M&A Senior Associate

Corporate finance in Southampton

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In a nutshell

Our multi-award-winning, market-leading Corporate Finance team continues to thrive, offering an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to kick-start their career in Corporate Finance.

The team provides expert advice on a range of transactions, fundraisings, and valuations, while offering strategic guidance to management teams and shareholders. With transactions typically ranging from £1m to £100m, our projects increasingly involve international collaboration through the global PKF network.

The team are consistently rated the most active dealmakers in our region having advised on over 100 completed deals every year. Discover the latest transactions by browsing our recent deals, and 2025 Deals Review.

What you'll be doing day to day

Support the M&A team in delivering a variety of assignments for UK-based clients
Assist with M&A, valuation, and advisory projects, including:
- Preparing materials for client pitches and presentations
- Engaging investors and exploring new market opportunities
- Analysing data to produce quality marketing documents
- Coordinating responses to client queries and addressing issues proactively
- Evaluating bids and providing input to ensure competitive outcomes
Develop financial models in Excel to support transactions or valuations
Conduct market research to understand industry trends and regulatory developments
Collaborate with senior team members to support project delivery
Contribute to business development, assisting with proposals and attending client meetings

About you

Ideally ACA qualified or nearing qualification (or equivalent)
Analytical thinker, eager to learn and deliver value to clients
Strong communicator, capable of working effectively with both internal and external stakeholders
Organised and self-motivated, able to manage time efficiently and meet deadlines
Quick learner, adaptable to new challenges and capable of synthesising information rapidly
Team player, willing to support colleagues and contribute to the success of the Corporate Finance team
Keen to develop report writing skills and produce high-quality documentation

Why work at PKF Francis Clark

As the largest firm of independent chartered accountants and business advisors in South West England, joining PKF Francis Clark brings opportunities to develop your career in a direction that interests you.

Having celebrated our centenary in 2019, we’re a team of nearly 1,000 people, based across our offices in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro.

Our culture is flexible and supportive, enabling you to be the best you can be. We work hard to ensure you can be yourself, develop and be part of a forward-thinking team that makes brilliant things happen. But don’t just take our word for it.

PKF Francis Clark is certified as a Great Place to Work. In 2024, we climbed nine places to 24 out of 105 large organisations on the list of the UK’s Best Workplaces.

We’re also ranked among the UK’s Best Workplaces for Women (33 out of 90 large organisations), Best Workplaces for Development (30 out of 100) and Best Workplace for Wellbeing (44 out of 100).

Workplace culture experts Great Place to Work also highlighted PKF Francis Clark as a top achiever among the UK’s Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services.

And in recognition of our outstanding training programmes for graduates, school leavers and career changers, we’ve been ranked among England’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for two years running.

Whilst we’re proudly independent, PKF Francis Clark is a member of the PKF Global family of firms – together we’re the 12th largest provider of accountancy services in the UK. Being part of a global community of business advisors in 150 countries provides opportunities to expand your horizons by connecting with PKF colleagues around the world.

Your core benefits

Financial benefits:
• Pension
• Group life assurance - up to four times your core salary
• Group income protection
• Health cash plan to help cover the costs of everyday healthcare

Health & Wellbeing benefits:
• Option to buy 5 extra days holiday*
• Counselling and support for you and your immediate family
• Virtual GP for you and your immediate family
• Cycle to work*

Other benefits:
• Medicash Extras providing you with shopping and gym discounts
• Gifts for career and family milestones
• One volunteering day per year to support local organisations
• Emergency funding from the Francis Clark Charitable Foundation

Please note
* These benefits are provided via a salary exchange and are subject to employee’s post exchange hourly rate remaining above the national minimum wage.

What happens next

To apply for the M&A Senior Associate role click the ‘Apply now’ button below.

If you don't have an up-to-date CV or if you would like an informal chat about the role before applying then please contact Gemma Rid on: [email protected].

Apply now

PKF Francis Clark is an Equal Opportunities employer with a strong and passionate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We’re dedicated to fostering a work environment that supports, inspires, and respects all individuals. We do not discriminate based upon age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and all aspects of employment at PKF Francis Clark are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments or accommodations for applicants, so if you need assistance or support during the recruitment process please let us know. We promise to reply to all applications.