Senior Consultant - Value Creation Strategy & Exit Readiness (m/f/d)

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YOUR TASK We are looking for a Senior Consultant - Value Creation Strategy & Exit Readiness (m/f/d) to act as a strategic architect across the entire private equity holding period - from designing day-one value creation plans, to supporting complex refinancing or underperformance situations, through to preparing assets for a maximum-valuation exit. In this role, you will work with Mid-Market Private Equity investors, Operating Partners, portfolio company C-suite teams, and, where required, lenders or creditors. The sector focus of the role is on Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) and Financial Services (FS). As well as a comprehensive professional induction, you will gain exposure to high-stakes decision-making processes involving Private Equity sponsors, portfolio company leadership teams, and financing stakeholders from day one. Look forward to diverse and challenging tasks, such as: Lead the development of Full Potential Plans (FPPs) , including comprehensive 3-to-5-year strategic roadmaps for portfolio companies. Conduct rapid diagnostic reviews to identify top-line and bottom-line value levers across revenue, cost, working capital, and operational efficiency. Translate investment thesis priorities into tactical, measurable workstreams for portfolio company management teams. Deliver Independent Business Reviews (IBRs) for underperforming, stressed, or transitioning assets. Assess operational viability, management capabilities, and market positioning in high-pressure and time-sensitive situations. Validate or challenge management business plans, with a particular focus on liquidity, 13-week cash flow forecasting, downside planning, and protection measures. Support exit readiness and sell-side preparation to maximise transaction outcomes. Develop compelling, data-backed equity stories that articulate future growth potential to prospective buyers. Identify and mitigate internal red flags before they surface in buyer diligence, including financial, operational, and strategic issues. Defend key performance indicators and support the normalisation of EBITDA adjustments in transaction contexts. Act as a trusted advisor between Private Equity sponsors, lenders, and portfolio company management teams, including in situations where difficult messages need to be delivered with clarity and credibility. Build robust financial analyses and business cases, including cost-out, margin expansion, liquidity, and performance improvement models. Prepare high-quality presentations and boardroom-ready materials for investment committees, portfolio company leadership teams, lenders, and potential buyers. You bring a strong strategic and analytical mindset, paired with financial depth, resilience, and the ability to operate credibly in high-stakes client situations. In addition, you will recognise yourself in the following: 3-6 years of total professional experience. Ideally, at least 2 years at Senior Consultant or Project Leader level within a recognised strategy consultancy, restructuring boutique, or Big 4 Deals / Value Creation practice. Strong corporate finance capabilities, including the ability to analyse three-statement financial models in depth. Sound understanding of complex debt structures, particularly in the context of Independent Business Reviews and lender-related situations. Proven ability to build granular cost-out, margin expansion, and performance improvement models. Deep understanding of the M&A lifecycle, LBO mechanics, and the relationship between operational levers and exit multiples. Clear view of what strategic and financial buyers look for in TMT and Financial Services assets. Solid sector understanding in TMT and/or Financial Services, including industry-specific commercial and financial dynamics. Strong familiarity with topics such as recurring revenue valuation, CapEx vs. OpEx economics in SaaS environments, and regulatory capital considerations in Financial Services. Excellent analytical problem-solving skills, especially when navigating imperfect, complex, or high-pressure situations. Outstanding communication and presentation skills in English, including strong synthesis, storylining, and slide writing for senior executive, investor, and buyer audiences. What We Expect From You You combine the objectivity of an advisor with the credibility of a commercially minded operator and are comfortable working in situations where the stakes are high and the answers are not always straightforward. You will particularly stand out if: You bring a strong "truth teller" mindset and are able to challenge assumptions or current trajectories with confidence, objectivity, and data-backed arguments. You are intellectually honest, highly structured, and capable of forming independent views even in politically sensitive client environments. You are a true cross-functional generalist who can move seamlessly between growth strategy, operational performance, working capital, cost levers, and debt-related c