Fast Facts

Ascend Learning seeks a Director of Finance M&A to lead financial analysis and execution of merger and acquisition transactions while collaborating with senior leadership and integrating with property finance.

Responsibilities: Key responsibilities include evaluating M&A opportunities, performing financial modeling, managing due diligence, and developing executive-level materials for senior executives.

Skills: Required skills include strong quantitative analysis, financial modeling proficiency, and ability to lead M&A due diligence efforts.

Qualifications: Candidates should have 10+ years of experience in public accounting, corporate finance, or development, with a Bachelor's in Accounting or Finance; a Master's is preferred.

Location: This is a hybrid position based in Burlington, Massachusetts or Leawood, Kansas.

Compensation: Not provided by employer. Typical compensation ranges for this position are between $150,000 - $200,000.

We Impact Lives Through Purpose-Driven Work in A People First Culture

Ascend Learning is the connection between a powerful portfolio of brands serving students, educators, and employers with outcomes-based, data driven solutions across the lifecycle of learning.

Our values-driven culture unifies our teams and inspires a mindset of action, innovation, and collaboration, with a relentless focus on customers.

We're always looking for talented, passionate professionals to join us in our mission to help change lives. If this sounds like an environment where you'd thrive, read on to learn more.

Ascend Learning leads the way in innovation and solution creation to improve outcomes and deliver results for students, educators, and healthcare workers in the ever-changing field of healthcare. We offer advanced resources that drive nursing success, empower front-line certified allied health workers, help physicians pass boards and stay current, and provide education management tools for medical education programs.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

As a Director Finance M&A, you will lead the financial analysis, planning, and execution of M&A and business development transactions and participate in key strategic planning activities. You will develop strong partnerships with the CFO, M&A Leader, CEO and other key SLT members in addition to integrating with the Controller and Corporate FP&A leader to support the acquisitions process. You will also have significant exposure to business leaders across Ascend. This role offers a unique opportunity to work in a private equity setting and have significant interaction with key shareholders at Blackstone and The Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board. The ideal candidate will have significant M&A transaction analysis and integration experience and be interested in transactions as well as key strategic projects.

WHERE YOU’LL WORK

This position will work a hybrid schedule from our Burlington, Massachusetts or Leawood, Kansas office location.

HOW YOU’LL SPEND YOUR TIME

• Evaluate, assess and quantify the value of M&A, investment and business development opportunities
• Work cross-functionally to create financial models and identify key risks and opportunities including any relevant synergies
• Perform scenario and sensitivity analysis to evaluate various outcomes of a transaction based on identified risks and opportunities
• Identify and evaluate the key drivers of transaction/partnership success – assess risk, advise structure, present alternatives across financial and non-financial parameters
• Provide robust quantitative analysis in support of negotiations and deal execution – LBO returns, discounted cash flow, accretion/dilution analysis, comparable company, and precedent acquisition analyses
• Work closely with corporate development and legal during deal execution including negotiations and document review
• Lead financial due diligence efforts in partnership with Controller, FP&A leader and other key finance team members.
• Develop executive-level materials for CFO, Corporate Development and other senior executives
• Lead quantitative analysis to provide proactive insight into business drivers and financial forecasts and results
• Build strong knowledge of Ascend’s business through constant communication with partners across finance and corporate strategy
• Support internal cross-functional deals team towards successful evaluation, analysis, execution, and integration of targets and partners

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• 10+ years of previous public accounting, corporate finance, corporate development, or other relevant business experience
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required, Masters preferred
• Strong quantitative skills, financial acumen, financial modeling, and accounting comprehension
• Demonstrated ability to participate in and lead partner and M&A due diligence activities
• Demonstrated ability to interface with multi-disciplinary teams and senior leadership - this position will have regular interaction with senior executives and functional leaders
• Outstanding ability to analyze and articulate complex sets of metrics into a clear written analysis
• Advanced expertise with Excel and PowerPoint

BENEFITS

• Flexible and generous paid time off
• Competitive medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• 401(k) employer matching program
• Parental leave
• Wellness resources
• Charitable matching program
• Hybrid work
• On-site workout facilities (Leawood, Gilbert, Burlington)
• Community outreach groups
• Tuition reimbursement

Fostering A Sense of Belonging

We seek out and celebrate all people and perspectives and cultivate an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued and be their authentic selves. Our culture is firmly rooted in the belief that by embracing our differences and drawing on diverse perspectives, we are a stronger, more innovative, and more successful organization where employees experience a sense of belonging.

About Ascend Learning

As a tech-enabled services company, Ascend Learning is a national leader in developing and delivering data-driven online educational content, software, assessments, analytics, and simulations serving institutions, students and employers across healthcare, fitness and wellness, public and workplace safety, skilled trades, insurance, financial services, cybersecurity, and higher education. We're committed to accelerating the learning pathways that can move people into careers where they have the knowledge and skills to have an impact and help change lives in the communities they serve. Headquartered in Burlington, MA with additional office locations and hybrid and remote workers in cities across the U.S., Ascend Learning was recognized by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group as one of America's 2023 Greatest Workplaces for Diversity.

Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S. based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

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