Deal Services Executive Placement - August 2024

As one of the world’s largest networks of audit, tax and consulting firms, RSM delivers big ideas and premium service to help middle-market businesses thrive. We are a fast-growing firm with big ambitions – we have a clear goal to become the premium adviser to the middle market, globally. This vision touches everything we do, motivating and inspiring us to become better every day. If you are looking for a firm where you can build a future and make an impact, then RSM is the place for you.
Corporate finance - get the career you want at RSM

Join our corporate finance team on a 12-month paid placement as part of your sandwich degree course and discover what it’s really like to work in business. Gain hands-on experience, build a network of contacts and get advice from our expert mentors.

When you join our team, you’ll enjoy a powerful combination of on-the-job learning and structured training – not to mention an impressive client list to work with. You’ll discover a culture that nurtures individuality and an environment where everyone is supported to reach their potential. If you perform well, you could be given the opportunity to join one of our Graduate training programmes that will help you kickstart your business career. With us, you’ll always be moving forward.

What does our corporate finance team do?

Our national deal services team comprises over 300 professionals across the UK and has advised on more than 1,000 transactions in the past three years. Our national team is broadly split into five distinct teams, two of which are our Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and Transaction Services (TS) teams.

At RSM, we work with clients across a range of sectors, including technology, manufacturing, and business services, amongst others. Our clients are predominantly in the middle market and are based around the UK and internationally. During your time at RSM you will have the opportunity to hit the ground running and make meaningful contributions on the projects you work on from day one.

If successful in being invited to one of our assessment centres, your skills and experience will be assessed through various exercises on the day. Depending on your skill set, location preference, and our recruitment requirements, you will be selected for either of our specialist teams.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A)

We advise private shareholders and management teams that are looking to sell their business, raise money for growth, or carry out a management buy-out. Our M&A team also advise companies on identifying and executing acquisitions. We advise our clients throughout the entire transaction lifecycle to ensure they maximise value and achieve the best possible solution for their organisation. This includes pitching to new clients, helping them prepare the business for a transaction, researching the options available, and negotiating the terms of the deal.

Transaction Services (TS)

We typically support private equity investors, corporates and banks that are looking to complete a transaction; either to buy or invest in a business (‘buy-side due diligence’), or to sell the whole or part of a business or raise finance (‘sell-side due diligence’). We advise our clients on potential issues before they agree a deal by assessing financial risks that could impact the purchase price, and can lay the groundwork for successful integration post-transaction. We work with our international RSM colleagues depending on the location of a target company. No two projects are the same, just as no two days are the same!

What can you expect?

Whichever team you join, you will be working on live projects and given responsibility from day one, after a brief, intensive training course with your peers. You will be a valued member of the deal team and included in key discussions and meetings with senior internal and external stakeholders to the firm. You’ll learn what makes a business attractive to investors and buyers, and the possible funding options for companies looking to grow. You’ll be working with businesses and entrepreneurs from a broad range of industries and sectors, as well as liaising with experts and advisors from other fields, such as law and banking. This hands-on experience is invaluable as you take the next steps in your career.

At RSM, you’ll benefit from on-the-job training from more senior members of the team and gain access to our internal training courses that will help you develop in the role, including courses to teach you corporate finance specific skills. Our residential courses give you the opportunity to interact with your peers and learn directly from service line experts within our departments.

What we look for

We’re on the lookout for students with a ‘can-do’ attitude, who are prepared to work hard and take on high levels of responsibility. In corporate finance we work closely with external stakeholders and other advisers, so we also look for team players who enjoy interacting with others and are curious about how businesses work. Time management and organisational skills are key as you may be working on multiple projects at the same time. You should be confident with numbers, have excellent written communication skills, and a keen eye for attention to detail.

If that sounds like you, we know you’ll enjoy being part of our team.

Locations

Our vacancies are subject to change as we recruit on a rolling basis.

For those who perform well across all of the tasks at our assessment centre, should your first geographic preference be unavailable, you may be offered a role in one of our specialist teams at one of our corporate finance hubs. You may also potentially be offered a role in another department. This would always be discussed with you in the first instance.

Our specialist hubs are across the country in our Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Reading, and Southampton offices.

Flexible working

At RSM we work hard to create an environment where our people can make a difference - to themselves, their career, their teams, and to the success of our firm and clients. We support all our people to work flexibly, to manage their family and other responsibilities alongside their work commitments; we believe this is key to achieving an inspiring and fulfilling working environment.

Our recruitment process

RSM will only take one application into consideration per recruitment cycle. We do not accept multiple applications to different vacancies.

Entry requirements

At RSM, we don't just look for good exam results. We think passion, personality and originality are just as important.

You will need:

112 UCAS points across 3 A Levels or an equivalent level 3 qualification, or 104 UCAS points across 4 Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers or Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher Level);

A predicted/obtained honours degree.