Head of M&A, PE Backed Software

THE SEARCH:

Altus Partners are delighted to be partnering with a software provider backed by a highly reputable Private Equity fund who require a Head of M&A. Working closely with both the C-suite and the Investors, this role will drive M&A strategy, identify acquisition opportunities, and execute transactions autonomously thereby expanding the company’s geographical presence and playing a key role in overseeing a range of high-priority strategic projects to act as a catalyst towards their inorganic and organic growth objectives.

THE ROLE:

• Execute the company's M&A strategy, focusing on identifying and evaluating acquisition targets to support revenue and EBITDA growth objectives.
• Building a rigorous pipeline of both near- and longer-term potential assets. Screening and prioritise targets based on strategic fit and actionability whilst maintaining an oversight and owning all M&A activity at the company.
• Build and maintain a strong network of advisors and industry contacts to source potential acquisition opportunities across a variety of geographies.
• Lead end-to-end transaction execution, including due diligence, negotiation, and integration planning, in collaboration with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Drive and coordinate strategic projects that support the company’s growth ambitions.
• Serve as a point person between different departments, fostering collaboration and alignment on key initiatives.
• Coordinate project execution, monitor progress, and address any issues or obstacles, to ensure timely delivery.
• Ability to build connectivity internally, recommend action, and present final recommendations (including being able to ‘push-back’) to senior management, the board and investors based on target prioritisation and strategic rationale/fit.
• Ability to lead on execution (e.g. negotiating NDAs, heads of terms, LoI etc.), to project manage advisors through a process, to build and appraise financial models. Need to be prepared to manage origination workflow independently (e.g. building profiles, modelling) given no junior origination resource beneath.

THE REQUIREMENTS:

• A minimum of 13 years of prior experience, including at least 3 in a Business Development role, and ideally from an IB/PE background prior to that. Preferably with experience in Information Services or adjacent Services/Software business model.
• Strong interpersonal skills as well as proven negotiation expertise, to be able to originate deals independently and provide fluent reports to the CEO and Board.
• Experience of having worked in a Private Equity backed corporate or environment.
• Exceptionally detail-orientated with an aptitude for synthesising large amounts of information and developing innovative solutions.
• Confident and highly credible with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels, able to establish initial relationships with vendors.
• Ideally with strong IB and industry links to ensure a holistic view of competitors, valuations, and trends.
• Willingness to be in the office at least 2-3 days per week and to travel internationally when needed.