Director Finance M&A

Director Finance M&A — Ascend Learning

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Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning technology company, connects students, educators, and employers with outcomes‑based, data‑driven solutions across the learning lifecycle. Its products are used from testing to certification by professionals including physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers.

Headquartered in Burlington, MA, with additional office locations and hybrid and remote workers across the U.S., Ascend Learning was recognized by Newsweek and Plant‑Away Insights Group as one of America’s 2025 Greatest Workplaces and Best Places to work for Mental Well‑Being.

We’re always looking for talented, passionate professionals to help change lives. If this sounds like an environment where you’d thrive, read on.

As a Director Finance M&A, you will lead the financial analysis, planning, and execution of M&A and business development transactions and participate in key strategic planning activities. You will develop strong partnerships with the CFO, M&A Leader, CEO and other key SLT members in addition to integrating with the Controller and Corporate FP&A leader to support the acquisitions process. You will also have significant exposure to business leaders across Ascend.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work in a private equity setting and have significant interaction with key shareholders at Blackstone and The Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board. The ideal candidate will have significant M&A transaction analysis and integration experience and be interested in transactions as well as key strategic projects.

This position will work a hybrid schedule from our Burlington, Massachusetts or Leawood, Kansas office location.

• Evaluate, assess and quantify the value of M&A, investment and business development opportunities
• Work cross‑functionally to create financial models and identify key risks and opportunities including any relevant synergies
• Perform scenario and sensitivity analysis to evaluate various outcomes of a transaction based on identified risks and opportunities
• Identify and evaluate the key drivers of transaction/partnership success – assess risk, advise structure, present alternatives across financial and non‑financial parameters
• Provide robust quantitative analysis in support of negotiations and deal execution – LBO returns, discounted cash flow, accretion/dilution analysis, comparable company, and precedent acquisition analyses
• Work closely with corporate development and legal during deal execution including negotiations and document review
• Lead financial due diligence efforts in partnership with Controller, FP&A leader and other key finance team members
• Develop executive‑level materials for CFO, Corporate Development and other senior executives
• Lead quantitative analysis to provide proactive insight into business drivers and financial forecasts and results
• Build strong knowledge of Ascend’s business through constant communication with partners across finance and corporate strategy
• Support internal cross‑functional deals team towards successful evaluation, analysis, execution, and integration of targets and partners

• 10+ years of previous public accounting, corporate finance, corporate development, or other relevant business experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required, Masters preferred
• Strong quantitative skills, financial acumen, financial modeling, and accounting comprehension
• Demonstrated ability to participate in and lead partner and M&A due diligence activities
• Demonstrated ability to interface with multi‑disciplinary teams and senior leadership – this position will have regular interaction with senior executives and functional leaders
• Outstanding ability to analyze and articulate complex sets of metrics into a clear written analysis
• Advanced expertise with Excel and Power Point

• Flexible and generous paid time off
• Competitive medical,…