Director - Leveraged Finance

Job description

The Team 

KPMG's Corporate Finance practice has an industry-leading reputation for delivering forward thinking and objective advice for our UK and global client base, as well as an envied track record in closing successful deals. Together, our firm's Corporate Financiers have advised on or arranged critical and sensitive equity and debt transactions for medium to large corporations, financial institutions and investors, and governments.

Together, KPMG’s M&A and Debt Advisory practices form a holistic Corporate Finance practice, able to support our client’s strategic and transactional funding needs across the spectrum of equity and debt markets.

KPMG is the leading mid-market mergers & acquisitions (“M&A”) adviser in the UK, Europe and globally. Revenue growth means we are in the market for recruiting top talent, who are keen to contribute to the ongoing success of the business.

Debt Advisory

KPMG’s Debt Advisory practice has a c.25 year history advising public and private clients on developing and executing debt financing strategies. The team’s typical clients include listed companies, medium to large privately owned businesses and private equity / sponsor-backed entities. Its experience spans the spectrum of debt markets, financing instruments, asset classes, sectors and situations (including M&A, investment, new debt issues, refinancing and restructuring / amendments to debt facilities). The team operates sub-teams focusing on ‘Corporates’ and ‘Leveraged Finance’, in addition to dedicated expertise specialising in financial services and real estate.

The Role 

Roles & Responsibilities

Building on KPMG’s existing platform, the primary objective of the role will be to drive profitable and diversified growth in Leveraged Finance Debt Advisory, with a view to making KPMG the #1 holistic Corporate Finance practice in the mid-market.

The primary responsibility for this role will be to lead the Debt Advisory team’s ‘Leveraged Finance’ strategy, including providing specialist debt advice in relation to:

• Financing activity to support M&A and other transactional activity, working alongside M&A and other colleagues as part of our holistic corporate finance offering (e.g. sell-side ‘lender education’ processes / ‘staple’ financings and buy side financings);

• Standalone financing activity for private equity and other financial sponsor backed businesses (e.g. acquisition financing, buy and build, refinancings and recapitalisations, renegotiations);

• Growth funding to raise leveraged finance capital for businesses to drive accelerated financial performance and shareholder value.

The role will involve working closely with both debt advisory and M&A colleagues, in addition to other related specialists from other service lines, in originating and executing debt advisory and/or corporate finance mandates, from strategic formulation through to successful transaction completion.

This will also involve participating in key Corporate Finance relationship management with key clients, sponsors and other multipliers, in addition to leveraging wider firm (capability or sector) or personal relationships to originate new business opportunities. It is expected that typical clients base would comprise mid-market to larger businesses consistent with KPMG Corporate Finance’s offering.

The role will have a national remit to support clients across the United Kingdom, which may also include cross-border transactions or flows of capital.

The role represents an ideal opportunity for candidates to take on leadership of this ‘Leveraged Finance’ strategy, alongside other senior debt advisory leaders, to drive the growth in this business and capture the significant market potential for such services with KPMG’s target client base. This will also form a key growth pillar of the wider Corporate Finance growth strategy and ambition where debt advisory capability and relationships may support wider competitiveness and synergy.

• Leadership of Leveraged Finance Debt Advisory service offering: Leading the development and growth of our leveraged finance offering in conjunction with Debt Advisory, Corporate Finance and wider firm colleagues;
• Business development: Play a key role in furthering KPMG’s debt advisory market presence within key private equity relationships and lender communities, and supporting wither business development activity across Corporate Finance and the wider firm;
• Deal origination: Leading the charge on developing deal flow, using a network of relevant and high-level contacts (internal and external) to help originate debt advisory mandates both on a standalone basis and/or as part of a combined Corporate Finance proposition in respect of M&A activity;
• Manage internal relationships: Further leverage off KPMG’s reach and brand across Corporate Finance and the wider firm to harness the reach and strength of senior relationships;
• Ensuring rigorous and efficient execution delivery: remaining fully engaged throughout a process to support high quality of delivery and client satisfaction;
• Team development: Develop, coach and motivate an experienced team. While the successful individual(s) will have an external / origination focus, they will not be successful without further developing a more delivery focused team;
• Establish a high level of credibility and manage strong working relationships with external parties including intermediaries and other advisors; and
• The successful individual will be central to all key decision making and will play a vital role in the continued development and success of the Debt Advisory and Corporate Finance business.

The Person 

Experience , Qualifications & Skills

• Strong academic & technical background (ACA, CFA, ACT, MBA or equivalent);
• Significant experience within debt advisory in an investment bank, Big 4 or equivalent financial advisory business, debt advisory boutique, private equity team, or corporate treasury role;
• A proven and demonstrable track record of materially contributing to the successful origination of debt advisory mandates or lead debt structuring roles;
• Strong numerical, analytical and strategic thinking skills and demonstrated experience of financial modelling;
• Significant transactional experience with a demonstrable record of deal execution across all phases of the transaction cycle from origination to completion;
• Excellent communication skills with the authority and credibility to gain respect both internally and externally with people at all levels;
• Personable approach, possessing the ability to create confidence and trust with colleagues and clients alike, including founding and maintaining constructive two-way working relationships;
• Proven track record in building, motivating and empowering teams. Experience of managing and developing teams of high calibre people;
• Personal drive to deliver results and ambition to make an impact in a growing team; and
• Commitment to high quality standards, attention to detail and motivation to deliver results within tight deadlines.