Director - Global M&A Integration

Summary

Join Xero’s M&A Integration team as a Director, Global M&A Integration, a global center of excellence dedicated to integrating acquired companies and managing separation activities. You will lead complex integration and separation programs globally, maximizing value from each transaction. Your strategic oversight will ensure robust planning and flawless execution, fostering collaboration with executive leadership and acquired entities. You will lead the strategic integration of back-office systems and processes, driving long-term scalability and operational efficiencies. This role is based in the US and requires strong leadership, program management, and stakeholder influence skills. Success involves strategic impact, value maximization, execution excellence, stakeholder endorsement, product integration success, operational scalability, best-in-class frameworks, and a high-performing team.

Requirements

• 10-12+ years in M&A integration and separation leadership, primarily in global tech or SaaS
• Prior top-tier management consulting experience in M&A, PMI, or corporate strategy
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or non-business degree with an MBA
• Proven track record leading multiple complex, large-scale M&A integrations/divestitures from strategy to value capture in fast-paced, global settings

Responsibilities

• Partner in Due Diligence: Strategically collaborate with the Corporate Development team during due diligence, providing expert integration and separation insights to assess operational risks, potential cost and revenue synergies, integration costs, and overall deal viability, including evaluation of back-office system integration requirements
• Conduct Operational Due Diligence: Lead and perform thorough operational due diligence to identify key operational risks, opportunities, and validate synergy potential and integration complexities
• Set Integration Strategy: Define the overall integration approach, goals, and guiding principles for each transaction, developing comprehensive integration strategies and business cases that align with Xero's corporate objectives and the specific deal thesis. This includes early collaboration with Founders and outlining plans for their involvement
• Identify & Quantify Synergies: Lead the identification, validation, and quantification of all synergy targets (cost and revenue). Work closely with Product, Go-to-Market (GTM), and operational teams to develop high-level execution plans for revenue synergies and cost savings
• Develop Detailed Integration Plans: Lead the creation of comprehensive, cross-functional integration plans, with a strong focus on integrating back-office people, processes, and technology (e.g., Finance, HR, IT) to ensure seamless operations, enhanced collaboration, and a scalable foundation for future growth
• Oversee Program Execution: Ensure the successful execution of multiple, complex, and concurrent M&A integration and separation programs, managing cross-functional teams and making critical decisions to meet time, budget, and quality expectations
• Drive Cost Synergy Capture: Actively drive the realization of identified cost synergies through meticulous integration execution, operational restructuring, and diligent tracking of savings against targets
• Lead Revenue Synergy Realization: Steer the capture of revenue synergies by working closely with GTM, Product, and Technology teams to implement plans, such as developing new/embedded products, defining new sales motions, and integrating sales operations
• Provide Strategic Counsel: Offer ongoing expert advice to Xero’s leadership (including ELT) and business units on post-acquisition structuring, integration execution, and value realization, including strategies for partnering with Founders to scale products and GTM approaches
• Execute Stakeholder Engagement Plans: Develop and implement strategic stakeholder engagement plans for complex M&A projects, ensuring alignment and buy-in from senior executives (Board, ELT, Senior Leaders) across Xero and acquired companies, with a focus on strong Founder relationships
• Lead Executive Reporting: Oversee the preparation and delivery of high-impact reports, strategic papers, and presentations on M&A integration progress, risks, and outcomes to the Board, ELT, and other senior stakeholders
• Champion Cross-Functional Collaboration: Cultivate a culture of deep collaboration, partnering with leaders in Product, Technology, GTM, Finance, Legal, HR, and IT to ensure cohesive integration, especially for back-office systems
• Manage Performance & Development: Work with junior team members to set performance expectations and development goals, provide timely feedback, and support career progression through coaching and strategic assignments
• Support Overall Team Growth: Assist the GM of Global M&A Integration in team development, strategic resource planning, budget management, and cultivating an innovative, inclusive, and results-driven culture
• Advance M&A Capability: Spearhead the definition, continuous refinement, and global implementation of Xero's M&A integration and separation playbooks, frameworks, and best practices to build and maintain a world-class M&A capability

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep understanding of SaaS business models, key metrics, and the tech landscape is highly preferred
• Extensive experience with operational and commercial due diligence for acquisitions/ separations to inform strategy and planning
• Demonstrated success in developing, quantifying, and delivering significant synergy/value creation in complex M&A
• Strong experience managing and influencing senior executives, including C-suite and Board interactions
• Significant experience leading, managing, and developing high-performing teams (direct and project-based)

Benefits

$236,400 - $289,000 a year