Locations

- Toronto, ON M5H3P5, CAN
- Remote
- Strategic Planning
- Full-Time

Description

Title: Principal, Mergers & Acquisitions

Department: Strategy, Planning and Learning

Reporting to: Chief Strategy, Planning and Learning Officer

Canada Compensation: $135K CAD - $170K CAD Employment: Fixed-Term - 18 months

Location: Remote - Canada (Candidates based in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia or willing to relocate)

Travel and in-person collaboration may be required based on business and transaction needs.

Who we are:

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. For over 50 years, WES has set the standard for international academic credential evaluation, supporting millions of people as they seek to achieve their academic and professional goals. Through decades of experience as a leader in global education, WES has developed a wide range of tools to pursue social impact at scale. From evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change. Together with its partners, WES enables people to learn, work, and thrive in new places. For more information about WES, please visit www.WES.org.

About the Opportunity:

The Principal, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A;) is a senior, hands-on transaction leader responsible for managing and executing WES's near-term acquisition activity. Reporting to the Chief Strategy,



Planning and Learning Officer, this role will work closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to lead the financial evaluation, modeling, transaction planning, due diligence, structuring, negotiation, and closing of potential acquisitions and, as needed, divestitures.

The Principal will serve as the primary transaction lead once an prospect progresses from strategic and business development evaluation into an active deal process. The role provides rigorous financial and transaction advice to senior management, including assessments of valuation, deal economics, financial projections, transaction risks, structuring alternatives, and financial implications.

As a strategic and financial advisor to senior management, the Principal will provide objective analysis of deal rationale, valuation, risks, synergies, and strategic fit. Working closely with internal stakeholders and external advisors, this role will help ensure an effective transition from transaction execution through post-close integration.

What You’ll Do:

Strategic & Opportunity Evaluation:

- Partner with executive leadership to develop and execute WES's M&A; and portfolio strategy.
- Identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential acquisitions, mergers, divestitures,



strategic investments, and other corporate development opportunities.
- Assess strategic rationale, market attractiveness, competitive positioning, operational fit, and value-creation potential.
- Develop investment theses and recommendations on potential M&A; opportunities in partnership with senior leadership for presentation to executive leadership and relevant Board committees.
- Maintain and prioritize a pipeline of potential transaction opportunities.
- As needed, evaluate potential divestitures, carve-outs, and other portfolio optimization opportunities.

Financial Analysis & Valuation:

- Lead financial modeling and valuation of potential transactions, including DCF, comparable company, precedent transaction, accretion/dilution, and return analyses.
- Evaluate financial projections, business plans, capital requirements, synergies, and transaction economics.
- Develop scenario and sensitivity analyses to identify key value drivers and risks.
- Assess financial, accounting, tax, and capital structure implications of proposed transactions.
- Establish appropriate valuation ranges, transaction thresholds, and financial return criteria.

Due Diligence:

- Lead and coordinate comprehensive financial, operational, commercial, legal, technology, HR, tax, and other due diligence activities.
- Establish diligence scope, workstreams, timelines, responsibilities, and decision criteria.
- Identify and quantify material transaction risks, liabilities, opportunities, and potential synergies.
- Coordinate internal functional le

📌 Principal, Mergers (Toronto)
🏢 World Education Services
📍 Toronto