Job Description

Corporate Development Associate – Mergers and Acquisitions
£55,000 - £60,000 dependent on experience plus great benefits (Work Level 5)
Hybrid working, splitting your time between working from home and our Manchester city centre office (circa two days a week)

We're looking for a Corporate Development Associate to join us at Co-op. As we continue to invest in our existing businesses and explore new opportunities for growth, you'll play a key role in helping us assess, shape and deliver strategic opportunities that create long-term value for our members, customers and communities.

Why this role matters

This role sits at the centre of some of Co-op's most important strategic decisions. You'll be part of one of the leading corporate development teams in the North-West, working on acquisitions, disposals and strategic partnerships across our diverse portfolio of businesses. Partnering closely with senior leaders and colleagues from across Co-op, you'll combine commercial insight, financial analysis and relationship building to help shape our future direction. It's a varied, high-profile role where you'll have the opportunity to make a real impact while developing your career in a values-led business.

What you'll do

• Research and evaluate growth opportunities that align with Co-op's values and long-term strategy
• Work alongside teams, both internally and externally to Co-op, to develop, manage and deliver strategic initiatives
• Produce strategic recommendations and business cases for senior leadership teams and the executive board
• Work with external advisers, where needed, to undertake due diligence on potential strategic initiatives
• Prepare financial models and analysis to assess the commercial value of potential opportunities
• Support negotiations on legal agreements and transaction documentation alongside senior team members, our in-house legal team and external law firms
• Build strong relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders to support the successful delivery of Co-op objectives

This role would suit people who have

• An accountancy qualification such as ACA, ACCA or CIMA, or equivalent relevant experience
• Great communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence both finance and non-finance audiences, including senior leaders
• Strong financial modelling skills and commercial awareness
• A team player, with the ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders and provide constructive challenge in an inclusive way
• The ability to adapt to change, manage competing priorities and work autonomously
• Exposure to mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance or transaction-related activity would be beneficial

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Private healthcare
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion.
As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes up to 50 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.