Director, Middle Market M&A

BMO•Montreal, QC

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Mid-Market M&A team operates within BMO’s Canadian Commercial Banking platform and provides advisory services to privately held, mid-market companies across Canada. The team specializes in sell-side M&A mandates, capital raising, and strategic advisory for business owners and management teams across a range of industries. Working closely with Commercial Banking, Wealth Management and Capital Markets partners, the team benefits from a highly integrated origination model, leveraging deep client relationships to generate proprietary deal flow. The group is responsible for supporting clients through complex transactions, delivering tailored solutions, and driving cross-sell opportunities across the Bank’s full suite of products—including capital markets, treasury, and risk management. The Director / Managing Director, Mid-Market M&A is responsible for driving business development and originating advisory mandates within the Quebec market. Based in Montreal, this role plays a critical part in expanding the team’s local presence and building senior-level relationships with business owners, entrepreneurs, and professional intermediaries. As a senior member of the team, the individual will lead origination efforts, identify and execute M&A and capital raising opportunities, and deliver high-quality advisory services to clients. The role requires close collaboration with internal partners across Commercial Banking, Capital Markets, and Wealth to source opportunities and provide integrated client solutions. At the Managing Director level, the role is highly entrepreneurial, with a strong emphasis on leveraging an existing network to originate new mandates and drive revenue growth. At the Director level, the role combines business development with the ability to execute on opportunities sourced through both internal channels and external relationships. In addition to origination, the successful candidate will play a key role in transaction execution, client relationship management, and mentoring junior team members. The position requires strong technical expertise, commercial acumen, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced, client-driven environment, while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, risk management, and client service.

Requirements

Typically 7+ years of relevant experience and post-secondary degree in related field of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
An undergraduate degree focused on finance, economics, or accounting preferred with high academic achievement.
MBA, CFA or equivalent experience in financial services, accounting, or legal fields.
Minimum of 9 years of relevant experience in investment banking, negotiating and structuring financial transactions.
Some experience developing business in a corporate lending environment.
Excellent knowledge of financial solutions, products, and services.
Expert knowledge in one or more areas as recognized by clients and peers.
Ability to create and deliver professional product ideas and presentations.
Expertise in financial computer applications and database management tools.
Seasoned professional with a combination of education, experience and industry knowledge.
Verbal & written communication skills - In-depth / Expert.
Analytical and problem solving skills - In-depth / Expert.
Influence skills - In-depth / Expert.
Collaboration & team skills; with a focus on cross-group collaboration - In-depth / Expert.
Able to manage ambiguity.
Data driven decision making - In-depth / Expert.

Nice To Haves

Relevant business services sector experience is highly desired.

Responsibilities

Driving business development and originating advisory mandates within the Quebec market.
Expanding the team’s local presence and building senior-level relationships with business owners, entrepreneurs, and professional intermediaries.
Leading origination efforts, identifying and executing M&A and capital raising opportunities.
Delivering high-quality advisory services to clients.
Collaborating with internal partners across Commercial Banking, Capital Markets, and Wealth to source opportunities and provide integrated client solutions.
Leveraging an existing network to originate new mandates and drive revenue growth (at Managing Director level).
Combining business development with the ability to execute on opportunities sourced through both internal channels and external relationships (at Director level).
Playing a key role in transaction execution, client relationship management, and mentoring junior team members.
Providing a combination of deep industry sector expertise, innovative thinking in a team-based approach and world class execution across a full suite of products to clients through an integrated Commercial Banking platform using a sector ecosystem approach.
Collaborating to generate creative, client-focused solutions to prospective and current clients.
Using expertise in financial markets to cultivate relationships with new and existing clients and develop new client relationships.
Having and building upon an established network in the regional business community.
Delivering activities in instituting cross-selling initiatives to clients across all areas of the firm and transitioning them into significant sales.
Operating as a key member of the deal team with efforts to maximize sector penetration and returns.
Creating client pitch books for financial solutions and leading/participating in client presentations.
Monitoring client, client industry, and regulatory agencies for potential changes that may affect client portfolio and business needs.
Initiating contact with partners for new client sales.
Directly managing a diverse portfolio with progression toward increasing client responsibility.
Reviewing and continually monitoring performance of existing accounts and client relationships.
Conducting due diligence (e.g. client visits, analyzing business models, and comprehensively reviewing industry trends and related regulations).
Understanding client needs and providing relevant ideas and opinions to generate recommendations.
Collaborating with sector coverage partners for clients and prospects to identify / deliver creative, timely solutions.
Providing deal expertise and preparing/overseeing delivery of creative and timely “pitches”.
Supporting credit concurrence/pricing efforts as a client advocate.
Maintaining key ongoing coverage contact with clients and sector managers.
Building positive client relations through deep/comprehensive understanding of client needs and alignment of our products/services.
Developing and maintaining strong client relationships at all levels.
Interpreting client strategy and anticipating needs to deliver solutions.
Anticipating changes in client needs and providing strategic/creative solutions.
Recognizing opportunities to cross-sell and to grow share of client wallet.
Acting as a positive change agent to drive improved efficiency and effectiveness.
Identifying and delivering on opportunities to improve the client experience; bringing in partners where appropriate.
Providing strategic input into business decisions as a trusted advisor.
Maintaining awareness of all firm products and services offered and facilitating means of receiving continuous updates.
Recommending business priorities, advising on resource requirements, and developing roadmap for strategic execution.
Working with specialists as needed to support successful deal completion.
Developing and leveraging relationships across LOBs, with executive and external clients to foster and support coordination.
Ensuring alignment between stakeholders.
Creating financial models to analyze client portfolios and anticipate client needs.
Using financial analysis to proactively identify opportunities to cross-sell.
Generating updated financial models / analyses as business needs and industry requirements dictate.
Analyzing/assessing industry compilations.
Applying appropriate technical concepts and completing / leading consistent and reliable technical and financial reports / analyses to support client deliverables.
Understanding the complexity of transactions and related risks (credit, market, operational, legal/compliance, etc.).
Balancing the Bank's risk appetite with the client needs when making recommendations / proposals.
Making decisions based on a strong understanding of risks; effectively evaluating risk-return trade-offs, and proactively taking accountability for risks assumed.
Identifying and acting on the delivery of meaningful revenue, cost reduction, or capital optimization opportunities.
Integrating information from multiple sources to enable more efficient processes, enhanced analysis, and/or streamlined reporting.
Reviewing and guiding work of team members to deliver business results.
Delivering financial modeling to support strategic recommendations to clients.
Considering risk, internal controls and compliance as part of day-to-day accountabilities and adhering to policies and procedures.
Operating at a group/enterprise-wide level and serving as a specialist resource to senior leaders and stakeholders.
Applying expertise and thinking creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to problems that can be complex and non-routine.
Implementing changes in response to shifting trends.
Taking measured risks while protecting the bank by applying our Risk Management Framework in the execution of your role, in line with our Risk Culture and within our approved Risk Appetite, making sound and risk informed decisions that align to business strategy, protect assets, and adhere to applicable policy documents (Frameworks, Policies, Standards, Procedures and Supporting documents), laws and regulations.