KPMG's Operations in M&A Team is a growing and dynamic team. We work with both vendors and acquirers on mergers, acquisitions, divestments, exits and joint ventures, both pre and post-deal. We bring the Operational focus and expertise to work with other teams in five key proposition areas:
- Operational Diligence: Supporting our clients, from an operational perspective, to conduct sell-side (Vendor) and buy-side due diligence. Working closely with our teams in Financial Due Diligence and/or Value Creation.
- Separation: Supporting vendors to plan and deliver a credible, discrete standalone entity to the Buyer with value preserved and business continuity in place from Day 1, including supporting the definition and implementation of transitional service agreements.
- Integration: Pre and post deal integration design, planning and implementation to integrate the target business into the Buyer's organisation whilst mitigating risk and enhancing value.
- Synergies: Understanding the potential benefits and costs generated through a proposed transaction, and the associated plans, interdependencies, risks and issues for the delivery of base and stretch case targets.
- Joint Ventures: Helping respective partners ensure the key value considerations are identified and prioritised early and delivered through the associated business plan, leveraging each party's specific contribution and capabilities and managing broader stakeholder relationships.Role Overview
The role of an Associate Director (AD) focuses on leading the Operational aspects of an Integration/ Separation or Diligence engagement at deal pace and delivering high quality client work. Working in a transaction environment which may be pre or post deal, and can range from early planning, developing summary or fully detailed and costed "blueprint plans", planning for Day 1, planning post deal implementation, 'Operational "Red- flag" and full Diligence reporting. This will include:
- Producing and overseeing development of the initial and final draft updates, outputs and deliverables to required timescale and ahead of Partner / Director review.
- Leading client interactions and updates around the deliverables and outputs of an Integration/ Separation or Diligence engagement.
- Having a detailed understanding of the Operations of a business across all functional areas and understanding the interdependencies between organisations and the transaction workstreams.
- Having deep operational industry experience in at least one industry sector, eg. Industrials, Consumer, TMT. etc.
- Closely working with a respective Director/Partner on an engagement developing engagement strategy, budget, delivery plan etc.
- Leading any wider KPMG teams on an engagement in accordance with scope agreed with the respective Director/Partner.Role Requirements - Leadership & Management:
- As an AD typically performs one of the leading roles on an engagement, the role on an engagement is seen as a leadership role modelling right behaviours to the team.
- An AD is expected to be challenging our people to be curious and innovative on all engagements and internal work and supportive for each other. At the same time ensuring that all outcomes are commercially focussed, value adding and effectively executed.
- Individuals are expected to actively contribute to developing pitches, proposals and external market initiatives which help us to win new work as well as look out and help to convert new opportunities on existing engagements.Stakeholder Interaction & Challenges:
- Demonstrate credibility and experience to advise and deliver on complex I&S deals (involving teams from I&S, DA and the wider firm).
- Acts as Engagement Manager for Operational elements of I&S projects and for the Operational elements of Diligence or Value Creation engagements.
- Acts as primary point of contact for the client across Operational aspects of the engagement.
- Challenges client appropriately to ensure team size and timelines are appropriate for successful delivery of scope.
- Proactively understands client expectations and how the KPMG team can add value.
- Manages stakeholders (internal and external) to minimise reputation risk on live engagements.
- Takes full ownership for delivering high quality client deliverables and provides day-to-day leadership for the team on the ground.
- Deploys I&S and DA technology on their projects, to reduce cost and improve client delivery where appropriate.Impact, Risk, Accountability & Governance:
- Applies commercial mind-set to pricing and engagement profitability, whilst using professional judgement to protect the reputation of the firm.
- Focused on managing engagement profitability (not just focused on top line revenue), consistently applies a commercial mind-set to pricing and engagement profitability.
- Proactively delivers "Sentinel", Client and Engagement acceptance activities, to manage the risk as guides by the Firms risk procedures.
- Raises timely invoices.
- Proactively manages WIP and Provisioning.
- Consults proactively and appropriately with P&D in relation to engagement risk management (escalating items to the Risk register as necessary).
- Actively coaches and oversees engagement team members on engagement risk activities, delegating appropriately whilst taking responsibility.Experience Required
Essential:
- Experience working within a Deals/M&A environment, ideally within the Diligence and Integration & Separation functions.
- Ideal candidate would have previous experience in consulting as well as industry. The latter needing to be in an operational capacity as 'Line Management'.
- Experience of leading teams and developing individuals
- Comfort and familiarity with analysis of financial reports, management accounts and operational reporting. CIMA qualified preferred.
- Demonstrate curiosity and innovation, striving for continuous improvement, exercising professional judgement and making a positive and lasting impact.
Desirable:
- Professional qualifications, eg. CIMA, Lean, etc.
- Possess a genuine interest in building and commercialising relationships having the ability to interact with our clients on a consultative manner as a trusted advisor.
Expertise / Technical Role Requirements
An understanding of the market drivers, challenges and opportunities impacting our client's strategies and priorities, enabling them to position solutions and ideas which take these into account to develop their Operational strategies.

Skills Required
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to demonstrate personal impact, flexibility, drive and commitment.
- Strong Financial acumen.
- Detailed Operational knowledge of one or more supply chain disciplines (NPD, S&OP, manufacturing, logistics, etc)
- Detailed Operational knowledge supporting the value drivers of one or more industrial sectors (Industrial, Consumer, TMT, etc)
- Presentation (oral and written).
- Strong client relationship skills.
- Analysis and problem solving.
- Report writing.[For internal use only, delete for external:] To find out more about this role please contact Stephen Rigby