Corporate Finance Manager

Corporate Finance Manager
Eclipse Corporate Finance | Healthcare M&A
Hybrid, Batsford Estate, near Moreton-in-Marsh
Eclipse Corporate Finance is a specialist M&A advisory firm focused exclusively on the UK healthcare sector.
Founded in 2019, we advise the owners and management teams of healthcare businesses on company sales, private equity investments and management buyouts. We deliberately work with only a small number of clients at any one time, allowing us to provide senior, hands-on advice throughout each transaction.
We are now looking to recruit a Corporate Finance Manager to join the business and become a key member of our deal team.
This is not a heavily layered corporate finance role. You will work directly with the firm's Managing Director and have meaningful responsibility across transactions from an early stage. For the right person, the role offers the opportunity to develop quickly into someone capable of taking substantial ownership of live M&A processes.
The role
The role will principally involve advising owner-managed healthcare businesses on sell-side M&A transactions, typically from initial preparation through to completion.
Your responsibilities will include:
* preparing Information Memoranda and other transaction marketing materials;
* analysing financial and operational information and helping develop the investment case and equity story;
* preparing and maintaining financial databooks and supporting analysis;
* researching, identifying and assessing potential strategic and private equity acquirers;
* preparing buyer lists and supporting confidential buyer approaches;
* helping manage buyer engagement and transaction processes;
* reviewing indicative offers and supporting valuation and comparative analysis;
* preparing materials for management presentations and other buyer meetings;
* coordinating due diligence and managing buyer information requests;
* working closely with clients, lawyers, accountants, private equity investors and other advisers throughout the transaction process;
* helping manage transaction timetables and ensuring workstreams continue to move forward; and
* contributing to sector research and business development activity where appropriate.
As you become familiar with Eclipse's approach, we would expect you to take increasing ownership of transaction execution, while the Managing Director remains closely involved in client relationships, negotiation and key strategic decisions.
The person
We are specifically looking for somebody with direct lead advisory corporate finance experience gained within an advisory or accountancy practice.
You should already understand how a sell-side M&A process works and have practical experience of contributing to transactions through preparation, marketing, buyer engagement, due diligence and completion.
Experience solely within audit, transaction services, financial due diligence or an in-house corporate development team will not, on its own, provide the lead advisory experience required for this role.
We would expect you to:
* be a qualified chartered accountant, most likely ACA, CA or ACCA;
* have direct experience working in a lead advisory corporate finance or M&A team;
* have worked on sell-side transactions;
* have experience preparing Information Memoranda and other client-facing transaction materials;
* be commercially minded and numerate;
* be capable of analysing a business and understanding the key drivers of value;
* be comfortable dealing directly with business owners, senior executives, investors and advisers;
* be able to manage multiple workstreams and changing priorities;
* demonstrate strong attention to detail without allowing perfectionism to slow progress unnecessarily;
* be comfortable taking ownership of tasks rather than waiting for detailed instructions; and
* be interested in using technology and AI to improve the quality and efficiency of transaction work.
Written communication
Exceptional written English is essential.
A significant part of this role involves preparing client-facing materials, particularly Information Memoranda, buyer correspondence, transaction updates and other written analysis.
We therefore need somebody who can take complex financial, commercial and operational information and communicate it clearly, accurately and persuasively.
This is not a role where poor drafting can simply be corrected by somebody else before material reaches the client. We are looking for somebody capable of producing high-quality written work in their own right.
Working style
Corporate finance is not always a predictable 9-to-5 profession.
We have no interest in creating a culture of unnecessary late nights, presenteeism or working long hours for the sake of it. We believe people should work efficiently and have considerable autonomy over how they organise their time.
There will, however, be periods during live transactions when deadlines move, clients require something urgently, meetings need to be rearranged at short notice or additional hours are required to get a transaction across the line.
We therefore need somebody who is professionally flexible and prepared to take responsibility when a transaction genuinely requires it.
We believe that flexibility should work both ways. When workloads permit, we have no desire to dictate unnecessary office hours simply for the sake of appearances.
Location and hybrid working
The role is deliberately hybrid.
Our office is based on the Batsford Estate, near Moreton-in-Marsh in the Cotswolds, and we would normally expect you to work with us there approximately one day per week.
Particularly during the first few months, we may spend more time working together in person while you become familiar with our approach, clients and processes.
The remainder of the working week can principally be undertaken remotely. This can be from home or, where appropriate, we would be happy to discuss providing access to a suitable co-working space.
There will also be travel elsewhere in the UK for client meetings, management presentations, meetings with potential acquirers and other transaction requirements.
We are therefore looking for somebody comfortable working independently while also recognising that regular face-to-face time is important in a small advisory team.
Why Eclipse?
This role is likely to suit somebody who enjoys corporate finance but wants something different from a traditional large-firm environment.
You will have:
* substantial exposure to business owners and senior decision-makers;
* direct involvement across the entire M&A process rather than one small part of it;
* the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of transactions;
* close working relationships with experienced advisers rather than multiple layers of hierarchy;
* exposure to private equity investors and strategic acquirers across the UK healthcare sector;
* considerable autonomy over how you organise your working week;
* a modern approach to technology and AI, with an emphasis on working intelligently rather than simply working longer hours; and
* the opportunity to join a specialist advisory firm at a stage when we intend to continue growing.
We are not trying to build the largest corporate finance firm.
Our objective is to build a small, high-quality team capable of advising a limited number of healthcare businesses exceptionally well, while creating a business that can grow without compromising the quality or personal nature of the advice we provide.
Remuneration
Competitive salary, dependent on experience, together with a performance-related bonus.
Location
Hybrid, with regular attendance at our office at the Batsford Estate, near Moreton-in-Marsh.
Right to work
Applicants must already have the unrestricted right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship