M&A Finance Integration Lead

Job Description In this role, you will link into the deal cycle, from due diligence through to post-acquisition integration, ensuring acquired businesses are transitioned into Group’s financial and reporting frameworks. You are accountable for the delivery of financial integration of acquisitions, ensuring timelines, quality and anticipated outcomes are achieved. The role focuses on alignment of financial reporting systems; clear financial visibility, tracking and monitoring.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Integration Act as finance lead in integration governance forums, contributing to integration meetings on finance matters Attend site to assess finance operations, control environment and team capability Monitor performance against pre-acquisition model assumptions and proactively challenge underperformance Provide clear input into the reporting packs giving insight on realised and unrealised synergies Review pre-completion financial processes, control environments and reporting structures Financial control, governance and risk Establish robust financial controls and governance across newly acquired businesses ensuring alignment with Group standards Identify financial, operational and integration risks and implement integration plans Ensure full control of banking arrangements, transitioning bank mandates, visibility of direct debits, closure of accounts within agreed timescales Reporting, KPI’s and Performance Oversee the preparation and review of monthly management accounts for acquired entities Integrate acquired businesses into Group reporting, ensuring alignment with Group chart of accounts in TM1 and Group accounts Standardise KPI reporting across acquisitions to enable consistent performance tracking Support delivery of performance reporting including YTD performance vs investment base case, highlighting variances with commentary Cash & Banking Integration Assume ownership of banking transition plans including mandates, online banking access, payment authorities and direct debit reviews Ensure legacy accounts are closed within agreed integration timelines Identify and eliminate duplicate supplier payments and contract leakage Balance Sheet & Control Environment Prepare balance sheet reconciliations for acquired entities in accordance with Group standards Review and resolve legacy balance sheet issues, unreconciled items and control account discrepancies identified during integration Monitor integration-related balance sheet risks Support the validation of opening balance sheets, completion accounts and post-acquisition accounting adjustments Systems and Data Integration Lead the migration of financial data into Group systems, ensuring accuracy, completeness and integrity Standardise acquired businesses to Group finance systems and reporting processes Identify and mitigate any data migration risks Skill, Knowledge &

Experience:

ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified (or equivalent). Consideration given to part-qualified candidates with extensive experience Experience in financial reporting, financial control, integration, audit, transaction services, corporate finance or acquisitive environments Highly analytical with the ability to interpret financial models and financial reporting Strong attention to detail and an ability to work to deadlines Connells Group is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace regardless of any protected characteristics.

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