Mergers and Acquisition (M&A) Manager

About the BusinessQuilter plc is a leading wealth management business, helping to enable brighter financial futures for every generation. Quilter oversees 141.9 billion in customer investments (as of March 2026). It has an adviser and customer offering spanning financial advice, investment platforms, multi-asset investment solutions, and discretionary fund management. The business is comprised of two segments: Affluent and High Net Worth.Affluent encompasses the financial planning business, Quilter Financial Planning, the Quilter Investment Platform and Quilter Investors, the multi-asset investment solutions business. High Net Worth includes the discretionary fund management business, Quilter Cheviot, together with Quilter Cheviot Financial Planning – offering a highly personalised service to private clients, charities, trustees, and professional partners. Our foundations are rooted in our extraordinary expertise, which is trusted by hundreds of thousands of customers, but we have great ambitions to stay one step ahead and make an even greater difference to the people and communities we serve, including our colleagues. Our business is transforming, continually modernising, and becoming even more customer centric. As M&A Director, you will lead our acquisition and investment activity across the UK wealth management market, identifying opportunities that accelerate growth, strengthen our market position and create long-term value for Quilter, our shareholders and the businesses we partner with.You will build and maintain a high-quality pipeline of acquisition, investment and partnership opportunities, developing relationships with founders, principals, advisers and other key market participants. Working closely with senior stakeholders across the business, you will lead transactions from origination through to completion, including valuation, due diligence, structuring, negotiation and execution.You will be responsible for ensuring every investment is strategically aligned, commercially robust and appropriately governed, presenting recommendations to Executive Committee, Investment Committee and Board-level stakeholders. Beyond deal execution, you will oversee portfolio performance and post-acquisition integration, ensuring transactions deliver their intended value and support Quilter's long-term ambitions.Developing and maintaining a strong pipeline of acquisition, investment and partnership opportunities.Building senior relationships across the market, including business owners, founders, advisers and intermediaries.Leading valuation, financial analysis, due diligence and business case development.Presenting investment recommendations and transaction updates to senior governance forums.Ensuring acquisitions and investments align with Quilter's strategy, governance standards and risk appetite.Providing oversight of post-acquisition integration and value creation activities.Acting as a trusted adviser to senior leadership on market opportunities, investment decisions and strategic growthAbout YouYou are a commercially minded M&A leader who combines strategic thinking with a strong track record of delivering complex transactions. Significant experience in M&A, corporate development, private equity, investment banking or corporate finance, ideally within wealth management or regulated financial services.A strong understanding of the UK wealth management market, including adviser businesses, consolidators, recurring revenue models and AUM-driven economics.The ability to assess opportunities through both a strategic and commercial lens, supported by strong financial analysis and valuation expertise.Experience presenting recommendations and influencing decisions at Executive Committee, Investment Committee and Board level.Strong commercial judgement, with the ability to assess opportunity, value creation potential and risk in complex investment scenarios.Experience of practice buy-outs, management buy-outs or minority investment structures would be advantageous.Governance & Regulatory ResponsibilityAs a senior leader within a regulated business, you will be expected to uphold the highest standards of governance, risk management and regulatory compliance. You will ensure all investment and acquisition activity is conducted within Quilter's governance framework and risk appetite, working closely with Risk, Compliance, Legal and Finance to support robust decision-making throughout the transaction lifecycle.The role may be subject to Senior Manager or Certification requirements and may involve representing Quilter on the boards of acquired or investee businesses. LI-DQ1Inclusion & DiversityWe value diversity and strive to promote inclusivity in all aspects of our culture. We act with integrity and are proudly committed to going above and beyond in service of our clients and the support we provide our communities.Combining our diverse talents, we accomplish more collectively than we ever could do alone. Core Benefits Holiday: 182 hours (26 days)Quilter Incentive Scheme: All employees are eligible to participate in incentive scheme, to incentivise business performance and their contribution.Pension Scheme: A non-contributory company pension scheme that can be boosted through personal contributions.Private Medical Insurance: Single cover as standard with options to increase cover to include your partner or children.Life Assurance: 4x your salary.Healthcare Cash Plan: Jersey employees onlyIn addition to our core benefits, we offer a range of flexible benefits to UK employees that you can choose from and pay for conveniently via a salary deduction.SummaryLocation: LondonType: Full time