SEA M&A Advisory, Director/Manager

About YCP Group

YCP is a Singapore-headquartered management consulting firm founded in 2011. Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (JDR listing, December 2021), YCP operates with 700+ professionals across 20+ offices globally. In Asia, YCP is present across 13+ cities including Tokyo, Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, and Shanghai.　The Management Service Division (MSD) delivers three core service offerings: Advisory (strategy consulting), PMO (project management), and Transaction (M&A advisory). With a track record of 3,000+ projects and 500+ clients across the Asia-Pacific, YCP combines deep local market knowledge with cross-border execution capability.

YCP covers 13 industry sectors including Automotive & Mobility, Energy & Natural Resources, Healthcare, Consumer & Retail, Financial Services, Technology, Industrials, and Private Equity & Investors. Our core strengths lie in cross-border transactions, M&A, and digital transformation, underpinned by on-the-ground presence and networks that global firms cannot replicate.

Why YCP

• Unparalleled autonomy and ownership — While many consulting environments follow a hierarchical progression before individuals lead engagements , at YCP, you own your scope, deliver under your own name, and build your reputation from day one. You define what you work on, how you deliver it, and what comes next.

• Accelerated path to Partner — Career progression in consulting is often time-bound and tenure-driven. At YCP, top performers can reach Partner in under 5 years. The level of discretion and speed is in a different league.

• SEA × Japan: a unique positioning — While cross-border engagements are often one of many focus areas in consulting, YCP is deeply specialized at the intersection of Southeast Asia and Japan as our core business — and we are positioned to be the #1 firm in this segment.

• Entrepreneurial way of working — End-to-end ownership from proposal to delivery. You can design new service lines, launch in new countries, and build what doesn't exist yet. This is a culture where you create your own opportunities.

• Cross-border, multi-country engagements — Working across multiple countries on a single project is the norm, not the exception. You develop both on-the-ground market instinct and strategic perspective through daily collaboration with multinational teams.

Cross-Border M&A Advisory

Management Service Division | SEA

YCP's Cross-Border M&A Advisory team serves as buy-side financial advisor to Japanese companies pursuing inbound-outbound M&A across Asia. The team operates as a virtual, fully remote unit of ~15 multinational professionals spanning Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Taiwan. Client communication is in Japanese; internal team communication is in English. The team handles 10–15+ mandated FA engagements and 100+ pipeline cases per year across diverse countries and industries.

Position Overview

As a Director or Manager in the Cross-Border M&A Advisory team, you will serve as a buy-side financial advisor to Japanese companies pursuing inbound-outbound M&A transactions across Asia. You will lead the full M&A process from target sourcing through deal origination, LOI submission, due diligence management, contract negotiation, and closing — acting as the primary interface between Japanese corporate clients and YCP's multinational deal execution teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end buy-side FA engagements for Japanese corporate clients pursuing cross-border M&A in Asia

• Manage client relationships: deal proposals, progress reporting, expectation management, and conveying buyer intent

• Coordinate with country-specific deal teams on target sourcing, valuation modelling, deal structuring, and negotiation

• Oversee due diligence processes in coordination with external advisors (law firms, audit firms)

• Communicate client requirements in Japanese while directing deal execution teams in English

• Build and maintain M&A pipelines across Southeast Asian markets

• Contribute to business development through client relationship expansion

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of buy-side FA experience at an investment bank, FAS, boutique FA, or M&A brokerage (DD/valuation-only experience not sufficient)

• OR 2+ years of buy-side M&A execution experience at a PE fund or operating company

• Director: 4+ years of buy-side FA experience; Manager: 2+ years

• Native-level Japanese proficiency (essential for all client communication)

• Business-level English proficiency (essential for all internal team communication)

• Director: ability to lead team operations and client relationships independently; Manager: ability to maintain client relationships under Director guidance

Preferred Qualifications

• Cross-border M&A experience (not required but valued)

• Knowledge of Southeast Asian M&A markets and regulatory environments

• Experience working with Japanese corporate decision-making processes

• Professional qualifications (CPA, Bar admission, CFA, etc.)