M&A Senior Manager

Introduction

Dentsu is an integrated growth and transformation partner to the world’s leading organizations. Founded in 1901 in Tokyo, Japan, and now present in over 145 countries and regions, it has a proven track record of nurturing and developing innovations, combining the talents of its global network of leadership brands to develop impactful and integrated growth solutions for clients. Dentsu delivers end-to-end experience transformation (EX) by integrating its services across Media, CXM and Creative, while its business transformation (BX) mindset pushes the boundaries of transformation and sustainable growth for brands, people and society.

We’re hiring an M&A Senior Manager to work from our office in London

 Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced M&A Senior Manager to lead complex transactions and support the development of the company’s inorganic growth strategy. This role requires a strong blend of strategic thinking, financial acumen, and cross-functional leadership to drive successful execution of acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and other investment structures.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy and Pipeline Development

• Collaborate with senior leadership to define and refine the M&A strategy aligned with corporate objectives.
• Identify and assess potential acquisition, divestment, JV, and internal investment opportunities.
• Maintain and manage a dynamic deal pipeline, including market scanning, target profiling, and strategic fit assessments.
• Support strategic reviews and portfolio optimization initiatives.

2. Transaction Management

• Lead end-to-end execution of M&A transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures.
• Assemble and manage cross-functional deal teams across Legal, Tax, Finance, HR, and Operations.
• Oversee due diligence processes, ensuring comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation planning.
• Drive negotiation of key deal terms, working closely with internal stakeholders and external advisors.

3. Financial Analysis & Modelling

• Build and review complex financial models to evaluate investment opportunities, including DCF, market comps, and accretion/dilution analyses.
• Conduct synergy assessments and scenario planning to support strategic decision-making.
• Develop robust investment cases and valuation materials for executive and board-level review.
• Provide financial insights to support negotiations and deal structuring.

4. Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal corporate functions throughout the transaction lifecycle.
• Liaise with target company management, external advisors (including accountants, lawyers, consultants), and regulatory bodies.

5. Post-Closing Support

• Provide ongoing support for post-closing activities including earn-outs, deferred payments, and legal restructurings.

Skills/Qualifications 

• Relevant accounting or banking certifications preferred
• Accounting or Finance experience, preferably from a Big 4 Accounting firm, investment bank or similar institution, preferably working in the media and technology sectors.
• Past experience in Mergers and Acquisition and managing transactions is critical.
• Experience working in the media sector a plus
• Strong analytical skills and experience working with financial models
• Proven ability to interact with people at all levels of an organization, fostering strong cross-functional teamwork and results
• Strategic thinking ability with balanced analytical and creative approach
• High-level proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook

What we offer

• This is a permanent role 

• The team is based in London and work on a hybrid basis
• As well as a competitive salary, you’ll enjoy a benefits package that you can tailor to your needs. 

 Inclusion and Diversity

At dentsu, we embrace diversity and inclusion, valuing the unique perspectives and contributions of every individual. We believe that diversity fuels creativity and innovation, benefiting our employees, partners, and communities.

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic. Beyond recruitment, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.

We recognize the importance of work-life balance and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements for all roles. If you need reasonable adjustments due to a disability or medical condition during our recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected], quoting the reference number of the role that you are applying for. Your needs will be handled with respect and confidentiality to ensure an inclusive and accessible experience.