Associate Director - Transaction strategy execution

Location: Johannesburg

Other locations: Primary Location Only

Date: 10 Apr 2026

Requisition ID:

Within EY's Strategy and Transactions (SaT) practice, our Transaction Strategy and Execution (TSE) team provides a full range of operationally focused services including M&A Integration, Carve-out, Operational and IT Due Diligence, Operational Restructuring and Value Creation. Transaction Strategy and Execution works with cross-functional teams made up of members of both the acquiring and acquired organizations. We currently have a career opportunity for an Associate director to join our Transaction Strategy and Execution team.

SaT offers clients professional transaction experience, from the strategic analysis phase of the transaction lifecycle, through execution, to transaction integration. We provide clients with a single point of contact who is focused on building a strategic relationship to address their transactions needs, and who can help leverage a global network to bring the right people and experience to work on every phase of a transaction.

We cover a wide range of operational aspects, including divestiture advisory services, carve-out readiness and support, operational due diligence, synergy assessment and delivery, day-one readiness assessment, 100-day planning, integration process support, carve-out/stand-alone costs assessment and risks, and cost reduction.

As an Associate director you will manage and develop the pipeline, including leveraging your own network for opportunities. You will also spearhead marketing efforts and build strong relationships with high profile clients and lead key client decision makers in developing and executing their transaction strategy to secure deal value. As an influential member of the team, you'll help to create a positive learning culture and coach and counsel junior team members and help them to develop. Finally, you will help the young practice grow by taking over important practice management activities.

As an Associate director within the TSE team, you would be required to:

• Lead client engagement teams in developing and executing their transaction strategy to secure deal value.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of integrations, carve-outs, and other types of transaction engagements.
• Demonstrate skills in project leadership, including synergy assessment, project management, problem-solving, and facilitation.
• Identifying risks and issues related to integration planning, timelines, and functional areas.
• Develop client relationships at the appropriate client level and be responsible for a high degree of client satisfaction with the engagement process and work products.
• Lead business development activities including preparing proposals, presentations and attending pursuit meetings with clients to help sell and cross sell work within SaT and EY.
• Work the market and develop pipeline of work.
• Be responsible for fostering an open and inclusive teaming work environment.

• Deep understanding of one or more core operational functions (such as IT, supply chain, finance, sales & marketing, HR etc.); experience in business process re-engineering, cost optimisation, business integrations, with a demonstrated aptitude for quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Operating model development and design.
• Strong understanding of the link between a businesses' operating environment and resulting financial performance.

Candidates should ideally have one of the below qualifications and/or experience:

• A bachelor's degree (business, finance, supply chain, engineering, computer science or related field, etc.) and approximately 7 - 10 years of related work experience; or equivalent work experience.
• Professional services / consulting experience: from a management consultancy, corporate finance firm or as an 'internal consultant' in a corporate environment.
• Experience related to transactions (ideally due diligence, M&A, carve-out or integrations experience).

• Experience in leading and managing complex business environments.
• Strong systems or technology understanding (incl. ERP systems) with ability to make detailed assessments thereof.
• Ability to make detailed assessments of operations or manufacturing infrastructure.
• Ability to determine risks and opportunity areas.
• Ability to synthesize approaches to complex integration conflicts.
• Analytically strong, with the ability to link operational analysis to financial statements and understand the implications of findings to client strategy.
• Ability to adapt to new challenges and ideas.
• Excellent problem solving, project management, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A dedication to teamwork.
• Lead and mentor team members.

This position requires a willingness and ability to travel.

Successful candidates must be committed to staying abreast of cutting-edge industry knowledge and can quickly anticipate and respond to the issues of a networked and constantly changing global economy.