Director, M&A Operations

CI Financial•Toronto, ON

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, M&A Operations is responsible for leading the operational execution of the organization's book purchase and M&A initiatives from transaction close through successful integration. Reporting to the SVP, Head of Business Operations, CI Wealth, this role owns the M&A operating framework, integration governance model, transaction execution process, and cross-functional delivery required to successfully onboard acquired advisor businesses into the organization. The Director serves as the central leader coordinating all execution activities, ensuring transactions progress efficiently, risks are mitigated, stakeholders remain aligned, and integration objectives are achieved. Working in close partnership with the SVP, Business Development, who leads deal origination and transaction negotiations, and the SVP, Head of Business Operations, CI Wealth, who establishes the integration vision, strategic priorities, and future-state operating model, the Director is accountable for translating strategic direction into actionable plans and delivering successful outcomes. This role will coordinate cross-functional teams across Finance, Legal, Compliance, Sales, Managed Solutions, HR, etc. The ideal candidate is an experienced operator who combines strong project leadership, M&A expertise, operational excellence, stakeholder management, and change leadership capabilities in a fast-paced growth environment.

Requirements

University degree in Business, Finance, Operations, Commerce, or a related field.
8+ years of experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives, integrations, business transformations, M&A transactions, or large-scale projects.
Demonstrated experience managing acquisition, integration, or book purchase activities from planning through execution.
Strong project management skills with the ability to lead multiple concurrent initiatives, manage risks, and drive results against demanding timelines.
Proven ability to influence and coordinate stakeholders across Operations, Finance, Legal, Compliance, Technology, HR, and Sales without direct authority.
Experience developing and implementing governance frameworks, operating models, playbooks, processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Strong business acumen with the ability to translate strategic objectives into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
Excellent communication, presentation, and executive stakeholder management skills.
Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and change leadership capabilities.
Highly organized, accountable, and execution-focused, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience within wealth management, financial services, or another regulated industry is preferred.
PMP, Prosci, Lean Six Sigma, or other relevant project management or change management certifications are considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Own the execution framework supporting all book purchase and Canadian Wealth M&A transactions.
Lead transaction planning and execution from signed deal through integration completion.
Develop and manage integration roadmaps, project plans, milestones, dependencies, budgets, and resource requirements.
Drive execution across concurrent transactions, ensuring priorities remain aligned and deliverables are completed on schedule.
Identify execution risks, recommend mitigation strategies, and escalate key decisions requiring executive direction.
Act as the primary operational leader responsible for ensuring successful transaction delivery.
Project manage cross-functional transaction teams consisting of Operations, Technology, HR, Finance, Compliance, Legal, Marketing, and Advisor Transition stakeholders.
Establish clear ownership, timelines, deliverables, and success measures for each workstream.
Resolve execution challenges and remove barriers to delivery.
Influence leaders and stakeholders at all levels to ensure alignment and timely completion of commitments.
Serve as the central point of coordination across all integration activities.
Own governance structures supporting M&A and book purchase activities.
Lead steering committee meetings, integration reviews, and executive project updates.
Maintain enterprise visibility into all active transactions, including risks, issues, decisions, and key milestones.
Prepare concise executive reporting and provide recommendations to support strategic decision-making.
Escalate critical issues requiring SVP and President review and approval.
Own and continuously enhance the organization's M&A execution playbook and governance framework.
Establish standardized methodologies, templates, checklists, and operating procedures.
Drive consistency and scalability across all acquisition and integration activities.
Incorporate lessons learned from completed transactions into future execution planning.
Identify opportunities to improve transaction speed, integration effectiveness, and overall execution quality.