RSM Astute Consulting - Senior Manager - Financial Due Diligence & Transaction Support

ROLE PURPOSE

As part of our Transaction Advisory Services practice, the Associate Director / Senior Manager will play a leadership role in managing financial due diligence engagements, supporting clients through complex M&A transactions, driving business development initiatives, and contributing to the strategic growth of the practice. The role requires strong technical expertise, commercial acumen, and the ability to lead teams in a dynamic deal environment.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Client Service Delivery:

• Lead and manage buy-side and sell-side financial due diligence engagements for strategic and financial investors across industries.
• Analyse target businesses to identify key financial and operational drivers, earnings sustainability, working capital trends, cash flow considerations, indebtedness, and deal-related risks.
• Review and challenge management assumptions, financial forecasts, and transaction adjustments.
• Prepare high-quality due diligence reports, executive summaries, and client presentations articulating key findings and commercial implications.
• Assist clients with purchase agreement negotiations through advice on purchase price mechanisms, completion accounts, locked-box structures, and other deal considerations.
• Work collaboratively with tax, valuation, strategy, legal, and other specialist teams to deliver integrated transaction support.

Business Development and Visibility Matters:

• Support and drive origination efforts by identifying opportunities within existing and prospective client relationships.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with corporates, private equity houses, investment banks, and intermediaries in the deal ecosystem.
• Lead proposal development, pitch presentations, and commercial negotiations for prospective mandates.
• Contribute to thought leadership initiatives, market campaigns, and external networking events to enhance practice visibility.
• Support leadership in execution of strategic growth initiatives and achievement of revenue targets.

Team Leadership & Practice Management:

• Manage engagement teams across multiple concurrent assignments ensuring timely and high-quality delivery.
• Review financial analyses, workpapers, and reports prepared by team members.
• Coach, mentor, and develop junior professionals through on-the-job training and feedbacks.
• Support recruitment, performance management, and retention initiatives.
• Drive operational excellence including resource planning, engagement economics, budgeting, and profitability management.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of TAS methodologies, templates, and knowledge repositories

SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:

• Strong technical knowledge of financial due diligence and M&A transaction processes.
• Deep understanding of:

• a. Quality of Earnings
• b. Net Debt / Debt-like Adjustments
• c. Working Capital Mechanisms
• d. Cash Flow Analysis
• e. Purchase Price Adjustments
• f. Completion Accounts / Locked Box Structures

• Strong commercial awareness and ability to connect diligence findings to deal value and negotiation strategy.
• Excellent project management and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong report writing, presentation, and communication capability.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure transaction environments.

To Qualify for the Role, You Must Have:

• Chartered Accountant with 6 - 9 years of relevant experience in Transaction Advisory / Financial Due Diligence.
• Demonstrated experience leading end-to-end due diligence engagements independently.
• Proven business development / client relationship management capability.
• Experience working with Private Equity / Strategic / Corporate clients.
• Prior experience in a Big 4 / advisory environment preferred.