Group Acquisitions Manager

At IVC Evidensia, we are a leading veterinary services provider in Europe and North America with more than 2,500 clinics and hospitals across 19 countries and around 42,000 employees. We aim to have an extraordinary impact on animal lives, supporting approximately 25,000 animals every single day across our international network. IVC Evidensia exists to champion the long‑term health and welfare of animals and deliver our purpose of Healthy Animals, Happy Owners.

Working closely with the Head of Acquisition Finance and the Group Acquisitions Manager to deliver and control all the financial and tax activities within the surgery acquisition process. We ensure high‑quality surgery groups are acquired at appropriate multiples with a full understanding of all financial and tax matters from the due diligence process, protecting the company from inappropriate activities and mitigating all risks.

Maintain and manage strong working relationships with external due diligence providers (Financial, Tax and Legal) and M&A teams, continuously improving processes, quality and building on relationships across the group.

• Manage outsourced Financial Due Diligence (FDD) providers to ensure FDD is completed in line with IVCE processes, timescales and resources meet the needs of IVCE, never slowing the pace of acquisitions.
• Serve as the balance and guardian of the financials to ensure the acquisitions team remains financially disciplined.
• Review Tax Due Diligence (TDD) and ensure all tax issues are fully understood, communicated to lawyers, and to Finance Integration / Group Head of Tax; prevent inappropriate tax risk and protect IVCE.
• Work with lawyers early in due diligence to clarify complex legal structures, mitigate legal risks, and hand over to Group Legal / Integration where relevant.
• Review and recommend to the Group CFO the approval of FDD and associated investment proposals; ensure high‑quality FDD and investment cases that capture all issues from Legal Due Diligence (LDD) and TDD.
• Ensure all acquisitions comply with our Investor Agreement and Banking Agreement; flag non‑compliance to the Group CFO and prevent completion of any non‑compliant transaction.
• Review disclosure letters and LDD for any financial or tax matters of concern, escalating or adjusting investment cases accordingly.
• Review and sign off funds flows, including supporting pro‑forma completion accounts.
• Ensure vital data collected during diligence and completion documents are transferred into our systems post completion in a timely manner.
• Hand over investment cases to the main Finance team and communicate them fully.
• Prepare reviews and challenge post‑acquisition trading performance.
• Undertake other projects as defined by the Director of Acquisition Finance and Head of Acquisition Finance.

• Strong academic record – degree level education and completion of professional accounting qualification (ACA or equivalent).
• In‑house M&A experience or experience working within corporate finance (transaction services / lead advisory).
• Awareness of completion account mechanisms (locked box vs completion accounts).
• Thrives in a fast‑paced, constantly changing environment – flexibility and resilience.
• Hands‑on orientation; no task too small; will do whatever is required to facilitate a deal.
• Broad understanding of legal and tax matters sufficient to identify issues and challenge lawyers and tax advisors.
• Sufficient gravitas and communications skills to credibly challenge M&A teams across all jurisdictions.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to deliver right‑first‑time results quickly without getting lost in the details.
• Deadline‑focused with ability to manage workload and competing priorities; willing to put in effort required to meet them.
• Self‑starting, comfortable working independently with self‑motivation and regulation.
• Pro‑active approach to CPD and keeping abreast of changes to accounting standards, particularly those impacting acquisitions.
• Occasional international travel required.
• Comfortable working within a clinical environment where compassion is required.

• Competitive base salary.
• Work‑li…