How to Transition from CF to M&A Within My Company?
I’m currently in CF at a large tech company, making $110k with really good work-life balance—about 25-30 hours a week, M-W in the office (8-3), and remote on Thurs/Fri with very little to do those days. It’s a sweet setup, but lately, I’ve been feeling like I want more.
I’ve started to get really interested in M&A and want to transition into that space within my company. I feel like my current role in FP&A and my past experience in business development and sales could be a good foundation, but I’m not sure how to approach this move internally.
For those of you in CF who’ve made the jump to M&A, what worked for you? Should I focus on building specific skills or try to get involved in cross-functional projects that touch M&A? How do I position myself to show I’m ready for this step?
I’d really appreciate any advice or stories from people who’ve made a similar transition.
(For context I just started this role in the last year and have been doing sales and business development at the company for the last 4 years so I know so many aspects of this company - technology, financials, market)
To transition from Corporate Finance (CF) to M&A within your company, here’s a strategic approach based on the most helpful WSO content:
Leverage Your Current Role: FP&A is often seen as a broad and transferable role. Highlight your experience in forecasting, budgeting, and strategic planning, as these skills are directly relevant to M&A. If your company has done acquisitions, try to get involved in the financial integration or forecasting aspects, as FP&A often supports these processes.
Showcase Your Business Development Background: Your past experience in sales and business development is a strong asset. M&A often involves deal sourcing, market analysis, and understanding the competitive landscape—all areas where your background can shine. Emphasize how your knowledge of the company’s technology, financials, and market positions you to identify and evaluate potential acquisition targets.
Build M&A-Specific Skills: If you lack direct M&A experience, focus on developing skills like valuation, due diligence, and financial modeling. Consider taking on projects or training that expose you to these areas. For example, you could ask to assist with any ad hoc M&A-related analysis or presentations.
Network Internally: Build relationships with the M&A or Corporate Development team. Express your interest in transitioning and ask for advice or opportunities to collaborate on projects. Internal networking is key, as many transitions happen through informal channels.
Position Yourself Strategically: Frame your move as a natural progression. Highlight how your FP&A and business development experience have given you a unique perspective on the company’s operations and strategy, making you well-suited for M&A. Tailor your resume to include FP&A “bullets” that emphasize strategic contributions, such as forecasting for acquisitions or cross-functional collaboration.
Seek Cross-Functional Projects: Volunteer for projects that touch M&A, such as market research for potential acquisitions, financial analysis for strategic initiatives, or integration planning. This will give you exposure and demonstrate your interest and capability.
Timing and Patience: Since you’ve only been in your current role for a year, ensure you’ve built a strong track record before making the move. Use this time to excel in your current role while strategically positioning yourself for the transition.
Communicate Your Goals: Have a conversation with your manager or a mentor within the company. Share your long-term career aspirations and ask for guidance on how to align your current role with your M&A ambitions.
By combining your existing knowledge of the company with targeted skill-building and networking, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for an internal M&A role. For further insights, you might find this thread helpful: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/corporate/qa-f500-director-of-fpa…</a">Q&A: F500 Director of FP&A.
Sources: Q&A: F500 Director of FP&A, Knowledge Sharing: Corporate Development / M&A, Q&A: F500 Director of FP&A, Corporate Development Manager - Q&A, Finance Career Path & List
The M&A team is likely full of ex-bankers who are used to fielding coffee chat outreach from people they don’t know. They are generally excited to talk about what they do, because they think they have the coolest job at the company. A lot of corporate development can be salesy, so I wouldn’t lean away from that experience. It’ll be up to you to demonstrate willingness to self-study valuation concepts and interest in deals to justify further conversations.
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