Mergers & Acquisitions Business Development Associate

Job Description:Mergers & Acquisitions Business Development AssociateCORA Group - Jonas Software (https://www.thecoragroup.com/)About CORA Group/ Jonas SoftwareCORA Group (Collective Organization Redefining Advancement) operates as a portfolio within Jonas Software, positioned within North America to the Collection & Recovery, Food Service, Construction, Wine/Retail, Moving & Storage, Loyalty, Legal, and Long-Term Care Pharmacy industries. Adding to its 1000 employees, CORA is continuously expanding through acquisitions. CORA was formally launched in 2022 to better position themselves with an emphasis on employee culture while accelerating growth through acquisition and investing in the long-term.Jonas Software is the leading provider of enterprise management software solutions. Within these vertical markets, Jonas is made up of over 130 distinct brands, which are respected and leaders within their own domain. Jonas’ vision is to be the global leader across the vertical markets and to be recognized by customers and respective industry stakeholders as the trusted provider of ‘Software for Life’ and as an ambassador for technology, product innovation, quality, and customer service.Together, we are the valued technology partner of over 60,000 customers worldwide in more than 30 countries. Jonas is headquartered in Canada and operates offices throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia New Zealand and Africa. Jonas is a 100% owned subsidiary of Constellation Software Inc., headquartered in Toronto and traded on the S&P/TSX 60.Job Description SummaryThe M&A Business Development Associate is a key contributor to our deal origination team and the identification and evaluation of strategic acquisition opportunities. In this role, you will be responsible for sourcing, qualifying, nurturing and managing a pipeline of acquisition opportunities in the software sector. The role is ideal for candidates looking to apply their problem solving, analytical, and strategic thinking skills to shape outreach strategies, identify high potential software verticals, and build a robust pipeline of acquisition opportunities.You will work closely with senior M&A leadership to target attractive verticals, execute sourcing plans and qualify deals that align with our investment criteria. This position requires a mix of strategic thinking, hands-on origination, and relationship building skills, along with an ability to hold confident conversations with founders, board members, C-suite executives, investment bankers, private equity/venture capital firms and industry leaders to represent the company virtually and in person at industry events.Location: Markham, GTA (Hybrid)Job Description:Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Sourcing & Pipeline ManagementResearch companies using a variety of public and internal tools to gather contact details and other relevant informationProactively and persistently follow up with business owners and executives that are seeking to sell their business.Timely record keeping and deal flow tracking through Salesforce, leveraging CRM insights to improve processesSource deals through top of the funnel activities to identify and prioritize attractive industries, build target lists and tailor sourcing strategiesLiaison with senior M&A and operational leaders within the CORA organization to build acquisition approaches and strategies with individual prospectsDevelop industry knowledge through industry research and industry events, tradeshows and conferencesRelationship Development & OutreachConduct outreach to founders, CEOs, executives and other key decision-makers of software companies using various outreach methods (e-mail, LinkedIn, calls, video calls, in-person meetings)Exhibit advanced outreach skills – building rapport quickly, including navigating gatekeepers, and leading conversations confidently off-script using pre-meeting research if needed.Establish relationships with decision makers of acquisition targets and book meetings for senior M&A and operational leaders within CORANurture relationships with prospective sellers to progress them through the M&A pipelineCollaboration & Deal EvaluationConduct initial qualification to ensure opportunities meet quantitative and qualitative investment criteriaPartner with M&A leadership to assess deal fit, prioritize opportunities and present qualified targets to the internal M&A committee weeklyArrange NDAs with qualified acquisition targets and collect key situational, operational and financial information in a nuanced mannerSkills You're BringingExceptional organization, communication and time management skillsAdvanced reach out skills (including: "Getting past the gatekeeper," and quick to establish rapport), generate conversations off-script, comfortably interact with mature business owners.Strong work ethic with persistence and drive to continuously refine and enhance your individual processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness, comfort with experimentingTeam player mindset, goals driven and results orientedIntellectual curiosity to qualify leads by piecing together information to develop a view on the businessDemonstrates curiosity and openness to adopting new technologies, particularly AI and automation toolsAbility to evaluate, test, and recommend AI-driven solutions that enhance team productivity and organizational efficiency is a plusQualifications & ExperienceBachelor's degree in business, marketing, finance, or a related field2+ years’ experience in deal origination, business development, software sales or investment related roles. Prior M&A, PE, VC, or Corporate Development experience is an assetPrior experience with CRM platforms (e.g. Salesforce) and Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)Prior experience integrating or experimenting with AI tools (e.g. workflow automation, data analysis, content generation, role optimization) is a plusUnderstanding of financial and business metrics is an asset.Success in This Role Will Look LikeDemonstrated ability to independently source, engage, and build a high quality acquisition funnel through creativity, persistence, and strategic networkingConsistently booking substantive calls with qualified business owners and key decision makers.Building strong, trust based relationships with founders and executives, and effectively guiding them through each stage of the acquisition process.Maintaining accurate, detailed research and documentation in Salesforce to ensure visibility and accuracy across the pipeline.Ensuring timely follow up and information collection from engaged prospects to keep momentum strong.Presenting qualified acquisition candidates to team with supporting analysis.Delivering industry insights to support CORA’s broader acquisition strategy.Taking initiative to improve outreach strategies, research methods, and internal processes for greater efficiency and impact.Compensation and benefits:Competitive base salary and bonusSignificant upward growth trajectory for high performersComprehensive health benefits and 3 weeks vacation + personal days.Hybrid work flexibilityDirect access to senior decision makers, industry leaders, M&A leadership, and deal evaluation discussions.Business Unit:CORA M&AScheduled Weekly Hours:37.5Number of Openings Available:1Worker Type:RegularMore About Jonas Software:Jonas Software is the leading provider of enterprise management software solutions to the Country and Golf Clubs, Foodservice, Construction, Fitness & Sports, Attractions, Salon & Spa, Education, Radiology/Laboratory Information Systems, and Product Licensing industries. Within these vertical markets, Jonas is made up of over 65 distinct brands, which are respected and leaders within their own domain.Jonas’ vision is to be the branded global leader across the aforementioned vertical markets and to be recognized by customers and respective industry stakeholders as the trusted provider of ‘Software for Life’ and as an ambassador for technology, product innovation, quality, and customer service.Jonas Software is the valued technology partner of over 60,000 customers worldwide in more than 30 countries. Jonas employs over 2,000 skilled individuals consisting of a cross-section of industry experts and technology professionals. Jonas is headquartered in Canada and also operates offices throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia New Zealand and Africa. Jonas is a 100% owned subsidiary of Constellation Software Inc., headquartered in Toronto and traded on the S&P/TSX 60.