About the Role

Equitable's Corporate Development team is seeking an accomplished Deputy Head of M&A. Reporting to the Head of M&A and Business CFO for Institutional and Wealth Management, this senior leadership role will help shape and execute the company's M&A strategy across Retirement, Wealth Management, and Asset Management with a particular focus on Wealth Management. The Deputy Head will partner with executive and business leaders to originate and evaluate strategic opportunities, lead complex transactions, and build key market relationships that advance Equitable's long-term growth objectives.

What You'll Be Doing

M&A Strategy & Strategic Planning: Partner with executive leadership to develop and execute the enterprise M&A strategy across Retirement, Wealth Management, and Asset Management, with particular emphasis on Wealth Management as a strategic growth priority. Align acquisition, divestiture, reinsurance, and partnership opportunities with the firm's long-term growth and strategic objectives.

Market Intelligence & Target Identification: Develop a comprehensive view of priority markets, industry trends, competitive activity, and potential targets, with deeper coverage of the broker-dealer and RIA landscape. Translate market insights into actionable acquisition themes, sourcing priorities, and transaction opportunities.

Deal Origination & Pipeline Development: Proactively originate and evaluate acquisition, divestiture, reinsurance, and strategic partnership opportunities. Build and actively manage a high-quality pipeline aligned with enterprise priorities, including targeted outreach, inbound opportunity assessment, and dedicated Wealth Management coverage.

Strategic Relationship Development: Build and maintain senior-level relationships with prospective targets, business owners, industry executives, investment banks, consultants, legal advisors, reinsurers, and other key market participants to strengthen the firm's M&A network and generate strategic opportunities.

Transaction Leadership & Execution: Lead complex transactions from initial evaluation through execution, coordinating internal and external stakeholders and maintaining disciplined governance, strategic alignment, and effective execution throughout the transaction lifecycle.

Financial Analysis, Valuation & Deal Structuring: Lead and oversee financial modeling, valuation, transaction structuring, and scenario analysis to assess strategic and financial attractiveness, including transaction returns, cash flow implications, and accretion/dilution considerations.

Due Diligence & Cross-Functional Leadership: Lead enterprise-wide due diligence and coordinate cross-functional teams across business, finance, legal, tax, accounting, actuarial, risk, investments, and operations to evaluate opportunities, identify key considerations and risks, and support transaction decisions.

Negotiation & Counterparty Engagement: Partner with executive leadership, legal counsel, and external advisors in negotiations with counterparties, including the evaluation and development of LOIs/IOIs, term sheets, transaction documents, commercial terms, and required approvals.

Executive Communication & M&A Reporting: Develop and present strategic recommendations, transaction materials, pipeline updates, sourcing activity, and performance insights for senior leadership and other key stakeholders. Monitor transaction progress and relevant performance measures to support informed decision-making and ongoing M&A strategy.

This position offers a hybrid work schedule, with an on-site presence of 2-3 days per week combining flexibility with team collaboration.

The total targeted compensation range for this position is $315,000 - $441,000. Total compensation varies based on skills, experience, geographical location and other factors. Equitable provides compensation to reward performance with base salary increases, spot bonuses, and short-term incentive compensation opportunities. Eligibility for these programs depends on level and functional area of responsibility.

For eligible employees, Equitable provides a full range of benefits. This includes medical, dental, vision, a 401(k) plan, and paid time off. For detailed descriptions of these benefits, please reference the link below.

Equitable Pay and Benefits: Equitable Total Rewards Program

Qualifications

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree required. MBA or other advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive M&A transaction experience, including significant buy-side and sell-side experience within corporate development, investment banking, or a related environment.
• 2+ years of Wealth Management transaction experience strongly preferred, with knowledge of the broker-dealer and/or RIA landscape highly desirable; experience across Retirement, Asset Management, or broader financial services is also preferred.
• Proven expertise in corporate finance, valuation, accounting, transaction structuring, and financial modeling, with the ability to evaluate the strategic and financial implications of complex transactions.
• Established experience leading complex, cross-functional transactions and partnering effectively with senior executives, business leaders, external advisors, and counterparties.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, business judgment, executive communication, and leadership capabilities, with the ability to translate complex analyses into clear recommendations and manage multiple priorities.
• Proven ability to exercise sound judgment, take ownership and accountability, maintain exceptional attention to detail, and manage sensitive or confidential matters with professionalism and discretion.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint and experience with S&P Capital IQ/Market Intelligence or comparable platforms preferred.

Skills

Strategic & Business Acumen: Demonstrates a strong understanding of business strategy, market dynamics, and financial drivers, with the ability to translate insights into actionable M&A opportunities and recommendations.

M&A & Transaction Leadership: Demonstrates expertise across the transaction lifecycle, with the ability to evaluate, structure, and lead complex acquisitions, divestitures, reinsurance transactions, and strategic partnerships.

Financial Analysis, Valuation & Modeling: Applies strong knowledge of corporate finance, accounting, valuation, and financial modeling to assess transaction alternatives, financial implications, risks, and potential returns.

Critical Thinking & Decision-Making: Analyzes complex financial, strategic, and market information, exercises sound judgment, and develops well-informed recommendations in dynamic and often ambiguous situations.

Executive Communication & Influence: Communicates complex financial and strategic concepts clearly and effectively, with the executive presence and influencing skills to engage senior leaders, business partners, advisors, and counterparties.

Relationship & Stakeholder Management: Builds trusted relationships across internal and external stakeholders and effectively navigates differing priorities to advance strategic initiatives and transactions.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Execution: Leads complex, multi-disciplinary initiatives with accountability, discretion, and attention to detail, effectively coordinating stakeholders and priorities through execution.