About Dune Advisors
Dune Advisors is a boutique management consultancy specialising in strategic advisory, transformation and M&A support for clients across Life Sciences, Consumer Products, Manufacturing and Infrastructure sectors. Based in London, we work closely with large global organisations to deliver high-impact change through strategy, design and implementation.
As we continue to grow, we are expanding our Transactions capability and are looking for an experienced Associate Director to lead complex carve-out, integration, separation and divestment engagements from planning through to implementation.
The Role
As an Associate Director, you will take end-to-end ownership of M&A transformation engagements, leading clients through the operational complexity of integrations, separations, divestments and carve-outs. You will work across the full deal lifecycle, from operational due diligence and pre-deal planning through to Day One readiness, TSA management, Day 100 planning and standalone transition.
This is an opportunity to move beyond the slide deck: influence outcomes, implement change, and help shape the next chapter of a growing firm. You will act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, lead high-performing teams, and play an important role in building Dune Advisors’ Transactions practice.
You will be based in London, working from the office three days per week. The role may require short-term travel across London, the UK and Europe.
What You’ll Do
M&A Delivery
- Lead the planning and delivery of complex carve-out, integration, separation and divestment engagements from assessment through to implementation.
- Conduct operational due diligence, assessing stand-alone costs, separation complexity, operational risks, value creation opportunities and implementation requirements.
- Evaluate transactions from an operational perspective, with a clear link to financial, commercial and value creation considerations.
- Assess the pre-deal carve-out situation, including perimeter definition, operating model implications, cost, complexity, dependencies and key risks.
- Lead Day One readiness planning, covering operational, people, process, technology, governance and stakeholder requirements.
- Lead post-acquisition implementation of carve-outs and integrations, including Day One execution, TSA management, TSA exit planning and transition to the standalone or integrated organisation.
- Develop Day 100 plans, defining milestones, owners, interdependencies and delivery governance.
- Understand the current-state organisation and design the future-state operating model, including run costs, expected synergies, benefits and cost savings.
- Identify, articulate and manage interdependencies across all aspects of the deal, including functions, workstreams, systems, processes, people and third parties.
- Research, assess and recommend practical solutions to separation and integration issues that span multiple functions, bringing relevant business and industry insight.
- Drive delivery at pace, including execution within accelerated 100-day timelines where required.
- Provide senior oversight across the engagement team, ensuring high-quality delivery and an effective client experience.
- Take overall responsibility for the content, quality and delivery of all work products.
- Ensure each engagement is delivered by the right team, with clear roles, responsibilities and ways of working, to the highest standard and within budget.
Client Leadership and Business Development
- Act as a trusted advisor to clients, tailoring advice to their transaction context, business priorities and organisational realities.
- Build and leverage internal and external relationships to support business development and deepen client relationships.
- Use client relationships to generate insight into client issues, priorities and opportunities.
- Identify opportunities within existing accounts, grow account value, and originate new opportunities through your network. Support proposals, contributing to the successful sale of new engagements.
- Contribute to the continuous development of Dune Advisors’ propositions, ensuring our content, knowledge and methods reflect market trends and client needs.
Team and Capability Development
- Support the development of processes and initiatives that are key to scaling the business, including frameworks, tools, templates and thought leadership.
- Help build Dune Advisors’ Transactions practice by codifying best practice and strengthening our delivery approach.
- Coach and develop consultants and managers, providing direction, feedback and support.
- Support strategic hiring and team-building activities.
What we are looking for
- Significant management consulting experience, ideally with recent experience in a top-tier strategy, transactions or transformation advisory firm.
- Deep hands-on experience leading buy-side and sell-side carve-outs, separations, integrations and divestments across the full deal lifecycle, from diligence and perimeter definition through to Day One readiness, TSA exit and standalone operation.
- Proven track record of leading complex carve-out programmes, including defining the business perimeter, mapping operational dependencies, assessing stranded cost and one-off separation costs, and shaping the future-state operating model.
- Strong experience structuring Transitional Service Agreements, including service catalogues, service levels, pricing and charging mechanisms, governance, reporting, dispute resolution, exit criteria and transition timelines.
- Practical experience executing TSAs after close, including managing service performance, issue escalation, dependency tracking, exit planning, service migration and handover to the standalone or integrated organisation.
- Ability to lead functional separation planning across areas such as IT, Finance, HR, Procurement, Supply Chain, Operations, Legal, Commercial, Facilities and third-party services.
- Strong understanding of Day One readiness, including critical path planning, decision logs, cutover planning, risk management, communications, people impacts and operational continuity.
- Experience translating deal thesis, synergy targets, cost savings and value creation opportunities into actionable implementation plans with clear milestones, owners, benefits and governance.
- Ability to move beyond PMO reporting to actively resolve complex operational, financial and organisational issues that arise during carve-out and integration execution.
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess financial and operational data, identify value and risk, and convert insight into clear recommendations for senior stakeholders.
- Confident engaging with C-suite executives, deal teams and functional leaders, and able to communicate complex separation and TSA issues clearly and commercially.
- Strong people manager, able to lead cross-functional and often global engagement teams, develop consultants and create a high-performance delivery culture.
- Practical, hands-on delivery mindset with the ability to work at pace in ambiguous, high-pressure deal environments.
What Makes Dune Advisors Different
- Real impact: go beyond recommendations and see your work delivered in high-stakes M&A and transformation environments.
- Trusted partnerships: work closely with senior clients as a valued advisor, not just a consultant.
- High-calibre work: engage on strategic topics with a focused portfolio of leading clients.
- Agile environment: work in small, fast-paced and collaborative teams with the opportunity to shape outcomes.
- Growth and ownership: join at an inflection point and play a meaningful role in building the firm.
- Flexibility and reward: benefit from hybrid working, competitive compensation and benefits and fast progression
Apply now or reach out for a confidential conversation.
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