Transaction and Advisory Services Graduate

Contract: Full-time (37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday)

Salary: Competitive starting salary

Reports to: Transaction and Advisory Services Manager

If you are a graduate or soon‑to‑be graduate, our Transaction and Advisory Services Graduate Scheme is your gateway into a people‑focused career with significant earning potential, bringing you new challenges and learning opportunities along the way. No prior experience in accounting or a specific degree is required!

Our Transaction and Advisory Services Graduate Scheme could be the start of your journey to becoming an expert in M&A and wider transaction advisory services – including financial due diligence, corporate valuations, financial modelling and wider advisory services – as part of one of the most active deal‑making teams in the UK.

Our Transaction and Advisory Services team provide a range of advisory services to a wide array of clients, including those looking to buy businesses, sell businesses, or raise finance. This includes supporting clients through complex M&A processes, and in the case of clients buying businesses, ensuring that they understand the target’s financial health and forecast prospects - identifying risks, and providing valuable data‑driven insights that shape successful deals.

We are a market‑leading firm, supporting on c.150 deals annually worth over £2.0bn in value. Our deals typically range from £1m to £50m.

We are a highly experienced, award‑winning team that provides valuable deal support. Transaction and Advisory Services is all about combining analytical skills, commercial awareness, and clear communication to deliver robust advice. Your role will involve financial analysis, risk assessment, and working closely with clients and other advisers to ensure transactions run smoothly.

Your role will be based in Birmingham, which has one of the largest professional networks/communities outside of London, offering excellent opportunities for your professional development.

• Undertaking financial analysis for inclusion within financial due diligence reports and other deliverables – primarily using Excel. You will also be given the opportunity to develop skills with other data analysis tools.
• Drafting financial due diligence reports/sections using PowerPoint – based on the financial analysis prepared and risks, conclusions and recommendations identified.
• Assisting with the development of financial models and valuation reports.
• Supporting the management of engagements, including liaising with clients/targets, legal advisors and wider deals teams.
• Supporting the team in expanding the current client portfolio. This would include inputting into pitch documents, participating in networking, developing your professional network, and being an ambassador of the firm.

• Build your commercial acumen by working with clients across diverse sectors.
• Gain exposure to high‑profile transactions and develop a deep understanding of deal structures.
• Work closely with senior team members and clients from an early stage.
• Enhance your professional network within the Midlands deal‑making community.
• Develop your skills through formal and informal training, including bespoke courses.

Training with PKF Smith Cooper offers depth and variety in client assignments. Our graduates benefit from exposure to a wide range of work with businesses of all sizes, many of them local to our offices.

Our partners take a direct interest in the development and progression of our graduates. We aim to equip every graduate with the skills they need to become a future leader – our Managing Partner started out at PKF Smith Cooper as a graduate himself, so who knows what you could achieve through our graduate scheme!

As an ICAEW and ACCA Approved Training Employer, we are recognised for our high‑quality training and development. As part of the graduate programme, you have the opportunity to obtain your ACA qualification through a leading training provider. Additionally, you will have the benefit of studying alongside other trainees from different departments within the firm.

• Any degree at 2:1 or above, with…