After a few years of very little M&A activity in the Irish market; 2014 saw a significant rise in the in volume and size of transactions completed. This is down to a growing economy coupled with greater confidence amongst Irish companies to grow and foreign companies to invest in Ireland. A number of sectors have been particularly strong like technology, property and healthcare and with an increasing Private Equity appetite back in Ireland, it’s starting to get very competitive! There have been a number of large corporate deals but the emergence of a healthy SME sector has really created a big M&A frenzy.

So what does this mean for the people working in M&A in Ireland?

For the CF & PE firms, it means that they are all growing at a considerable rate and are fighting over the best talent available in the market. And with a skills shortage after years of little M&A activity, it’s extremely difficult to get people with the right experience, especially at Associate Director and Director Levels. It also means that there has been a big focus on trying to attract talent from London, particularly Irish people who are working in Private Equity, Investment Banks, M&A Houses and Big 4 Advisory.

For the professionals looking for or working in M&A in Ireland, there has never been a better time to be looking. There are an array of opportunities in the market from PE firms, large M&A houses to Corporate Finance boutiques and internal M&A / Corporate Development teams within large PLC’s, all with very strong deal pipelines, giving the people that work there excellent experience. It also means that with massive competition for the right people, salaries are going up, and bonuses have returned to pre-recession levels. For someone now looking to start a career in Corporate Finance who may not have an M&A background but has trained in finance (ACA / CFA), companies are willing to broaden their search at the Executive / Analyst level.

The profile of the M&A professional has changed as well from years ago. Before, a strong deal maker / business developer could be extremely successful. Now, a strong academic and analytical ability is essential. And with the companies here being non-sector specific, it’s essential for someone to be adaptable whilst being able to network across a number of industries.

So for professionals who have experience within Private Equity, Corporate Finance, Advisory, or a strong academic background (ACA, CFA or MBA); opportunities are aplenty and salaries and career progression are better than they have ever been. Mason Alexander has been at the forefront of recruitment within this space and have successfully filled a number of mandates with the leading M&A firms in the country. And for the companies who are looking to hire these professionals, Mason Alexander’s network, propriety search techniques, and innovative networking events, we are able to find and attract the right people to your firm.

If you are an M&A professional and would like a discreet conversation about your career, salary and introductions to other opportunities; and if you are a firm looking to find the next hire to grow your business or would like to find out more about our next networking opportunity (London 2015); please contact Andrew Lynch, Director – Mason Alexander on the strictest of confidence: 01-6854414; a.lynch@masonalexander