Fractional Corporate Development Manager – M&A & Investments, Cape Town

About the Role

Our client is seeking a hands-on Corporate Development professional to support its in-house M&A function on a fractional basis. The business completes approximately 3–4 transactions per year and requires a resource capable of delivering high-quality execution support across the full deal lifecycle.

This is a highly transactional, project-based role, suited to an individual who is comfortable operating independently and can seamlessly move between financial analysis, strategic thinking, and process execution.

The successful candidate will play a key role across origination research, target evaluation, business case development, financial modelling, due diligence coordination, and transaction execution, as well as supporting early-stage integration planning.

Key Responsibilities

Deal Origination & Strategy

• Conduct sector, company, and market research to support target identification
• Develop screening materials, target profiles, and investment theses
• Support M&A strategy development and strategic prioritisation
• Contribute to business case development, including synergies, risks, and value drivers

Financial Analysis & Modelling

• Build and maintain financial models, valuation analyses, and scenario modelling
• Develop returns analysis and investment cases
• Analyse financial and operational data to support decision-making

Financial Due Diligence

• Perform detailed financial due diligence, including:
  • Quality of earnings
  • Working capital and cash flow analysis
  • Balance sheet review
  • Identification of financial risks and opportunities
• Review target company financials and provide clear, actionable insights

Project & Deal Management

• Manage end-to-end deal processes, including timelines, trackers, and deliverables
• Coordinate cross-functional diligence workstreams (finance, legal, tax, tech, HR, etc.)
• Act as a central point of coordination between internal stakeholders and external advisors
• Support SPA tracking, closing preparation, and transaction readiness

Stakeholder & Reporting

• Prepare presentations, investment papers, and board-level materials
• Support internal decision-making processes and approvals
• Manage relationships with external advisors (bankers, legal, auditors, consultants)

Post-Deal & Integration Support

• Assist with early-stage integration planning
• Support Day 1 / Day 100 planning and execution frameworks
• Contribute to synergy tracking and value realisation initiatives

Process Improvement

• Help build and refine repeatable corporate development processes, templates, and playbooks

Minimum Requirements

• Qualified CA(SA) or equivalent
• Background in Big 4 (Transaction Services / Corporate Finance) or Corporate Development / M&A
• 4–8+ years' experience in transactional finance, M&A, or financial analysis
• Strong experience in financial modelling, valuation, and due diligence
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders

Core Competencies

• Strong analytical and financial acumen
• Highly detail-oriented and hands-on, with the ability to execute independently
• Excellent project management and organisational skills
• Ability to translate strategy into actionable financial insights
• Strong presentation and financial storytelling skills (boards, IC packs)
• Commercial mindset with a results-driven, execution-focused approach

What Success Looks Like

• Effective execution of M&A transactions from origination through to integration
• Delivery of high-quality financial analysis and due diligence outputs
• Strong coordination across stakeholders, ensuring efficient deal processes
• Contribution to successful acquisitions and portfolio value creation