Principal Consultant – M&A, Integration & Strategic Operations

We are seeking a Principal Consultant at CFHS! 

Core Responsibilities
Client Delivery & Billable Work (Primary Focus)
• Serve as a day-to-day engagement lead on M&A and strategic growth engagements, supporting CFHS team members and client executive teams through mergers, acquisitions, and affiliations with explicit confidentiality
• Manage due diligence workstreams, including:
   Diligence Checklist project management
   Facilitating a regular meeting cadence between clients and CFHS SMEs
   Managing communication planning process for clients
   Problem solving and maintaining positive relationships between clients
   Providing detailed meeting minutes and project overview reports
   Flagging any issues of concern to the CFHS team regarding deal flow
• Coordinate diligence timelines, document requests, interview schedules, and synthesis of findings
• Translate diligence outputs into actionable recommendations and decision-ready materials
• Support and help design post-transaction integration plans, including:
   Organizational and leadership alignment
   HR and workforce transition considerations
   Supporting SMEs in process, policy, and systems integration
• Provide HR-related advisory support during transactions, including workforce planning, leadership transitions, and change implications
• Develop and support internal and external communication plans for executives, boards, and staff
• Participate in executive-level meetings and working sessions
• Consistently meet or exceed monthly billable hour expectations

Merakey Back-Office Relationship Management (Designated Responsibility)
• Serve as the primary point of contact between CFHS and Merakey for back-office services, specifically:
   Human Resources
   Information Technology
   Legal
• Coordinate requests, timelines, and deliverables across Merakey service teams
• Ensure CFHS needs are clearly articulated, prioritized, and resolved in a timely manner
• Escalate issues appropriately and proactively manage dependencies
• Maintain clarity around roles, responsibilities, and service expectations between CFHS and Merakey
• Support leadership in maintaining strong, professional, and efficient partner relationships

Internal Firm Support & Leadership
• Support internal CFHS initiatives, including:
   Engagement management and internal coordination
   Development and refinement of tools, templates, and frameworks
   Internal process documentation and improvement
• Mentor junior consultants and support quality assurance across deliverables
• Serve as a trusted internal resource on complex client matters
• Uphold CFHS standards for white-glove client experience, responsiveness, and professionalism

Success Factors
• Ability to maintain high billable utilization while managing internal operational responsibilities
• Strong synthesis and executive-level communication skills
• Practical, solutions-oriented mindset
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and managing multiple priorities
• Trusted relationship builder internally and externally

Work Structure
• Primarily client-facing and billable role with defined utilization expectations
• Mix of remote work, virtual meetings, and limited travel
• Entrepreneurial environment with exposure to senior-level strategic engagement

Earn $125,000 annually. 

Benefits

Merakey offers generous benefits that promote well-being, financial security, and work-life balance, including:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus access to healthcare advocacy support.
• Retirement plan -- both pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) options available for employee contributions.