Recovery Ahead for M&A Market?

It may not be the heyday of 2007, but predictions are that M&A deal activity and deal values in many sectors will top that of 2010. The slow and steady recovery is a glimmer of hope in an otherwise lackluster to dismal financial landscape. Banks, as well as accounting and consulting, PE and investment firms, are well aware and making moves to be in on the action by ramping up financing, deal advisory and due diligence staff. Professionals with relevant experience from the Big Four or direct mergers and acquisitions working in the alt investing world are sure to benefit.

According to the 2011 SRS M&A Deal Terms Study, private target M&A's are certainly bouncing back. The top seller industries included companies in the software, IT services and business products and services sectors. In a new RSM McGladrey survey of middle-market private equity groups, the industrial and chemicals sector was the most active for buyout targets. So, expect job offers at PE firms to center on specific industry expertise.

The RSM McGladrey survey also found that 33 percent of the respondents described themselves as generalists, but they had plans to become more industry-specific. Not surprisingly, RSM McGladrey just announced a realignment of their transaction advisory business to center on the specific industry needs of their clients.

RSM McGladrey got the jumpstart on their competition, starting the year blogging about the firm's need for senior associates for their transaction advisory services practice-people to work with PE and other buyers on due diligence, business integration and financing assistance.

RSM McGladrey, Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG and Deloitte are currently listing spots for M&A support. Transaction support positions may vary in title, but whether analysts, senior managers or turnaround and integration specialists are in need, operational and financial skills are a must have.