M & A Research Analyst

The Vacancy

🔍 M&A Research Analyst – Corporate Development

📍 Location: Finsbury Park (Hybrid Working)
🌍 Scope: National
🏢 Business Unit: WPS

We’re on the lookout for a highly analytical and commercially minded M&A Research Analyst to join our Corporate Development team! 🚀 This newly created role is central to our strategic growth agenda, focusing on market expansion and mergers & acquisitions (M&A).

You’ll work closely with our Corporate Development Director to explore new and adjacent markets, identify acquisition targets, and support transaction execution. If you thrive on data, strategy, and making a real impact — we want to hear from you! 💡

🧠 What You’ll Be Doing

📊 Market Assessment & Strategy

• Perform detailed market assessments into new and adjacent markets.
• Analyse new products/services linked to growth.
• Build strategic entry plans including competitive landscape and regulatory insights.
• Conduct competitor analysis and enhance external market intelligence.

🎯 M&A Target Identification

• Build and maintain a pipeline of acquisition targets.
• Perform strategic fit assessments and develop target profiles.
• Conduct outreach with potential targets to assess suitability and build relationships
• Produce RFI’s for potential targets
• Review IM’s and make recommendations on relevant opportunities to Corp Dev Director
• Work closely with advisory network and partners

🤝 Transaction Support

• Assist the CDD on transactions and manage programmes.

• Manage Virtual Data Rooms and coordinate due diligence.
• Support integration planning and post-deal reporting.

📣 Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate across WPS teams on strategic initiatives.
• Engage with external advisors, targets, and industry experts.
• Prepare reports and presentations for senior leadership.

🧩 What You’ll Bring

• Experience in corporate development, strategy, or M&A research.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to turn data into insights.
• Confident presenter and effective communicator.
• Collaborative team player with a proactive mindset.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Comfortable working independently and in hybrid teams.
• Familiarity with market analysis tools and CRM systems is a plus.
• Proficient in Office 365 (Word, PowerPoint).
• Skilled in producing reports, board packs, and business cases.

🎓 Qualifications: Degree or equivalent experience.

🎁 What We Offer

• A strategic role at the heart of our growth journey.
• Flexible hybrid working model.
• Opportunities for professional development and leadership exposure.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant’s criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks.

To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting

Ready to shape the future of WPS? 🌟 Apply now and be part of something exciting!

Work for Wates

Wates is one of the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies.  Founded over 125 years ago, we have a proud legacy in the built environment.

We are driven by our purpose, ‘reimagining places for people to thrive’ and our three promises:

• Thriving places – working with customers, partners and communities to create places that are more sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity.
• Thriving planet – protecting nature and taking action on climate change by collaborating and innovating with our partners.
• Thriving people – creating opportunities and relationships so that everyone who works for and with us feels included, invested in and treated with care.

We are proud to be recognised as Gold Investors in People and as a Disability Confident employer.  We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.