M&A Senior Analyst

This role exists to help deliver PA Media Group's growth ambitions by identifying, assessing and shaping acquisition opportunities that strengthen our capabilities, expand our reach, and create long‑term value. Our strategy has focused on diversification and growth through acquisitions, expanding the Group from a traditional news agency into a broad‑based media and data organisation. As M&A Senior Analyst, you will play a critical role in shaping the next phase of that strategy.

Working as part of the strategy team, you will combine market research, competitive intelligence and early‑stage deal sourcing to underpin our M&A pipeline. Your analysis will directly inform strategic decision‑making, help identify opportunities for expansion, and support PA Media's ongoing ambition to grow through targeted, value‑enhancing acquisitions aligned to our future vision. The role provides great end‑to‑end deal exposure, full ownership of the M&A pipeline for key growth sectors and excellent opportunities to interact with and influence our senior leadership team, with strong career progression options.

Our immediate M&A focus is on opportunities within the Sports Data and Media Intelligence markets, where we see strong strategic alignment, growth potential, and opportunities to enhance our data and insight capabilities.

PA Media Group is the UK's leading provider of cross‑platform news, information, and data services. For over 150 years we have been trusted to deliver fast, accurate content to media, brands, and businesses across the UK and internationally. Today, we are a diversified media, data, and services group, bringing together a portfolio of businesses that includes breaking news, data, imagery, video streaming, social media services, and specialist content solutions, all with the common purpose of building trust in news, data and content.

Joining PA Media Group means contributing to an organisation that is evolving for the future. This role will play a key role in supporting strategic acquisitions to strengthen our business for the long term.

• Conduct market landscaping including sizing, segmentation, growth forecasting, and competitive mapping.
• Undertake desk research and build intelligence on target sectors and specific M&A opportunities, with particular emphasis on Sports Data and Media Intelligence markets.
• Build and maintain databases of potential targets, benchmarks, and valuation metrics.
• Monitor third‑party M&A activity, deal multiples, and sector valuation trends.
• Perform initial assessments of potential acquisitions against our strategic and financial criteria.
• Support early‑stage due diligence and identify potential synergy opportunities.
• Contribute to deal pricing analysis based on market indicators and risk factors.
• Prepare summaries, dashboards, and presentations for senior leadership, ensuring insights can be acted upon.
• Collaborate closely with business units, finance, and the executive team to align intelligence with strategic priorities.
• You’ll be a commercially minded analyst who will thrive in a senior analyst role supporting strategic growth through M&A.

• Experience in market research, intelligence, corporate development, consulting, or investment banking.
• Strong desk‑research skills with the ability to synthesise complex information.
• Good analytical ability, including familiarity with financial modelling and valuation principles.
• A solid understanding of the M&A process and deal‑making fundamentals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence to present insights to senior stakeholders.
• Genuine curiosity about markets, business models, and identifying what creates value.
• Media or betting sector experience is a bonus but not essential.

• Competitive salary and annual bonus
• 5 weeks' holiday plus 8 public holidays, with the option to buy 5 days.
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Enhanced parental leave
• Company pension
• Wellbeing day and volunteering day annually.