Technology careers in Transaction Strategy and Execution
The EY-Parthenon Transaction Strategy and Execution (TSE) Technology teams provide technology-related advice to assist corporate and private equity clients in realising their value potential through M&A activity – integration or divestments – or through rapid transformations.
Since joining the Deal Tech team, I've worked on several different pre-deal engagements supporting private equity clients, including technology diligence, synergies and value creation. Passionate about inclusivity, I joined the internal Diversity and Inclusion team. I am also part of the wider TSE Health Sciences and Wellness initiatives due to my interest in the sector.
Layla
In the Cyber team, I’ve helped clients understand the technical and security risks associated with their transactions and advised on the best ways to mitigate them. In the past 12 months, I’ve worked on a variety of deal types for clients based across Europe, and have gotten involved in helping our team develop new service offerings focused on the evolving tech space (including areas like generative AI and quantum computing).
Fraser
As part of the Software Strategy Group (SSG), I've worked on a range of vendor and buy-side diligence projects relating to software and software-enabled assets. I have also enjoyed being part of the Wellbeing and Women's Network initiatives across the wider team, which has provided plenty of career and personal development opportunities for me.
Joy
Technology
TSE comprises three technology teams: Deal Tech, Cyber and the Software Strategy Group (SSG). While each team works with a slightly different focus (see below), all help advise corporate and private equity (PE) clients to evaluate key technology risk areas and identify value creation opportunities. We typically work during the pre-deal phase of M&A transactions or on rapid transformations between transactions.
A typical project duration ranges from a few weeks to several months in length, offering a fast-paced and challenging environment to grow and an excellent way to explore a variety of service offerings and sectors in a short amount of time.
What will you be doing?
- You will rotate between the Deal Tech, Cyber and SSG teams in Year 1, before joining a team full-time in Year 2.
- You will assess the target business’ technology landscape including technology strategy, software products and platforms, IT applications and infrastructure, technology costs and conduct cybersecurity risk assessments.
- The focus of the assessment will vary depending on your team (see below), and will include identifying high risk areas/issues, unaddressed gaps, and areas for overall improvement.
- You will gain exposure to the deal/investment “engine” including the diligence process, valuation process, stakeholders involved (e.g., PEs, M&A teams, investment banks, legal team), bidder meetings and the deal negotiation process.
- You will assist with wider practice development tasks from recruitment through to learning and development as well as business development activities such as preparing pitches and presentations.
- You will have the opportunity to join regular socials and events across Deal Tech, Cyber and SSG as well as TSE and the wider firm.
- You will work on a wide range of pre-deal service offerings, including:
- Technology diligence – assessing a target (buy-side) or a client company’s (sell-side) technology landscape
- Carve-out/separation diligence – identifying technology entanglements and estimating technology separation costs in a divestment
- Value creation – identify and cost technology initiatives that will add value to a target business
- Synergy analysis – identify and cost technology-related synergies (benefits) between two target businesses
Deal Tech
The Deal Tech team’s focus is broad and encompasses the whole technology landscape of a business.
Key pillars include:
- Tech strategy, projects and roadmap
- Product platforms (if any)
- Business applications
- IT infrastructure (including hosting and networks)
- IT organisation and processes
- Technology costs
Target companies can be from any sector.
Cyber
The Cyber team focuses on assessing the resiliency of a business to cyber and information security incidents.
Key pillars include:
- Governance and policy for security risk management
- Risk management frameworks
- Cyber defence and vulnerability management
- Response and recovery
- Data protection and privacy
Target companies can be from any sector.
Software Strategy Group (SSG)
The SSG team focuses mainly on product technology in software-enabled businesses.
Key pillars include:
- Product/platform and roadmap
- Core technology and architecture
- R&D organisation and processes
- Hosting infrastructure and practices
Target companies are in the Software Economy, providing software as a core product.
Programme length
Graduate: 2 years
Summer internship: 8 weeks
Programme eligibility
Graduate: the programme is aimed at final-year university Bachelor’s and Master’s students, pursuing a STEM or related (e.g., Economics) degree with a keen interest in technology.
Summer internship: the programme is aimed at students in their penultimate year of study.
How will it be structured?
FAQs
Please see TSE page for general FAQs relating to the application and interview process, eligibility and visa requirements and key process milestones.
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