Director - Deal Strategy & Commercial Due Diligence - Retail, Consumer & Leisure (Strategy Consulting)

Our global consulting client's Strategy function continues to grow at pace and they are seeking someone exceptional to take a senior leadership role in their Retail, Consumer and Leisure team. This person will have significant commercial due diligence, deal strategy and private equity experience, however our client also values people with additional experience in propositions such as growth strategy, cost and operational strategy and enterprise wide transformation.

Exceptional senior managers / associate directors can be taken in to consideration for this position.

Role and responsibilities

• Have existing client relationships, particularly with the UK/European Private Equity and M&A community, which reinforce the team’s credibility and generate project opportunities – extensive experience of M&A related projects will be critical, eg Commercial DD, M&A Strategy, Value creation, etc.
• Take responsibility for client relationships and act as a key contact point for those clients.
• Have the ability to anticipate, understand and articulate client requirements – in advance of and during projects.
• Demonstrate excellent communications skills – in written, slide and other reporting formats as well as verbal communications in informal and more formal situations.
• Lead the presentation of findings to senior clients and be comfortable in challenging the thinking of both clients and more senior Firm colleagues.
• Design and run large, complex projects, delivering to client requirements whilst acting as primary client liaison and be an 'ambassador' for the firm.
• With limited input, guide the team to client-ready deliverables that exceed expectations and require minimal review.
• Support and test/review the design and execution of complex analyses to ensure these are credible and accurate.
• Identify go-to-market, thought-leadership and marketing opportunities to lead on, and take responsibility for taking these to clients.
• Actively seek out leadership opportunities, take responsibility for a selection of internal processes and generally act as a leader in the S&PT and an inspiration to more junior team members.
• Take overarching responsibility that the firm's risk management frameworks are adhered to, by identifying and reviewing any key judgements – but also consulting with other senior staff members as appropriate.
• Demonstrable experience working in a leading strategy consulting business, Big 4 firm or strategy / Corporate Development team in industry.
• Strong foundational understanding of the value drivers across the broadly defined Consumer sector: Consumer Goods, Retail & Travel & Leisure businesses – and clear view on how these sectors are likely to evolve going forward.
• Experience of leading mid-sized and large projects: designing work plans, team structures and then managing these to (i) excellent client output and (ii) strong project economics.
• This should include an extensive coverage of recent M&A transactions, eg CDD, VDD, M&A Strategy or Value Creation projects in the Consumer sector.
• Ability to independently generate sales opportunities and maintain strong client relationships.
• Initiating marketing and sales efforts, proposals, scopes and pricing for mid-sized and large consulting assignments.
• Acting as the source of new business development initiatives and taking these from idea, through design and execution all the way to clients.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with team members and broader (internal and external) stakeholders.
• Strong track record of building followership among more junior staff members.
• Non-client facing roles in taking on internal responsibilities on topics like team management, technical tool insight, liaison with service suppliers, etc.

Qualifications

• Significant commercial due diligence, deal strategy and private equity experience.
• Experience leading mid-sized and large projects: designing work plans, team structures and managing client output and project economics.
• Strong foundational understanding of value drivers across the Consumer sector (Consumer Goods, Retail, Travel & Leisure) and how these sectors are likely to evolve.
• Experience with M&A related projects including CDD, VDD, M&A Strategy or Value Creation in the Consumer sector.
• Proven ability to independently generate sales opportunities and maintain client relationships; experience in initiating marketing and sales efforts, proposals, scopes and pricing for consulting assignments.
• Ability to work with senior clients, challenge thinking and lead discussions; excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Experience leading teams, mentoring junior staff, and acting as a trusted client liaison and internal leader.
• Understanding of risk management frameworks and ability to identify key judgements and consult with senior staff as appropriate.

London, England, United Kingdom