Associate - Mergers & Acquisition

About EiM

Education in Motion (EiM) is a global leader in pioneering education for a sustainable future, inspiring generations of learners to Live Worldwise. Since the founding of its first school over two decades ago, EiM has grown its diverse portfolio of schools and brands, offering a blend of innovation and tradition through a range of premium educational offerings across the globe. EiM scales learnings, opportunities and resources across its diverse family, enabling each of its brands to be at the cutting-edge of technology, innovation and education. These include Dulwich College International, which offers both K-12 international schools and International High School Programme; Dehong®, offering bilingual education; Green School International, promoting sustainability across Bali and the world; Sherfield School in the United Kingdom; Hochalpines Institut Ftan AG (HIF) in Switzerland; Ignite, a unique outdoors-based overseas residential programme; and Chinese-language learning and teaching platform Wo Hui Mandarin.

About Role

The Associate - Mergers & Acquisition will support EiM's growth strategy through the execution of acquisitions, partnerships, and strategic investments across the K–12 education sector. The role will work closely with senior M&A team members and internal stakeholders to deliver high-quality analysis, modelling, transaction materials, and diligence execution. Operating within a lean and high-performing team, the Associate will play a hands-on role across all phases of the deal lifecycle, with meaningful exposure to senior leadership and external counterparties.

What You will Contribute To

• Pioneering education for a sustainable future
• Continuously innovate our educational offering to help our students make a positive difference
• Investing in the future through progressive and collaborative experience platforms

You Will Be A Great Fit If You Are

• Guided by the belief that students come first and care deeply about the safeguarding of our students
• Passionate about trying out new ideas and practices and able to exercise creativity and entrepreneurship with a pioneering spirit
• Excited to contribute to a diverse, dynamic, and forward-looking environment

Duties and Responsibilities

Transaction Execution Support

• Support end-to-end execution of M&A transactions, including preparation of transaction workplans, diligence trackers, and process timelines.
• Assist in managing deal processes from initial evaluation through signing and closing.
• Coordinate inputs from internal stakeholders and external advisors (financial, tax, legal, commercial) to ensure deliverables are accurate and completed on time.
• Prepare transaction materials including , investment committee packs, board updates, and internal decision documents.

Financial Modelling & Valuation

• Build and maintain detailed financial models including valuation analysis, sensitivity cases, synergy scenarios, and investment return assessments.
• Analyse historical performance, forecast assumptions, and business drivers for potential acquisition targets.
• Support review of target financials and help identify key risks, red flags, and value drivers through diligence.

Diligence & Data Analysis

• Manage and maintain data rooms, diligence request lists, and workstream trackers.
• Support the review and analysis of diligence outputs including financial, operational, legal, HR, compliance, and commercial findings.
• Summarise key diligence insights into structured recommendations for senior decision makers.

Market & Target Research

• Conduct market research, competitor benchmarking, and strategic analysis to support investment theses.
• Support target screening and pipeline development through research and database generation where required.
• Assist in building regional target lists and evaluating strategic fit against EiM's growth priorities.

Stakeholder Communication & Project Management

• Support engagement with school founders, operators, advisors, and internal stakeholders through clear documentation and structured follow-up.
• Coordinate internal meetings, prepare agendas and minutes, and ensure consistent execution of next steps.
• Work across multiple workstreams under pressure, maintaining accuracy, pace, and prioritisation.

Essential Skills and Experience

• 2–4 years of experience in Investment Banking (IB) and/or transaction advisory with strong exposure to M&A execution.
• Prior experience in education, consumer services, healthcare, or similarly structured sectors is beneficial but not required.

Core Competencies

Drive Improvement, Innovation and Change

The ability to innovate and lead change by identifying improvement areas, lifelong learning and implementing new tools and technology for team and group benefits. Cultivates a creative team atmosphere allowing people to embrace change and innovative ideas.

Drive Sustainability

The ability to think and act responsibly and promote sustainable practices to maximise social impact and personal impact, maintain a positive outlook at work, take accountability of own practice, and have a global mindset to achieve sustainable development goals.

Work Inclusively and Foster Partnership

The ability to be adaptable and transparent in interacting with people with different backgrounds, work collaboratively and across boundaries, regardless of personal job responsibility, and be consultative to draw informed decisions and build a wider community with students, parents, and colleagues to ensure their voice is heard and valued.

Delivering Results

The ability to deliver desired results, in accordance with business objectives, plan activities and projects well in advance, take account of possible changing circumstances consistently, and focus on the internal and external customers satisfaction to keep achieving high standard quality.

Problem Solving and Conceptual Thinking

The ability to analyse relevant data and all other sources of information, to break them into parts, to identify the most probable cause of a problem and generate feasible solutions from a broad perspective.

Decision Making

The ability to take responsibility and initiative to work under own direction while showing the ability to make and implement informed, timely decisions, based on a comprehensive analysis and the implications of potential outcomes.

Professionalism

The ability to demonstrate business acumen by understanding different functions, proactively develop the appropriate level of expertise required to successfully complete tasks and show commitment to the group values and ethics.

Develop Safe and Supportive Learning Environment

EiM employees are committed to safeguarding and to promoting the welfare of children and young people. They ensure a secure, stimulating and well managed learning environment that promotes a sense of safety, support and wellbeing.

EIM believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success and that contributions should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this job description is designed to outline primary responsibilities but not limit the employee nor EIM to only the work identified. It is the expectation of the Company, that each employee will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our organisation. All appointments are subject to an interview, identity and background checks, social media checks in conjunction with a successful visa/work permit application (for expat candidates).

Equity Diversity Inclusion Statement

EiM is committed to diversity within its team, organisational practices, policies and culture. It recognises that people with different backgrounds, skills, attitudes and experiences bring fresh ideas and perceptions, and it encourages and leverages these differences to make its work more relevant and approachable. EiM will not discriminate or tolerate discriminatory behaviour on any grounds such as, but not limited to, race, gender, disability, nationality, national or ethnic origin, religion or belief, marital/partnership or family status, sexual orientation, age or socioeconomic background. EiM strives to be an inclusive workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging, has a voice, can raise concerns, and feels comfortable and confident. It expects everyone who works with it to share this commitment and to act accordingly, as it aspires to best serve the EiM mission and its community.