Director, Business Transitions

Overview

This role supports Business Transitions, a dedicated practice serving business owners, founders, and executives navigating M&A transactions and major liquidity events. The work integrates planning alongside the client’s deal team, focusing on pressure-testing valuation and deal process and modeling after-tax proceeds as deal terms shift.

The organization is seeking a Director to grow the practice across target markets.

Responsibilities

Deal Execution

• Serve as a deal-side subject matter expert, working directly on live transactions with the integrated advisory team across tax, estate, and financial planning.
• Interface with clients’ bankers, attorneys, and accountants to pressure test deal structure and translate deal mechanics into actionable planning decisions.
• Model after-tax proceeds in real time as deal terms evolve across structure, earnouts, rollover equity, and tax treatment.
• Support internal prospect deal teams when a Mercer client or prospect is approaching a transaction and needs a credible deal voice to anchor the conversation and advance the relationship.
• Engage business owners before, during, and immediately after a transaction so planning strategy is integrated with deal execution from the earliest possible point.
• Facilitate a structured handoff to the client’s dedicated advisor at close to ensure a seamless transition from deal phase engagement to long-term wealth management.

Market Development

• Build and own a center of influence (COI) referral network in your market, including lower middle market investment bankers, M&A attorneys, QoE firms, and deal accountants.
• Develop referral relationships through consistent outreach, direct personal engagement, and a long-cycle business development approach.
• Represent the Business Transitions practice externally through industry events, speaking opportunities, and panel discussions focused on transaction dynamics and business owner financial planning.
• Collaborate with regional advisory teams to identify existing clients approaching a liquidity event and coordinate internal resources needed to serve them.
• Support business owner prospects referred through existing growth channels, including custodial partners, digital advertising, and referral programs, acting as the deal-credible resource who advances and closes relationships.

Requirements

• 8 to 15 years of experience working directly on M&A transactions.
• Background experience may include one or more of the following:
  • Lower middle market investment banking
  • M&A advisory
  • Corporate development at private equity backed or founder led companies
  • M&A and transaction law
  • M&A tax and deal accounting
  • Wealth advisory with a demonstrated transactional background serving business owner clients
  • RIA focused M&A and corporate development
• Demonstrated ability to understand and communicate deal structure, valuation, and transaction mechanics at a level that earns credibility with the client’s deal team.
• Direct experience working with or advising privately held business owners, founders, or executives (not exclusively institutional or large cap corporate counterparties).
• Ability to operate as a generalist across deal dynamics, tax implications, and planning strategy without needing to be the deepest technical expert in any single discipline.
• Strong relationship instincts; ability to build trust quickly and maintain it over long cycles.
• Comfort with ambiguity, deal complexity, and situations that do not go according to plan.
• Series 65 required, or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.
• Bachelor’s degree (MBA, JD, or advanced degree preferred).
• Ability to travel within your market and periodically across the country.

Preferred Qualifications

• CFP, CFA, CPA, or JD (a plus).

Compensation & Benefits

Base Pay Range

• $225,000—$250,000 USD

Actual base pay within this range will be based on factors including geographic location, relevant experience, education, skills, and licenses/certifications.

The position is also eligible to earn incentive compensation through an incentive compensation program.

Benefits

• Company paid Basic Life & AD&D insurance
• Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance
• Supplemental Life & AD&D; Short-Term Disability; Accident; Critical Illness; and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Three Cigna medical plan offerings, including two High Deductible Health Plans and a Traditional Co-Pay medical plan
• Kaiser Medical plans available in California
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions if enrolled in either HDHP medical plan
• Two comprehensive dental plans
• Vision insurance plan
• Dependent Care Savings Account for child and dependent care
• 14 company paid holidays, including a full week off at Thanksgiving
• Generous paid time off program for vacation and sick days
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Family Medical Leave
• Paid parental leave (8 weeks)
• Maternity benefits utilizing company paid STD, any supplemental STD, plus Parental Leave (8 weeks)
• Adoption assistance reimbursement program
• Company paid concierge services for caregiving and life needs for aging parents and young children
• 401(k) retirement plan with both Traditional and Roth plans with per pay period match and an after-tax option
• Pet insurance
• Personalized financial planning and guidance offered at preferred employee pricing

Location

• This is a flexible national role.

Work Schedule & Working Conditions

• Availability during standard business hours, Monday through Friday from 8AM to 5PM.
• Early or late hours may be required at times to meet business tasks and deadlines for internal and external client needs.
• May be based in a professional office environment or a dedicated home office workspace free of interruptions.
• Basic technology needs will be provided.
• Routinely sitting and standing for periods of time.
• No heavy lifting over 10 lbs.

Application Deadline

• Initial application deadline: 12/1/2026.
• Applications submitted after this date may still be considered on a rolling basis until the position/program is filled.

Equal Opportunity

• Equal opportunity employer; does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
• Participates in E-Verify and complies with federal employment eligibility verification requirements.

Accommodation

• If you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process, request accommodations through the PeopleTeam process (accommodation requests only).