M&a accountant

This job is with St. James's Place, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.

About the role:

Partner Finance is a core driver of the Partnership's long-term growth and sustainability, responsible for delivering the Business Sale and Purchase (BSP) scheme and wider lending solutions that support Partner businesses at every stage of their lifecycle. From funding growth and acquisitions to enabling succession and exit, Partner Finance plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Partnership.

This role sits within the Partner Finance Consultancy function, at the heart of the division. You'll work closely with teams across operations, corporate finance, risk, compliance, regulation and change, as well as engaging directly with senior stakeholders across the Partnership, giving you exposure to a broad, highly collaborative and commercially significant environment.

The Consultancy team supports Partner businesses across the wider Partnership, providing strategic financial guidance on growth, succession and ownership transitions. In this role, your focus will be on our Large Business unit, where you'll work closely with more complex and established firms, supporting them through significant events such as expansion, acquisitions and ownership change.

You will advocate BSP policies and procedures, providing expert lending and structuring guidance while assessing the viability of both current and future financing needs. Working alongside specialists across Partner Finance and senior decision-makers, you'll help structure solutions that enable growth, facilitate ownership transitions, and support Partners at critical moments in their business journey.

What you will be doing:

• Partner with some of our largest and most complex businesses to shape and structure high-value deals, providing expert guidance on lending, accounting and financial frameworks
• Lead and support Business Sale & Purchase (BSP) transactions end-to-end, working directly with Partners through a blend of in-person and virtual engagement
• Take ownership of complex transactions such as Management Buy-Ins and Buy-Outs, acting as the key conduit between buyers, sellers and their external advisers
• Collaborate with Corporate Finance, Tax and Treasury teams, as well as external legal and financial advisers, to deliver well-structured and commercially robust outcomes
• Build strong, trusted relationships across senior stakeholders and specialist teams, enabling effective decision-making and driving the best commercial outcomes
• Act as a trusted consultant across the Partnership, championing lending and financial policies while ensuring consistent, commercial application in practice
• Contribute to the ongoing evolution of Partner Finance policies, bringing fresh thinking and proactive approaches to risk management
• Help shape and grow the BSP proposition by delivering successful deals and finding opportunities to improve processes, including using technology to enhance efficiency and speed
• Work closely with regional teams to identify, manage and call out risk across Partner businesses, ensuring issues are addressed proactively and effectively

Who we're looking for:

We're looking for a commercially minded and relationship-focused professional who thrives on working with senior stakeholders and supporting Partners through complex and often pivotal moments in their business journey.

You'll bring strong experience in relationship management, with the ability to build trust and guide Partners through growth, succession and transaction processes with confidence and credibility. You'll be comfortable influencing at a senior level, using your consultancy skills to shape outcomes, challenge constructively and support informed decision-making.

You'll have a strong foundation in Corporate Finance, with the ability to understand and navigate complex transactions and financial structures. Alongside this, you'll bring excellent communication and presentation skills, with the presence and gravitas to engage effectively with senior audiences.

You'll also have experience leading or developing individuals or small teams, creating an environment where people can perform at their best. A proactive approach to developing your own technical expertise and staying ahead in a constantly evolving landscape will be key to your success in the role.

Essential Criteria:

• A recognised Accountancy, Tax or Legal qualification
• Strong professional experience in Corporate Finance, with exposure to transactions and financial structuring
• Proven stakeholder management and influencing skills, with confidence presenting to senior audiences
• An understanding of FCA regulatory requirements and the role of a Partner Practice business (or similar environment)
• Experience managing and developing individuals or teams
• Demonstrable commitment to building and maintaining technical expertise required for the role
• Willingness to travel as required to support Partners and business needs