M&A Lead

Who you are

You are driven, curious, and passionate about making meaningful contributions within a collaborative team environment. You take pride in executing complex deals with excellence, enjoy navigating strategic challenges, and are excited about building the next generation of technology-driven companies from Japan.

Traits we look for:

At WAY, our values guide who we hire, how we operate, and what we invest in. Here’s how we expect them to show up in this role:

• Customers are our obsession
  Your "customers" are both the business owners we partner with and the operational teams we empower. You build trusted relationships by deeply understanding stakeholders' motivations, ensuring alignment, and crafting mutually beneficial outcomes.

• Everything is possible
  You think creatively about deal origination, approach opportunities with an open mind, and demonstrate resilience in the face of complexity. You're adept at identifying overlooked opportunities and reimagining business potential.

• Strength in diversity
  You value diverse viewpoints, actively seeking input from operators, advisors, and internal teams. You understand that exceptional outcomes emerge from collaborative thinking and rigorous debate.

• Grit
  M&A involves sustained effort—generating high-quality leads, managing complex diligence processes, and resolving uncertainties. You persevere through ambiguity and remain focused on achieving strategic goals.

• Energy and execution
  You're highly organized, proactive, and thrive under pressure. You swiftly translate strategy into structured processes, keep multiple priorities moving forward, and consistently deliver results.

• Curiosity enables potential
  Your intellectual curiosity pushes you to deeply understand new sectors, challenge conventional wisdom, and uncover the strategic drivers behind a company's performance. You're driven by understanding the "why" behind each opportunity.

• Pragmatic about purpose
  You blend optimism with disciplined skepticism, carefully balancing ambition and practicality. You're comfortable making tough decisions based on comprehensive analyses and are unafraid to walk away when necessary.

About the role

As the M&A Lead, you'll be at the forefront of our strategic roll-up business initiatives. Your role will combine strategic leadership with hands-on execution as you identify, evaluate, structure, and execute acquisitions.

You'll manage the deal pipeline, oversee financial and commercial diligence, and collaborate closely with WAY partners and portfolio operators to ensure successful transactions and integrations. Your seasoned expertise will significantly shape our investment strategy and contribute directly to our growth trajectory.

What you will do

• Lead sourcing, qualification, and initial outreach to potential acquisition targets

• Manage comprehensive financial modelling, valuation analyses, and scenario planning for deals

• Drive detailed commercial, operational, and organisational due diligence

• Structure transactions, leading negotiations alongside sellers and legal counsel

• Prepare and present detailed investment memos and recommendations to WAY’s investment committee

• Partner closely with operational teams to design effective post-acquisition integration and strategic plans

• Refine and enhance sourcing methodologies, due diligence processes, and decision-making frameworks as we scale

How we work with AI

At WAY, we believe AI is not just a tool — it's a competitive edge. Everyone on the team, regardless of role, is expected to:

• Identify and automate parts of your job that can be made more efficient using AI.

• Experiment with AI tools to increase productivity, improve quality, and unlock new ideas.

• Share what you learn with your teammates so we all get better, faster.

Who we are looking for

• 5+ years of experience in (or related to) M&A via investment banking, private equity, corporate development, management consulting, or a similar high-caliber transactional environment, with significant exposure to deal sourcing, structuring, and execution

• Exceptional financial modelling, valuation, and analytical skills; proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint

• Demonstrated experience in negotiating and structuring transactions

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to confidently interact with business founders, senior executives, advisors, and legal professionals

• Fluency in Japanese and business-level proficiency in English

• A proven record of integrity, intellectual curiosity, and a passion for building enduring, impactful companies