Corporate Development / M&A Manager (Cologne)

A well-established European industrial and services group is seeking a Corporate Development / M&A professional to join its internal deal team in Western Germany. The organisation operates across multiple European markets and pursues an active acquisition strategy to support long-term strategic growth.

This is an opportunity to join a compact, execution-oriented corporate development function where team members are closely involved in transactions end-to-end and work directly with senior leadership, operating management, and external advisors.

The Role

The successful candidate will support the evaluation and execution of strategic transactions across Germany and neighbouring European markets. The role combines strategic analysis with hands-on transaction execution in a fast-paced in-house environment.

You will be involved from early-stage opportunity assessment through closing and post-transaction integration, gaining broad exposure to how acquisitions are sourced, evaluated, executed, and embedded within an operating business.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the screening and assessment of potential acquisition opportunities across Germany and Europe
• Perform commercial, strategic, and financial analyses to evaluate transaction attractiveness
• Coordinate due diligence processes alongside internal teams and external advisors
• Prepare investment memoranda, internal approval materials, and management presentations
• Assist in transaction execution, including negotiations and closing activities
• Collaborate with regional management on integration planning and value-creation initiatives
• Track market developments, competitive dynamics, and strategic opportunities
• Support post-transaction monitoring and performance reviews

Candidate Profile

We are targeting candidates with 5–10 years of relevant experience , ideally gained within:

• Corporate Development / Corporate M&A teams
• Top-tier management consulting with transaction exposure
• Investment banking (M&A) seeking a transition into an in-house role

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Strong analytical capability and commercial judgement
• Solid understanding of M&A processes and deal execution
• Ability to operate independently in a multi-stakeholder environment
• Clear, structured communication skills and confidence with senior stakeholders
• Fluency in German (mandatory) and strong English skills
• Willingness to be based on-site in Western Germany

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree is an advantage.

Why This Opportunity

• Join a financially strong organisation with a consistent acquisition strategy
• Broad exposure across the full transaction lifecycle
• Direct interaction with senior decision-makers
• International deal exposure with strong local execution focus
• Competitive compensation and long-term development potential
• Pragmatic, impact-driven working culture