Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Carried Interest • Tag-along Rights • Down Round

M&A

Term from Venture Capital industry explained for recruiters

M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) is a key business activity where companies either combine with others (mergers) or purchase other companies (acquisitions). In job descriptions, this term appears when companies are looking for people who can help evaluate potential deals, analyze company finances, and manage the process of combining or buying companies. It's similar to how a real estate agent helps people buy houses, but at a much larger scale with entire companies. This field requires understanding both financial numbers and how to negotiate deals. You might also see this written as "Mergers & Acquisitions" or just "Mergers" or "Acquisitions" separately.

Examples in Resumes

Led M&A team in successful acquisition of 3 startup companies valued at $50M total

Analyzed 20+ potential Mergers and Acquisitions targets for market expansion strategy

Managed due diligence process for 5 Merger & Acquisition deals worth over $100M

Typical job title: "M&A Analysts"

Also try searching for:

Investment Banking Associate M&A Analyst Corporate Development Manager Business Development Director M&A Associate Deal Manager Transaction Advisory Manager

Where to Find M&A Analysts

Professional Networks

Industry Resources

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: Can you walk me through how you would evaluate a potential acquisition target?

Expected Answer: A senior candidate should explain the process of analyzing company financials, market position, synergy potential, and risks. They should mention due diligence steps and valuation methods in simple terms.

Q: Tell me about a challenging M&A deal you managed and how you overcame the obstacles.

Expected Answer: Look for examples of handling complex negotiations, solving unexpected problems during due diligence, and successfully closing deals despite challenges.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What are the key factors you consider when valuing a company?

Expected Answer: Should explain basic company valuation concepts like revenue, profit margins, market share, and growth potential in straightforward terms.

Q: How do you conduct due diligence for an acquisition?

Expected Answer: Should describe the process of reviewing company documents, financial statements, legal issues, and market position to verify information before a deal.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What's the difference between a merger and an acquisition?

Expected Answer: Should explain that a merger is when two companies join together as equals, while an acquisition is when one company buys another.

Q: What financial documents would you review when analyzing a company?

Expected Answer: Should mention basic financial statements like income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, showing understanding of fundamental analysis.