Strategy and Deals Commercial Due Diligence and Strat Associate and Senior Associate (London Based)

Job description

**Commercial Due Diligence & Corporate Strategy** **Grade: Associate & Senior Associate** **Location: London (UK)** **About Alpha FMC** Alpha FMC is a leading global consulting firm focused exclusively on serving clients in the Financial Services sector. Our 1,500+ consultants work across 19 offices globally, combining deep FS sector expertise with high-quality consulting to support more than 970 clients across asset management, wealth management, insurance and broader financial services. Our Strategy & Deals division advises senior executives, private equity investors and corporate deal teams on their most important strategic and investment decisions. **The opportunity** We are growing our Financial Services Strategy & Deals team and are seeking Associates and Senior Associates to work across two complementary areas: - **Commercial due diligence:** supporting private equity investors and corporate acquirers in evaluating investment opportunities through rigorous analysis of markets, customers, competitors, business plans, and commercial risks - **Corporate strategy:** advising CEOs, executive teams and business leaders on growth, market expansion, product strategy, operating model design and cost competitiveness Alpha is a specialist consulting firm: consulting is our core business, and Strategy & Deals is a priority growth area. You will join a growing team with the opportunity to take meaningful responsibility early, work closely with senior colleagues and help shape the continued development of the practice. Candidates with a strong preference for focusing on either commercial due diligence or corporate strategy should indicate their preference early in the process so we can shape our conversations accordingly. **Our work** We help the world's leading investors and financial institutions make some of their most important strategic and investment decisions. Our work spans the financial services sector, with a primary focus on asset management, wealth management, insurance, and fintech. Our typical engagements include: - Conducting buy-side commercial due diligence for private equity and corporate investors - Supporting sell-side processes by developing an independent evidence base around market attractiveness, competitive positioning, and growth potential - Assessing business plans, revenue forecasts, and the opportunities and risks underpinning an investment thesis - Partnering with private equity investors and portfolio company management teams to accelerate growth and deliver value creation initiatives - Developing corporate, business-unit, and growth strategies for established financial institutions and scaling businesses - Assessing new markets, customer segments, products, and distribution opportunities - Reviewing propositions, commercial models, and competitive positioning **Key responsibilities** The responsibilities below apply across both levels; Senior Associates are expected to take greater ownership of workstream and client delivery. **Engagements** - Lead individual workstreams within CDD and growth-strategy projects, including market sizing, competitor benchmarking, and customer/expert research. - Manage and analyse qualitative and quantitative data sets (market data, financials, interviews, surveys) to develop actionable insights. - Develop compelling, client-ready storylines and presentations. - Structure complex and open-ended client questions into clear, hypothesis-led analyses - Design and conduct primary and secondary research, including expert and customer interviews, surveys and analysis of market and company data. - Integrate data-driven and AI-supported analytics to enhance speed and depth of insight. **Client & Stakeholder Management** - Engage directly with clients and external experts to gather market intelligence. - Work directly with client teams, management teams and investment professionals, including presenting findings and responding to challenges - Structure and present conclusions clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. **Team & Practice** - Collaborate effectively with colleagues across teams, functions, and geographies to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients and contribute to the success of the broader division. - Supervise and coach junior team members, ensuring high-quality outputs and knowledge sharing. - Contribute to internal knowledge development and business development efforts, including proposals and thought leadership. **Level guidance** We are recruiting at both the Associate and Senior Associate levels, depending on experience: - **Associate:** typically 1.5+ years of relevant experience; able to independently deliver defined analyses and project modules with appropriate guidance. - **Senior Associate:** typically 3+ years of relevant experience; able to lead substantial workstreams, structure analysis, manage junior colleagues and contribute confidently to client discussions. **What we are looking for** Successful candidates will be intellectually curious, commercially minded and motivated by solving difficult problems. You will combine analytical rigour with the ability to form a view, communicate it clearly and work effectively with clients and colleagues. You should have: - Relevant experience in commercial due diligence, strategy consulting or in-house strategy with a strong analytical component - Financial Services experience is preferred but not essential; greater emphasis will be placed on a strong commercial diligence or strategy skillset, together with an interest in developing broader expertise across the sector - Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to structure ambiguous questions. - Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical capabilities - Experience researching markets, companies, and competitors - The ability to turn complex analysis into clear conclusions and persuasive presentations - Excellent written and verbal communication skills - The ability to deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced, project-based environment - A collaborative working style and willingness to support the development of others - A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience **What Alpha offers** - Opportunity to work directly with senior leaders and blue-chip clients in the financial - services and private equity sectors - Significant responsibility and client exposure earlier in your career - Ability to work on projects for clients across North America and Europe. - The opportunity to help build a fast-growing Strategy & Deals practice - The reach and client base of a global firm combined with the accessibility and entrepreneurialism of a specialist consultancy - A clear path for career progression, supported by training, coaching and mentorship - Competitive remuneration, benefits and annual profit-sharing