Mergers & Acquisitions Principal (M&A and Integration)

Cook Inlet Region, Inc is seeking a talented Mergers & Acquisitions Principal to join our team. CIRI's offices are conveniently located in mid-town Anchorage at the Fireweed Business Center, a modern building that represents CIRI’s cultural diversity, respect for the land, and sustainability. The Fireweed Business Center reflects our heritage in the displayed Alaska Native art and interior design.

CIRI offers a hybrid work schedule for employees based in Anchorage, AK. The Mergers & Acquisitions Principal can be based in Anchorage, AK or offers a fully remote schedule should the incumbent live outside of Anchorage, AK.  Remote employees are required to travel to the corporate office on a regular schedule.

CIRI only accepts applications through our online career page at https://www.ciri.com/careers/jobs/

General Function

In alignment with CIRI’s mission and values, this role is responsible for a high degree of ownership across the M&A and venture capital deal process. This position performs due diligence as a key player and part of a team, reviews data rooms, provides decision data points, and if an acquisition decision is made, aligns cross-functional integration teams, and creates a successful foundation between CIRI and the merged/acquired asset by ensuring smooth transitions, maximizing synergies and unlocking value. This position is required to support on-site tasks during asset integrations and during diligence periods and is expected to travel up to 30% of the time. Actual duties and areas of focus are expected to fluctuate depending on the current level of merger and acquisition activity of the company.

Major Activities (Typical Duties/Responsibilities)

1. Execute comprehensive integration plans encompassing all internal and external stakeholders:
   1. Develop an objective, consistent, disciplined approach to integrations plans including timelines, meeting schedules, communication mechanisms and review processes.
   2. Manage the interdependencies between functions so activities are prioritized and sequenced correctly.
   3. Evaluate risks associated with integration and mitigate to the extent possible.
   4. Communicate with all functional integration leaders and conduct effective kickoff meetings to ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities during the integration period.
   5. Serve as the primary point of contact for the acquisition, coordinate activities and communication across company lines:
      1. Lead cross-functional teams from both CIRI and acquired assets to collaborate effectively and achieve seamless integration.
      2. Identify/understand issues or concerns, navigate unforeseen challenges; provide regular status updates.
      3. Collaborate with key resources and departments to ensure acquisition receives proper onboarding with all key departments.
      4. Provide guidance and support during the integration.
      5. Collaborate with the Legal department and any advisors to ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements
      6. Collaborate with Finance and Accounting departments to identify and realize cost synergies, operational efficiencies, and revenue-generating opportunities; communicate to the executive team.
      7. Foster open communication and build trust between acquired and existing teams, mitigate cultural conflicts and ensure a positive employee experience.
      8. Understand and be the champion of CIRI’s culture, story, and values and communicate continually and consistently to acquired company.
      9. Report on integration progress to the executive team and Board of Directors.
      10. Ensure exit criteria are met; document handoffs to acquired asset leaders at the end of the integration period.
   6. Capture lessons learned.
   7. Monitor post-transition pulse, take action as needed or directed to smooth areas as needed for long-term success.
   8. Establish key performance indicators to measure the success of the acquisition across critical areas, including financial metrics, client satisfaction, employee retention, and project delivery performance; regularly analyze data; provide reports and recommendations to executive team.
   9. Develop and implement post-acquisition communication strategies to keep stakeholders informed of progress and address concerns.
   10. Stay abreast of M&A integration trends and best practices, continuously improving CIRI’s integration methodologies.
2. Assist the Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions in executing the company’s due diligence process:
   1. Perform financial modeling for potential targets:
      1. Analyze data for working capital requirements and potential liabilities and risks and how they will impact valuation.
      2. Develop valuation analysis by assessing the quality and sustainability of the target’s reported earnings and achievability of the forecast.
      3. Compare financial performance to industry benchmarks.
   2. Participate in diligence meetings, planning and execution.
   3. Serve as CIRI’s subject matter expert for due diligence data review. Support the process and participants to achieve meaningful results.
      1. Coordinate cross-functional diligence teams.
      2. Monitor the status of active due diligence projects, track projects from initiation to completion and ensure that project timelines and commitments are met.
      3. Review data rooms and collaborate with consultants and department subject matter experts; conduct preliminary target analysis to identify potential risks, opportunities, and synergies in light of the company’s capabilities and investment strategy.
      4. Manage large amounts of data, preparing data views, reports, and presentations outlining opportunities and risks of potential targets for the executive team and Board of Directors.
3. Lead and/or support venture capital investment activities including but not limited to:

1. 1. Sourcing new targets
   2. Market research
   3. Due diligence of startup companies
   4. Operational activities related to accelerator/incubator/other startup programs
   5. Partnership development and outreach.

     4. Perform other duties as required and assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Understand CIRI’s mission, values and strategic focus areas and incorporate knowledge into daily activities.
• Strong financial modeling and valuation skills.
• Strong M&A integration knowledge and understanding of general department functions and interdependencies.
• Ability to manage priorities; make decisions, resolve challenges, and exercise sound judgment.
• Strong project management skills with the capability to contribute to, and lead, multi-department projects.
• Critical, analytical thinking skills and ability to make decisions using good judgement.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to tailor messages to different audiences.
• Work independently as well as on a team, and with minimal supervision.
• Work well under pressure.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of discretion with sensitive and confidential information.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively and collaboratively with all levels of management and staff, affiliated-company employees as well as outside business associates or general members of the public; exhibit a professional manner in dealing with others.
• Ability to maximize utilization of available resources to collaborate on projects. Recommend and implement innovations to increase efficiency.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite of programs, and industry-standard software and databases.
• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle and travel by airplane.
• Outstanding problem-solving skills including the ability to define and structure problems, collect and analyze data, and synthesize defendable recommendations into an action plan.
• Ability to combine business and operational concepts to lead multi-faceted and highly complex integration efforts.
  

Physical Abilities

• Sufficient fine motor skills for use of computers, calculators with an ability to withstand repetitive keyboarding for extended periods of time.
• Visual and communication ability adequate to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Ability to kneel, bend and twist at the waist on an occasional basis.
• Ability to reach below shoulder height with regular frequency (desk position) and at or above shoulder height on occasion.
• Ability to push, pull, carry and lift objects weighing up to 20 pounds on a regular basis, and greater weights on an occasional basis.
• Ability to travel by vehicle or aircraft and ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics or related field
• Five years’ progressively more responsible work experience that demonstrates financial modeling and leading M&A integration strategy and processes
• Two years’ supervisory experience preferred
• Ability to travel up to 30% of time
• PMP certificate preferred
• SBA 8(a) program knowledge strongly preferred
• Ability to pass a background screening
  

CIRI does not discriminate, and the company provides equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, age, marital status, pregnancy or parenthood, handicap or disability, genetics, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic. CIRI adheres to all federal, state and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity and will not discriminate against you in violation of these laws. CIRI reserves the right to apply CIRI shareholder preference to qualified shareholders in employment and advancement opportunities.