Transaction Director - Austin

The Transaction Director leads and develops deal teams, manages a sizable portfolio of businesses for sale, and drives the firm's growth by successfully closing client transactions. This sales-focused role requires strong negotiation, empathy, client and personnel management, and a deep understanding of mergers and acquisitions.

Each team includes Associate Deal Directors to help move transactions forward, but the Transaction Director holds ultimate responsibility for revenue targets, resolving complex issues, and meeting client demands. This is a frontline M&A role involving dailyinteraction with multiple clients and buyers. Deal teams consistently close one to two transactions per month, and the Transaction Director is expected to maintain this pace. The role reports directly to the office's Managing Director, who previously held the position and provides guidance and support.

Transaction Directors are further supported by Benchmark International's global brand, Managing Partner, and Central Support Team in Tampa, including leadership across quality control, IT, marketing, and business writing. Unlike many firms, Benchmark removes operational distractions such as client origination, marketing, and compensation structuring, allowing the Transaction Director to focus on team management and deal execution. Responsibilities begin with an engagement letter and a prepared file from the Deal Origination Department and continues through every stage of the transaction-up to closing and collection of the success fee (excluding legal and accounting services).

Job Responsibilities

Success in this role will include a well-balanced approach to contributions in four distinct areas.

1. Manage a portfolio of businesses for sale

• Work directly with business owners looking to exit their business or take on a strategic partner, serving as Benchmark International's primary relationship manager with these clients.
• Ensure the team remains responsive to all client requirements including adequate prompt callbacks, perfectly crafted correspondence, and compliance with the Terms of Engagement.
• Maintain at least a high altitude understanding of each client in the portfolio, increasing in detail as the clients move through the process.
• Manage team's movement of clients from deal preparation phase through the marketing phase and into negotiations with their acquirers.
• Lead response to any client complaints and notices of termination

• Directly handle the negotiations of larger clients leading up to letters of intent and then, working with the client's attorney and accountant, drive the transaction through to closing.
• Supervise Assistant Team Leads with negotiations of smaller clients leading up to letters of intent and through to closing.
• Leading up to closing, handle all discussions with clients concerning Benchmark International's success fee and ensure timely collection of the same.

• Ensure all team members have the training and tools necessary to succeed
• Work with Central Support Team to interview and hire replacements when necessary.
• Ensure the team operates in a respectful, professional, and nurturing environment.
• Distribute workload appropriately.
• Allocate tasks to provide each team member with new challenges, to maintain their engagement level, and to achieve high retention rates.

• Provide frontline input to process improvement efforts.
• Make team members available on a short-term basis for discipline-specific projects, occasional major transaction engagements, and conference attendance.
• Participate in brand recognition events in the region and throughout the financial community.
• Contribute to office-wide and company-wide training efforts.

• Have 5-10 years working as an M&A professional (e.g., broker, investment banker, accountant, attorney).
• Have 3+ years of personnel management experience, and a similar period of experience in roles entered in sales and/or direct client management.
• Understand the sequence of events in the company sale process.
• Have a firm understanding of financial statements, EBITDA calculations, and the process of identifying and defending add backs.
• Have a passing knowledge of the legal parameters involved in M&A transactions.
• Be familiar with a variety of transaction structures and their relevant merits and drawbacks to the seller.
• Possess the ability to learn the financial and market dynamics of new industries in relatively short periods.
• Communicate well both verbally and in writing.
• Be capable of handling setbacks, having difficult conversations with business owners, negotiating against veteran professional acquirers, taking responsibility for process breakdowns even when not responsible, and fostering cooperation with client's attorneys and accountants.
• Work outside normal business hours at times, whether early or late, as required client schedules and expectations.
• Be available to travel for occasional overnight trips on short notice (rarely, if ever, longer than three days)
• Be able to obtain a Texas real-estate sales associate license within 7 months of employment (For employment in our Texas office).
• Have no unfavorable history with FINRA, the SEC, or any state regulatory agency.
• Be able to work in the office, Monday-Friday, as this is not a remote or hybrid position.
• Wear Professional dress attire.