VP, Corporate Development

Company Overview: 

YA is a professional services platform providing consulting, engineering, and related services to clients around the world. Since its inception, YA has expanded through organic growth and strategic acquisitions, and now has over 700 professionals dedicated to excellence, teamwork and driving for innovation.

Summary: 

The VP, Corporate Development will partner with the Head of Corporate Development to identify, evaluate, and execute strategic acquisition opportunities. This role will regularly collaborate with executive management to participate in setting acquisition criteria, leading the search for acquisition targets, and conducting due diligence. This role will serve as the main point of contact with potential acquisition targets, draft offers, and play a significant role in shaping the company's accretive growth strategy.  

Role & Responsibilities

Acquisition Target Screening and Outreach:

• Collaborates with Head of Corporate Development and key leadership to define and refine the criteria for acquisition targets.
• Lead acquisition sourcing initiatives, including:
• • Building and maintaining a list of qualified acquisition targets, populating key data.
  • Developing and cultivating relationships with business owners on the target list.
  • Establishing and maintaining connections with potential sources of add-on deal flow.
  • Attending relevant industry conferences and events to find and build relationships with potential acquisition targets.

Initial Acquisition Diligence:

• Prepare and present initial analysis packages, including financial analysis and a business case, highlighting merits, concerns, and questions to the executive management.
• Develop diligence packages, including view on potential synergies, pro forma earnings assessment, and valuation.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with acquisition targets for diligence requests and inquiries.
• Draft indications of interest and letters of intent for prospective acquisitions.
• Facilitate seamless sharing of gathered information.
• Share findings and details with Executive Team as appropriate.

Post – LOI diligence:

• Develop target-specific, detailed analysis packages, presenting merits, concerns, and questions to management.
• Negotiate term sheets and purchase agreements on behalf of the company.
• Act as the primary point of contact and project manager with acquisition targets, third-party providers, lenders, and the Executive Team for diligence-related requests and inquiries.
• Coordinate with the integration management team on diligence and documentation workstreams.

Other Responsibilities:

• Cultivate a deep understanding of our business and portfolio of services.
• Foster strong relationships across the organization.
• Proactively manage pipeline and multiple deals simultaneously.
• Monitor relevant industry M&A activity.
• Perform detailed competitor analysis to understand the full scope of potential service offerings and prepare matrices to identify the most promising opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, or relevant field required.
• 5+ years’ experience in corporate development, investment banking, private equity, or related M&A sourcing and/or execution roles.
• Strong analytical, accounting, and financial modeling skills.
• Exceptional project management and communication abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
• Extensive knowledge of industry trends and M&A landscape.
• Willingness to travel.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail.