Senior Manager | Deal Management (Software Strategy Group - SSG) at Ernst & Young Global Limited (EY)

• Our Software Strategy Group (Technology deals) team sits within the Strategy and Execution (S&E) team, which is EY’s market leading team providing Technology, Operations and Financial advice to corporate and private equity firms who intend to acquire, divest or restructure businesses. The S&E team comprises advisors with specialist commercial, operations, software, technology, cyber, finance and deal / transaction experience from industry, advisory and audit backgrounds.

The Technology team has supports Private Equity and corporate clients in their Transaction (M&A) challenges related to Enterprise technology, Cybersecurity and (software) Product Technology:

• Enterprise technology assesses major technology risks and opportunities related to a transaction across key areas of technology operating models, holistically including technology organisations, enterprise and business systems, infrastructure (server, storage, network, cloud), data, tech spend, strategy and governance
• Cybersecurity focuses on understanding the business operating model, then applying our experience, benchmarks and tools to determine where Cyber is critical to the business, operations, assets and applicable regulations.
• Product and technology provide investment and acquisition guidance to clients across commercial, product, and technical topics needed to assess and advise software companies or firms utilising proprietary technology
• The team has completed hundreds of successful projects and provides a unique capability to help companies make critical choices and complete successful transactions. 
• As part of EY, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as you are, with global scale, support, inclusive culture and technology to become the best version of you. And we’re counting on your unique voice and perspective to help EY become even better, too. Join us and build an exceptional experience for yourself, and a better working world for all.   
• The opportunity 
•  We are seeking to expand our team in South Africa (supporting the larger UK team remotely) with experienced technology professionals who can understand how technology is deployed and utilised within a target business in addition to applying a critical lens to address key client questions related to technology in a Transaction such as
• “Is the tech platform fit to scale, or will it impact the value‑creation plan from day one of ownership?”
• “What’s the true cost and timeline to fix, modernise, or replace the critical technology holding the business back?”
• “How much technical debt are we really buying — and does it threaten the investment thesis?”
• “Where can technology drive immediate EBITDA uplift through automation, efficiency, or smarter digital capability?
• “Where are the key risks associated with separating or replacing the technology landscape associated with the Target business?”
• As a Senior Manager in our team, you will advise clients across all sectors, supporting key decision makers, leading engagement teams including pre-deal diligence, carve-outs & integrations and portfolio reviews. As a senior leader in our business training junior members of the team and leading internal initiatives is a key expectation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Deliver and Lead on end-to-end technology due diligence across the full technology estate of a target business — spanning proprietary software, digital products, data, infrastructure, cybersecurity, architecture, and delivery capability — highlighting risks, value drivers, investment requirements, and operational implications.
• Evaluate carve‑out complexity and scenario options, assessing dependencies, quantifying standalone and separation costs, and identifying transitional service needs across technology and business functions.
• Advise clients on separation and integration strategies from sign to close, shaping day‑1 readiness, defining interim and target‑state operating models, identifying execution risks and mitigations, and guiding TSA‑related decisions to optimise scope, duration, cost, and dependency exit timelines.
• Develop 100‑day integration and transformation plans, outlining synergy opportunities, platform consolidation pathways, and clear routes to value creation.
• Conduct rapid value‑creation diagnostics, identifying operational constraints, performance gaps, and cost optimisation levers, and designing actionable plans to capture benefits at speed.
• Work in and lead multidisciplinary teams and work closely with other EY service lines, partnering with financial, operational, and commercial due diligence teams to deliver cohesive, end‑to‑end insights that integrate technical, commercial, and financial perspectives for clients.
• Lead workstreams, develop junior colleagues, shape internal initiatives, and contribute to the growth of our collaborative, entrepreneurial practice, fostering knowledge‑sharing and driving ongoing capability development.
• You will be part of a fast-growing team comprised of a broad cross section of technology professionals where an entrepreneurial culture and team spirit are highly valued.   

Your key responsibilities 

• As a Senior Manager within our Strategy and Execution team, you would work with our engagement teams in a transaction environment operating under tight M&A timeframes and demands. You will interface with corporate technology teams, CIOs, CTOs, CISOs and Private Equity investment teams to support successful execution of their M&A engagements.

Skills and attributes for success

• You should be familiar with working in a large-scale consulting environment or industry role. You would use your technology and business knowledge to solve client issues and be able to translate technology risk into business or transaction language which non-technical stakeholders can understand.
• Success in this role requires strong technology insight, analytical discipline, and confident leadership. You should be comfortable working in complexity, engaging senior stakeholders, and using structured, hypothesis‑led thinking to reach clear, defensible conclusions.

Key skills include:

• Technology implementation, operation or consulting skills i.e.
• Understanding technology operating models, transformation, value creation and the ability to translate technology for business and investment professionals;
• Demonstrated aptitude for quantitative and qualitative analysis i.e. Technology financial analysis and effective written and verbal communication skills – a focus on key messages for the relevant stakeholders;
• Strong teaming, particularly teams with diverse skills and backgrounds, coupled with the ability to lead and develop juniors. Teaming and development are core to EY and the SSG team; and
• Excellent pro-activity and problem-solving skills
• Desire to challenge yourself, focus on continued development
• Adept at building strong working relationships with senior clients, including influence, advice and support to key decision makers
• Act as a role model and support development of junior team members both on engagements and within internal initiatives 

To qualify for the role, you ideally are experienced in

• Professional services / consulting, ideally within M&A Transactions but candidates without M&A experience will be considered
• Broad knowledge and experience of a typical technology function, including IT, R&D and cyber
• Working with Private Equity and senior IT stakeholders
• Experience on complex engagements, including leading, delivery, commercials, resourcing and risk
• Providing advice to senior clients across multiple industry sectors, supporting key decision makers in developing and executing transactions
• Delivering high-quality reports and presentations