Deputy Head of Mergers and Acquisitions (HYBRID)

Equitable•New York, NY

3d•$315,000 - $441,000•Hybrid

About The Position

At Equitable, we help clients secure their financial well-being so they can pursue long and fulfilling lives - a mission we’ve honed since 1859. Equitable's Corporate Development team is seeking an accomplished Deputy Head of M&A. Reporting to the Head of M&A and Business CFO for Institutional and Wealth Management, this senior leadership role will help shape and execute the company’s M&A strategy across Retirement, Wealth Management, and Asset Management with a particular focus on Wealth Management. The Deputy Head will partner with executive and business leaders to originate and evaluate strategic opportunities, lead complex transactions, and build key market relationships that advance Equitable’s long-term growth objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
7+ years of progressive M&A transaction experience, including significant buy-side and sell-side experience within corporate development, investment banking, or a related environment.
2+ years of Wealth Management transaction experience strongly preferred, with knowledge of the broker-dealer and/or RIA landscape highly desirable; experience across Retirement, Asset Management, or broader financial services is also preferred.
Proven expertise in corporate finance, valuation, accounting, transaction structuring, and financial modeling, with the ability to evaluate the strategic and financial implications of complex transactions.
Established experience leading complex, cross-functional transactions and partnering effectively with senior executives, business leaders, external advisors, and counterparties.
Demonstrated strategic thinking, business judgment, executive communication, and leadership capabilities, with the ability to translate complex analyses into clear recommendations and manage multiple priorities.
Proven ability to exercise sound judgment, take ownership and accountability, maintain exceptional attention to detail, and manage sensitive or confidential matters with professionalism and discretion.
Advanced proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint and experience with S&P Capital IQ/Market Intelligence or comparable platforms preferred.

Nice To Haves

MBA or other advanced degree preferred.
experience across Retirement, Asset Management, or broader financial services is also preferred.
experience with S&P Capital IQ/Market Intelligence or comparable platforms preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner with executive leadership to develop and execute the enterprise M&A strategy across Retirement, Wealth Management, and Asset Management, with particular emphasis on Wealth Management as a strategic growth priority.
Align acquisition, divestiture, reinsurance, and partnership opportunities with the firm’s long-term growth and strategic objectives.
Develop a comprehensive view of priority markets, industry trends, competitive activity, and potential targets, with deeper coverage of the broker-dealer and RIA landscape.
Translate market insights into actionable acquisition themes, sourcing priorities, and transaction opportunities.
Proactively originate and evaluate acquisition, divestiture, reinsurance, and strategic partnership opportunities.
Build and actively manage a high-quality pipeline aligned with enterprise priorities, including targeted outreach, inbound opportunity assessment, and dedicated Wealth Management coverage.
Build and maintain senior-level relationships with prospective targets, business owners, industry executives, investment banks, consultants, legal advisors, reinsurers, and other key market participants to strengthen the firm’s M&A network and generate strategic opportunities.
Lead complex transactions from initial evaluation through execution, coordinating internal and external stakeholders and maintaining disciplined governance, strategic alignment, and effective execution throughout the transaction lifecycle.
Lead and oversee financial modeling, valuation, transaction structuring, and scenario analysis to assess strategic and financial attractiveness, including transaction returns, cash flow implications, and accretion/dilution considerations.
Lead enterprise-wide due diligence and coordinate cross-functional teams across business, finance, legal, tax, accounting, actuarial, risk, investments, and operations to evaluate opportunities, identify key considerations and risks, and support transaction decisions.
Partner with executive leadership, legal counsel, and external advisors in negotiations with counterparties, including the evaluation and development of LOIs/IOIs, term sheets, transaction documents, commercial terms, and required approvals.
Develop and present strategic recommendations, transaction materials, pipeline updates, sourcing activity, and performance insights for senior leadership and other key stakeholders.
Monitor transaction progress and relevant performance measures to support informed decision-making and ongoing M&A strategy.