

• 8+ years’ experience in M&A, Corporate Finance, Transaction Services, or deal-driven environments.
• Proven track record of sourcing and leading transactions independently, ideally in the sub-£20m EV range.
• Experience in accountancy, professional services, or business services sectors.
• Exposure to buy-and-build strategies, revenue book acquisitions, or regional consolidation models.

Skills & Capabilities

• Exceptional financial modelling and commercial analysis.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills, particularly with owner-managed businesses.
• Understanding of accounting firm economics including utilisation, fee mix, partner structures, and staffing models.
• Ability to manage multiple transactions simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.
• High emotional intelligence with the ability to navigate partner transitions and cultural integration.
• A process-driven mindset with the ability to build scalable acquisition playbooks.

Why Join?

• Play a central role in building a national accounting platform.
• Lead a high-volume M&A strategy in a fragmented market ripe for consolidation.
• Work directly with senior leadership and investors.
• Influence the long-term growth and footprint of the organisation.

If you’re a commercially minded M&A leader looking to shape the next phase of growth for a dynamic professional services platform, we’d love to hear from you.