Corporate Development Graduate Programme London 2024

We're looking for a bright and motivated graduate to join our Corporate Development division on our 2024 Graduate Programme.

Our Corporate Development Programme is the perfect start for a graduate looking to develop their commercial and technical skills and build a long-term career.

About Schroders

Schroders is a global investment manager which helps institutions, intermediaries and individuals around the world invest money to meet their goals, fulfil their aspirations, and prepare for the future.

Our purpose is to provide excellent investment performance to our clients through active management. By serving clients, we serve wider society. Channelling capital into sustainable and durable businesses accelerates positive change in the world. Funding the future is a privilege: we use it wisely and responsibly.

We employ over 5700 talented people worldwide operating in 37 different locations across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, close to the markets in which we invest and close to our clients.

Schroders has developed under stable ownership for over 200 years and long-term thinking governs our approach to investing, building client relationships and growing our business.

The base

We're based in the City of London - close to our clients, in the heart of the UK's financial centre and have everything we need to work flexibly.

The department

Reporting to an existing member of the Corporate Development team, the role is part of a small and high profile Corporate Development team of three. The team's aim is to provide full input to the development of the group's Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) strategy by identifying and assessing sector and/or geographic growth opportunities as well as specific target companies, and executing on transactions and strategic partnership opportunities as required.

The team works closely with senior management including the Group Head of Strategy, Group CEO and Group CFO. The team is also manages strategic projects internally and is responsible for analysing hard to value, unquoted assets within client portfolios that are referred to the Valuation Committee.

Focussed on M&A sourcing and execution, the role involves financial analysis and modelling as well as gathering competitor and market intelligence to deliver insights and briefings to inform senior management, including the Plc Board and the Group Management Committee. The role involves supporting the team during deal evaluation, help in co-ordinating the internal and external parties involved in the transaction and ensuring the deals stay on course, driving the transaction through to completion.

The programme

As a graduate in the Corporate Development team, you will be given an excellent grounding in the function and given the opportunity to build expertise across strategic initiatives, business strategy, corporate finance, business development, M&A and research.

You'll be encouraged to build relationships with people across the business and grow your understanding of how Corporate Development operates at the firm.

Some of your tasks as a Graduate in this role will include:

M&A Sourcing and Analysis

• Conduct financial analysis by researching potential targets in given areas, providing background data and initial valuations to management
• Produce comparisons of live acquisition opportunities to other businesses in the target sector / product to understand alternatives
• Conduct “first reads” of teasers to establish whether to pursue a target and carry out initial business and valuation analysis to establish interest levels
• Maintain and update trading and transaction multiple databases
• Develop a network of external intermediaries to support in origination of potential opportunities

Execution of M&A Activity

• Assist in the acquisition or disposal process including due diligence, co-ordinating and motivation of internal and external teams through to closure of deal
• Carry out high quality and detailed financial modelling in detail and distilling key messages for management
• Assist with drafting of board papers, letters of interest and other transaction documentation
• Post acquisition / disposal, work alongside change management to ensure planning occurs at correct points in cycle and assist where appropriate on post transaction integration and/or separation
• Gather competitor and market intelligence on an ongoing basis, creating updates and insights for senior management when appropriate
• Assist with valuation of hard to value, unquoted assets held in client portfolios for the group's Valuation Committee
• Work on internal projects on an ad hoc basis including; strategic studies, large mandate pitches, possible disposal of businesses and drafting papers for the Head of Corporate Development

What you'll be like

• Good interpersonal, good written and verbal communication skills and a team player.
• Commercial thinker – you'll have an interest in the financial services industry and have an appetite to learn how businesses grow.
• Numerate and analytical – you'll have solid numerical skills and a high attention to detail.
• Ability to deal with complexity.
• Organised, diligent and methodical.
• Collaborative and flexible - happy to get involved in variety of tasks and projects.
• Enthusiasm, focus and willingness to work hard.
• Positive and hands-on approach to new tasks and subject matter.
• Passionate – you'll be passionate about building a long-term career in Corporate Development.

The knowledge, skills and qualifications we're looking for

• An honours degree or equivalent – we're not fussed when it comes to your degree subject or predicted grade
• You will be in your final year of study or already graduated

Why join us?

• Gain the Investment Management Certificate (IMC) in your first few weeks. The IMC benchmark entry-level qualification into the UK investment profession
• Benefit from a series of immersive and engaging training sessions equipping you with the skills you need to adapt to the world of work, hit the ground running and make an impact – training covers industry knowledge, technical and soft skills training
• Attend “Lunch and Learns/ “Coffee Hours” led by senior people across the business – your chance to build contacts in the industry and grow your professional network
• Access to a buddy – we'll match you with a graduate buddy where you'll be supported during the first few weeks of your internship, helping you to integrate into the team and the business
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme – providing you with access to 24 hour confidential telephone counselling and a comprehensive online source of information on a range of issues, including Mental Health
• Free use of private GP Service
• On-site staff restaurant
• Free use of on-site gym

Recruitment process

1. Online application form and CV
2. Online assessments
3. Online video interview
4. Assessment centre
5. Final round interview with a senior member of the business

Candidates should be available to start the graduate programme on 12 September 2024.