Associate Director - Pre-Deal Strategy, Diligence and ESG

Job Requisition ID: 35955 

• 18 weeks paid parental leave + 12 months return to work support (work 4 days and get paid 5) 
• Choice and flexibility on where, when and how you work 
• Salary packaging – to suit your personal and financial circumstances  

Do you want to assist global and Australian Private Equity funds and leading Australian corporates in their quest to invest in, transform and grow the Australian economy through strategic and ESG-focussed M&A? 

In response to the growing demand for our M&A Strategy and ESG Due Diligence services, we are looking to hire senior strategists and problem-solvers to join our team in Sydney to provide trusted commercial advice and ESG insights to our Private Equity and corporate clients. 

If you are looking to take your career to the next level and become a leading practitioner to the world of Private Equity and mergers and acquisitions, then our team provides you with the perfect opportunity: 

• We support some of Australia’s most iconic private equity funds with ESG and commercial advisory support on their acquisition targets and portfolio exits 

• We support leading Australian corporates across a range of industries, including Consumer & Retail, Health Care, Energy, Industrials and Technology on strategies to drive ESG-led growth, capability uplift, and portfolio diversification through M&A 

• We invest in our people – you will have access to experienced coaches, and global development opportunities – and we are actively fostering our next generation of leaders 

About the team 

We know that the difference for businesses between pursuing the right and the wrong transaction is huge, so whether the focus is on growth through acquisitions or increasing shareholder value through strategic divestments, we support clients to find opportunities, consider risks, and deliver their strategic objectives through M&A. 

Our M&A Consulting Services Team focuses on pre-deal strategy, identification of deal targets, ESG and commercial due diligence, and deal execution. This role will be centred on strategy, diligence and ESG, providing support for our Private Equity and corporate clients through complex deal processes, with a focus on increasing ESG-led growth and value. 

What will your typical day look like? 

You will drive the thinking of Private Equity funds and corporate clients pursuing M&A strategies, to uncover the true strategic, commercial and ESG impacts of acquisitions or divestments. You will bring an analytical point of view, structured problem solving, great consulting and communication skills, and a genuine interest in ESG/sustainability. You will lead projects and contribute your own expertise to deliver strategic advice to our clients. 

 
As a senior member of the team, you will also be involved with: 

• Advising our Private Equity and corporate clients on matters of strategy and ESG-led value creation related to their acquisition and divestment (exit) opportunities  

• Designing pre-deal strategies with clear strategy articulation, structured problem solving and strategic decision making 

• Conducting market scans and prioritisation of strategic acquisition targets centred around ESG thematics including the energy transition 

• Leading ESG due diligence for proposed transactions alongside commercial analysis and market and target assessments 

• Conducting commercial analysis of merger synergies (revenue and costs) and future upside opportunities 

• Assisting Private Equity portfolio companies in the development of ESG-led value creation plans and preparation of successful Private Equity exits 

• Leading business development, including engagement proposals and relationship development with key Private Equity clients 

• Leading practice development activities, in particular creating thought leadership and training materials 

• Coaching junior staff through your own consulting skills, ESG and sector insights and knowledge of the M&A lifecycle 

 
Enough about us, let’s talk about you. 

You are someone with: 

• Bachelor’s degree or post graduate qualification (e.g. CA / CFA / MBA) 

• 5+ years’ advisory/consulting experience, which could be from a Big 4, strategy or boutique consulting firm, investment bank, private equity fund, or from the internal strategy or corporate development function of a large organisation (this is provided as a guidance only, please don't let it limit you, if you feel you have something to add to our team) 

• Aptitude for problem solving, structured thinking and story boarding 

• Strong experience in leading due diligence, growth and corporate strategy development and/or market entry assessments  

• Strong understanding of ESG in the corporate context, including the way ESG is driving transformation in corporate strategies as well as broader headwinds and tailwinds in evolving markets 

• Appetite to work in an emerging field: ESG-led value creation in the transaction context  

• Articulate communication and confident presentation skills, including with senior client stakeholders 

• Readiness to address complex problems by leading a team to work in an organised manner 

• Confidence to run a project within an agreed timeline and/or budget, with recognition of team members’ skills and development needs, and to escalate issues if they arise 

• Demonstrated ability working in a fast-paced environment and willingness to deal with ambiguity and change 

 
Why Deloitte? 

At Deloitte, we focus our energy on interesting and impactful work. We’re always learning, innovating and setting the standard; making a positive difference to our clients and our society. We put coaching at the heart of what we do, helping our people grow their careers in any direction – whether it be up, moving into something new, or even moving across the world.   

We embrace diversity, equity and inclusion. We have a diverse collection of people from different backgrounds, with different experiences, gender identities, abilities and thinking styles. What binds us together is a shared commitment to value everyone’s perspective and to cultivate inclusion; so that our work environment is a safe space we can all belong.  

We prioritise flexibility and choice. At Deloitte, you get trust on Day 1. We know our people get their best work done when they’re in control of where and how they work, designing their work week around their client, team and personal commitments. 

We help you live and work well. To support your personal and professional life, we offer a range of perks and benefits, including retail discounts, wellbeing leave, paid volunteering days, twelve flexible working options, market-leading parental leave and return to work support package.

Next steps 

Does this sound like the sort of role for you? Apply now. 

If you’ve got any questions or wish to have a confidential conversation about this role, feel free to contact Kagiso Smouse from the Talent Acquisition team on ksmouse@deloitte.com.au or Rochel Hoffman, who leads our ESG M&A team, on rochoffman@deloitte.com.au.  

By applying for this job, you’ll be assessed against the Deloitte Talent Standards. We’ve designed these standards so that you can grow in your career, and we can provide our clients with a consistent and exceptional Deloitte employee experience globally. The preferred candidate will be subject to background screening by Deloitte or by their external third-party provider.