Benchmark International, one of the world’s leading merger and acquisitions specialists, is now looking for an experienced and driven M&A Transaction Director to assist our Managing Director (MD) in handling our larger sell-side engagements. The position is located in Tampa, Florida, Benchmark International’s global headquarters.

This is a largely client-facing position requiring tested negotiating skills; empathy; financial expertise; writing ability; and a firm understanding of mergers and acquisitions. The M&A Transaction Director will be across the table negotiating against the world’s leading buyers and their advisors including business development teams from publicly-traded companies, private equity management companies, and Big 4 accounting firms. The Director will be working with and on behalf of business owners who have entrusted Benchmark International with the fate of their most important financial asset. Whereas the Director’s prior experience with transactions of this size may have centered on board-managed companies and spreadsheets, Benchmark International’s deals and client base call for a much greater emphasis on relationship management, emotional intelligence, perseverance, and helping to translate the clients’ owner-operated mentality and data into what the buyers are accustomed to seeing and hearing.

The M&A Transaction Director will be surrounded by a team of specialists but a wide range of M&A skills is required for success in this position none the less. Time permitting, the Director may be asked to assist with training members of other teams or to use his or her M&A expertise to assist in the overall development of the company and its brand. This is a unique opportunity to execute high-profile deals in a very collegial atmosphere that has none of the feeling or politics of a traditional investment bank and to do so from sunny and warm Tampa Bay.

Job Responsibilities

Success in this role will include a well-balanced approach to contributions in four distinct areas.

I. Assist in executing on a small portfolio of businesses for sale

· Work directly with business owners looking to exit their business or take on a strategic partner, serving as one of Benchmark International’s primary relationship manager with these clients.

· Ensure the team remains responsive to the MD’s and all client requirements including adequately prompt call-backs, perfectly-crafted correspondence, and compliance with the Terms of Engagement.

· Maintain at thorough understanding of each client in the portfolio, increasing in detail as the clients move through the process.

· Play a significant role in the team’s movement of clients from each and every phase of the process including deal preparation, marketing, negotiation, and closing.

II. Close transactions

· Directly handle the negotiations of clients leading up to letters of intent and then, working with the client’s attorney and accountant, drive the transaction through to closing.

· Leading up to closing, handle all discussions with client concerning Benchmark International’s success fee and ensure timely collection of the same.

III. Develop the team

· Ensure all team members have the training and tools necessary to succeed.

· Ensure the team operates in a respectful, professional, and nurturing environment.

· Allocate tasks to provide each team member with new challenges, to maintain their engagement level, and to achieve high retention rates.

IV. Contribute to corporate growth

· Provide frontline input to process improvement efforts.

· Participate in brand recognition events in the region and throughout the financial community.

· Contribute to office-wide and company-wide training efforts.

Job Requirements

As a senior member in our organization, you must be an energetic and passionate individual with a positive and highly-motivated can-do attitude. You must have the strong desire and ambition to succeed in this rewarding industry. It is also vital for your role as an M&A Transaction Director that you possess excellent analytical, mathematical, interpersonal, written and verbal communication, and negotiating skills, as well as presentation abilities.

The M&A Transaction Director is a client-facing role that must be able to convey bad news and deal with clients’ unique sensitivities, while keeping each client moving through the company sales process at a steady pace.

As each team member’s compensation is tied to the closings your team will generate, the team will look to you and the MD not only for leadership but also their financial well-being.

Relevant experience will include five to ten years working as an M&A professional, preferably at a national or international investment bank, and at least three years of experience in roles entered on sales and/or direct client management.

The successful applicant must:

· Understand the sequence of events in the company sale process.

· Have a firm understanding of financial statements, EBITDA calculations, and the process of identifying and defending add backs.

· Have a passing knowledge of the legal parameters involved in M&A transactions.

· Be familiar with a variety of transaction structures and their relevant merits and drawbacks to the seller.

· Possess the ability to learn the financial and market dynamics of new industries in relatively short periods.

· Communicate well verbally and in writing.

· Handle setbacks, having difficult conversations with business owners, negotiating against veteran professional acquirers, taking responsibility for process breakdowns even when not responsible, and fostering cooperation with client’s attorneys and accountants.

· Consistently present themselves in a professional manner in keeping with Benchmark International’s image (as shown, for example, on the company’s web site).

· Work outside normal business hours at times, whether early or late, as required by client schedules and expectations.

· Be available to travel for occasional overnight trips on short notice (rarely, if ever, longer than three days)

· Be able to obtain a Florida real estate sales associate license within 60 days of employment.

· Have no unfavorable history with FINRA, the SEC, or any state regulatory agency.

Benefits:

All Benchmark International positions offer paid time off, standard holidays, and community service days. Employees are eligible for highly competitive company-subsidized medical, dental, vision, and AD&D insurance; 401k with company matching; flexible spending accounts; and flexible dependent care assistance accounts. Quarterly team outings and standing desks are employee favorites at present.

Salary

Benchmark International offers a competitive compensation package, which includes on target earnings of $200,000 and paid training.

Social Responsibility

Benchmark International is an active, contributing member of the communities in which we work. The company participates in significant charitable giving opportunities throughout the year. Many of the recipient charities have been identified by our individual employees as a result of their personal passions for supporting particular needs. In addition, each employee is encouraged to use two paid work days per year to provide their labor and skills to the community.

Unfortunately, Benchmark International is not in a position to sponsor visas for candidates at this time.