Head of Mergers, Acquisitions, & Tuck-Ins (MAT)

Summary:

Centura Wealth Advisory is seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial leader to establish and lead its Mergers, Acquisitions, and Tuck-Ins (MAT) function from the ground up. This is a rare opportunity to architect and execute an end-to-end M&A growth strategy focused on advisor tuck-ins, team lift-outs, and small RIA acquisitions. The ideal candidate will be both strategic and execution-oriented—capable of building Centura’s M&A roadmap, sourcing and structuring deals, and managing the full lifecycle from initial outreach through post-acquisition integration.

Primary Responsibilities:

M&A Strategy Development

• Design and build Centura’s M&A growth strategy.
• Define and operationalize a repeatable framework for sourcing, qualifying, due diligence, closing, and integrating acquisitions aligned with Centura’s long-term vision.
• Educate internal stakeholders on M&A objectives and ensure alignment across departments.

Full Lifecycle Deal Execution

• Lead the entire deal lifecycle including:
  • Sourcing: Build a robust pipeline of tuck-in candidates and small team acquisitions.
  • Qualifying: Evaluate cultural, operational, and economic fit with Centura’s business model.
  • Due Diligence: Partner with financial, legal, and operational diligence in collaboration with internal and external partners.
  • Closing: Drive deal structuring, term negotiation, and closing processes.
  • Integration: Develop and execute advisor/team onboarding and integration strategies to ensure client retention, cultural alignment, and operational harmony.

Market Intelligence & Competitive Positioning

• Stay current on consolidation trends, advisor movement, valuation benchmarks, and strategic shifts across the RIA landscape.
• Identify emerging opportunities and risks and adjust M&A strategy accordingly.

Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as the point person across all M&A-related activities, liaising between external targets and internal teams (e.g., legal, finance, operations, HR).
• Develop materials and briefings for executive leadership to inform strategic decisions and track acquisition performance.
• Be a thought partner to the leadership team on capital allocation, growth acceleration, and market positioning.
• Perform other duties as assigned, contributing to a collaborative and high-performing team environment.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Entrepreneurial mindset with a builder’s mentality—comfortable launching new initiatives in an unstructured environment.
• Trusted relationship builder with high emotional intelligence, especially in working with advisors, founders, and firm principals.
• Excellent communicator with the ability to present complex deals and strategies to senior leaders and external stakeholders.
• Analytical and financially fluent with a strong command of valuation principles and deal structuring.
• Results-driven, persistent, and resourceful in navigating the nuances of advisor transitions and firm acquisitions.
• Strong networking capabilities and ability to work independently.
• High-level problem-solving skills and adaptability to a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative team player who can work cross-functionally
• Willingness to pursue ongoing education and professional development opportunities within the investment management field.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5–8+ years of experience in M&A, corporate development, strategy, or business Strong knowledge of the wealth management industry and experience with advisor recruiting.
• Demonstrated success building or scaling an M&A function, with experience executing or overseeing all M&A functions (sourcing, qualifying, due-diligence, closing, and integrating advisor tuck-ins or small team acquisitions)
• Deep knowledge of the independent wealth management industry—including advisor economics, client transition dynamics, etc.
• Strategic thinker with strong execution skills, able to drive high-level initiatives while managing multiple deals in motion.
• Strong negotiation and persuasion skills.
• Experience conducting due diligence and leading deal execution from initial outreach to post-close integration.
• Must be able to satisfactorily complete the Centura Wealth Advisory hiring process requirements which include background checks.