Mergers and Acquisitions Analyst Placement - Bristol - August 2023

As one of the world’s largest networks of audit, tax and consulting firms, RSM delivers big ideas and premium service to help middle-market businesses thrive. We are a fast-growing firm with big ambitions – we have a clear goal to become the premium adviser to the middle market, globally. This vision touches everything we do, motivating and inspiring us to become better every day. If you are looking for a firm where you can build a future and make an impact, then RSM is the place for you.
Corporate finance – start shaping your business career

Join our mergers and acquisitions team within corporate finance on a 12-month paid placement as part of your sandwich degree course and discover what it’s really like to work in business. Gain hands-on experience, build a network of contacts and get advice from our expert mentors.

At RSM, you’ll discover a culture that nurtures individuality and an environment where everyone is supported to reach their potential. If you perform well, you could be given the opportunity to join one of our Graduate training programmes that will help you kick-start your business career. With us, you’ll always be moving forward.

What does our mergers and acquisitions (M&A) team do?

Our mergers and acquisitions team sits within the corporate finance department at RSM, which is one of the most active corporate finance advisers in the UK, advising on more than 1,000 deals in the past five years.

We advise private shareholders and management teams that are looking to sell their business, raise money for growth, or carry out a management buy-out. Our M&A team also advise companies on identifying and executing acquisitions. We advise our clients throughout the entire transaction lifecycle to ensure they maximise value and achieve the best possible deal. This includes pitching to new clients, helping them prepare the business for a transaction, researching the options available, and negotiating the terms of the deal.

At RSM, we work with clients across a range of sectors, including technology, manufacturing, and business services, amongst others. No two days are the same in M&A, and you are likely to be involved in preparing pitches, producing sector research, and analysing a company’s financial performance early on. During your time at RSM you will have the opportunity to hit the ground running and make meaningful contributions on the projects you work on from day one.

What can you expect?

In our mergers and acquisitions team, you will be working on live projects and given responsibility from day one. You will be a valued member of the deal team and included in key discussions and meetings with senior internal and external stakeholders to the firm. You’ll learn what makes a business attractive to investors and buyers, and the possible funding options for companies looking to grow. You’ll be working with businesses and entrepreneurs from a broad range of industries and sectors, as well as liaising with experts and advisers from other fields, such as law and banking. This hands-on experience is invaluable as you take the first steps in your career.

You will benefit from on-the-job training from more senior members of the team and gain access to our internal training courses that will help you develop in the role, including courses to teach you M&A and corporate finance specific skills and technical knowledge. These residential courses give you the opportunity to interact with your peers and learn directly from service line experts within our departments.

What we look for

We’re on the lookout for students with a ‘can-do’ attitude, who are prepared to work hard and take on high levels of responsibility. In M&A you will work in small teams, working closely with external stakeholders and other advisers, so we also look for team players who enjoy interacting with others and are curious about how businesses work. Time management and organisational skills are key as you may be working on multiple projects at the same time. You should be confident with numbers but also have excellent written communication skills and a keen attention to detail.

If that sounds like you, we know you’ll enjoy being part of our team.

Locations

Our vacancies are subject to change as we recruit on a rolling basis.

For those who perform well across all of the tasks at our virtual assessment centre, should your first geographic preference be unavailable, you will be offered a role in one of our specialist teams at one of our M&A hubs. You may also potentially be offered a role in another department. This would always be discussed with you in the first instance.

Our specialist M&A hubs are across the country in our Birmingham, Bristol, Gatwick, Leeds, London, Manchester, and Newcastle offices.

Flexible working

At RSM we work hard to create an environment where our people can make a difference - to themselves, their career, their teams, and to the success of our firm and clients. We support all our people to work flexibly, to manage their family and other responsibilities alongside their work commitments; we believe this is key to achieving an inspiring and fulfilling working environment.

Diversity and inclusion at RSM

At RSM, inclusion and diversity are central to our values. We have an authentic focus on intentional inclusion, enabling our people to feel they can bring their whole self to work and ensuring everyone feels supported, respected and confident to make a valuable contribution.

To find out more, please visit our diversity and inclusion page on our careers website.

Our recruitment process

RSM will only take one application into consideration per recruitment cycle. We do not accept multiple applications to different vacancies.
Entry requirements

At RSM, we don't just look for good exam results. We think passion, personality and originality are just as important.

You will need:

112 UCAS points across 3 A Levels or an equivalent level 3 qualification, or 104 UCAS points across 4 Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers or Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher Level);

A predicted honours degree.

Please note, RSM does not accept General Studies, AS levels or the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
Diversity and Inclusion at RSM
At RSM, we want to create a strong sense of belonging so that people of all identities, backgrounds, and cultures feel they can bring their true self to work. Our clients come from all walks of life. We aim to achieve that same diversity of background, experience and perspective in our own teams, so that we can genuinely understand our client’s needs. Diverse teams bring a broader range of ideas and insights to work. That’s why we’re working together to ensure our firm’s principles and processes support a firm culture that embraces difference and strengthens inclusion.
At RSM we work hard to create an environment where our people can make a difference - to themselves, their career, their teams, and to the success of our firm and clients. We support all our people to work flexibly, to manage their family and other responsibilities alongside their work commitments; we believe this is key to achieving an inspiring and fulfilling working environment.