Deals Transaction Services Director

One year on from partnering with Waterland Private Equity and welcoming Timothy Mahapatra, former Deloitte global MD, to head up its Deals team, Cooper Parry has completed six acquisitions of its own this year. They include a transformational deal with Haines Watts London and its associated audit and advisory businesses in September 2023. The acquisition saw Cooper Parry’s headcount rise to 1,150, with turnover reaching £125m as the firm’s £250m growth ambitions gather momentum.

Our financial due diligence process involves checking each key financial aspect of a transaction important to our clients. Specifically, we identify the key value drivers of performance and profitability, identify potential value adjustments, provide input to the sale & purchase agreement (‘SPA’), mitigate risks and challenge assumptions about future performance.

At CP we have a fully integrated Deals business comprising of Corporate Finance, Transaction Services and Transaction Services. We have over 40 Deals professionals nationally, with hubs in London and the Midlands, who go to market together serving owner managers, private equity owners and corporates in all aspects of M&A.

Putting it simply, we work with clients to make the buying or selling of businesses feel more straightforward and to maximise the value achieved from the process. Business transactions, no matter the size, can be a complicated process, so we bring refreshingly clear advice that's backed by insightful financial analysis.

About the role…

We are currently building a London based TS team, as part of our nationally integrated TS practice, and are looking for a Director to join us to help build out our ambitious growth plan. We are looking for someone who is great at…

• Playing a leading role in developing the London Transaction Services team and our business development initiatives, as well as taking responsibility for their own career development.
• Establishing yourself as a key client contact. Ideally having an existing portfolio of relevant strong business relationships.
• Leading teams as well as working together with team members, plus forming relationships with other Cooper Parry teams.
• Developing our approach, scope and objectives with the client, understanding key business performance drivers, and providing value through insights, factual conclusions and advice.
• Planning, preparing and reviewing outputs from our work, including written reports and leading presentations/meetings with the client, ensuring Insightful data analysis and presentation.
• Planning and monitoring the progress of live projects, including sharing of potential key issues on a timely basis, such as identification of risk for our client or items impacting price.
• Sharing your technical and wider knowledge with the team and providing coaching to others.
• Understanding the wider capabilities of Cooper Parry and look for opportunities to broaden the services provided to our clients.

About you…

• Have an ACA, ACCA or equivalent qualification.
• Be an excellent communicator.
• Have at least 5 years of financial due diligence experience (both buy side & sell side due diligence, completion accounts and SPA experience) and strong commercial acumen.
• Have accomplished presentation skills and report writing experience.
• Be a highly effective time manager, with the ability to keep calm when under deadlines.
• Be confident and demonstrate gravitas, with the flexibility/ability to cope with change.
• Have strong project management skills and technical knowledge.
• Love working in a team, with the ability to quickly build effective relationships.
• Have experience of managing client relationships and negotiations.
• Have business development capability. Ideally already having your own established business relationships with lower mid-market Private Equity houses

A bit about CP...

We work with privately owned, not for profit and multi-national businesses across the UK to help them become more aware of their financial position, become more financially efficient, help them grow and much more. But we’re no ordinary firm of accountants and business advisers.

We’re straight-talking and put people and relationships before products and services. This is what’s made us the fastest growing firm of accountants in the UK... and our vision is to continue.

Over the last couple years alone, we have achieved some fantastic feats:

• Ranked No.1 in the Accountancy Age Mid-Tier Power Index
• Placed Top 3 in the mid-size category at the Inspiring Workplace Awards and 13th overall at the Inspiring Workplace Awards, against all businesses of all sizes across Europe, Middle East & Africa
• B Corp certified! Measuring and improving our impact beyond business for a brighter tomorrow
• Best Companies No.1 Accountancy Firm to work for in the UK & No.30 Best Large Company to work for 2023

What's in it for you...

We have always believed in trusting our people to make the right decisions for themselves. From how you dress, to where you work and how often you take holiday. We give our people the opportunity to work flexibly, as well as the trust and accountability to deliver.

We put our people at the heart of our culture. If our people love working here then they do amazing work, that’s why we offer things like:

• Open Holidays – unlimited paid annual leave to take what you need to feel well rested
• We are currently undertaking a 100-80-100 trial, otherwise known as a “4 day work week trial” to reduce our working hours by 20%
• A truly flexible approach to hybrid working
• Empowered and entrusted to do what you do best
• An amazing wellbeing offering to support your physical, mental, spiritual, and financial health
• Volunteering opportunities to work closer with local communities and charities
• Alongside an array of benefits and perks all nicely packaged on our CP Pay & Perks platform

We know everyone performs their best when they feel welcomed and supported to bring their whole selves to work. As an equal opportunities’ employer, we will work with you to ensure you have all you need to achieve your best.

Get in touch if you have any questions about our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion or about accessibility/accommodations during your application process.

A note for recruitment agencies…

Agencies, we love you… but unsolicited CV’s will not be honoured. We will only accept CV submissions for roles briefed to you by our Talent Acquisition team.

If you would be interested in working with us – please send a message to a member of our Talent Acquisition team, should we have anything we need additional support on we will reach out to you.