Principal

Job Title: Principal City: On-site in London, UKSkill Category: Investment Banking Company overview:Founded in 2017, Canson partners with global private capital providers to source and invest in proprietary, complex opportunities. By collaborating with senior executives and advisors, it combines expertise and insights to unlock value. Canson offers institutional investors, family offices, and HNWIs curated access to unique private equity deals, aiming to maximize returns by matching opportunities with the optimal capital sources. Over USD 80bn (EV) of private capital related transactions since inceptionSuccessfully raised 4 merchant banking funds More than $500m AUM* What we are looking for: Experience: 5+ years of post-graduate experience, typically following a rigorous analyst program at Bulge Bracket/Boutique Investment Bank/Private Equity/Credit Fund/other M&A function. Deal Execution and Transaction Management: Able to lead the full lifecycle of complex M&A, private equity, and partnership capital transactions across multiple jurisdictions. Coordinate and manage due diligence workstreams (financial, legal, commercial, tax), and oversee preparation of investment memoranda, process documentation, and negotiation materials. Structure sophisticated M&A, co-investment, and capital partnership opportunities. Ensure efficient deal progression and high-quality deliverables under tight timelines. Financial & Investment Acumen:Develop and challenge detailed valuation analyses including DCF, LBO, and comparable company/transaction methodologies. Build and review advanced financial models to support investment recommendations. Formulate and articulate clear, defensible investment theses for internal and partner evaluation. Support investment committees with strategic insight, sensitivity analysis, and scenario modeling. Sourcing & Advisory: Identify and originate new opportunities through established professional and industry networks, and represent the firm in early-stage deal discussions with corporates, private capital providers, and advisors, applying the firm’s proprietary sourcing approach to develop actionable, differentiated investment angles.Drive engagement with C-suite executives, family offices, and institutional investors to build long term partnerships.Leadership & Mentorship:Lead, mentor, and develop junior team members (Associates and Analysts), and promote a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on excellence and accountability. Provide oversight and quality assurance on analytical work, presentation materials, and due diligence outputs. Communication & Stakeholder Management:Deliver high-impact presentations and reports to clients, investors, and internal committees using exceptional written and verbal presentation skills. Communicate complex financial concepts clearly to both financial and non-financial stakeholders, demonstrating strong professional presence and gravitas in senior-level client and partner interactions. Fit & Values:Demonstrate a high degree of maturity, discretion, integrity, and professionalism in all matters, and exhibit strong entrepreneurial drive and self-motivation, thriving in a lean, partner-driven environment. Align with the firm’s merchant banking ethos of intellectual rigor, partnership orientation, and client alignment. Embody the firm’s values of trust, excellence, collaboration, and long-term relationship building. Expert user of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, and practical knowledge of financial databases such as FactSet preferred. Preferred qualifications include proficiency in an additional European language.Key responsibilities: Lead end-to-end execution of complex M&A, private equity, and partnership capital transactions, managing cross-functional due diligence and structuring sophisticated deals. Develop, review, and defend financial models, valuations, and investment theses to support internal and partner decision-making. Source and originate new investment opportunities, engaging clients, partners, and senior executives to represent the firm’s merchant banking approach. Lead, mentor, and manage junior team members, ensuring analytical rigour, quality control, and professional development. Deliver exceptional written and verbal presentations for clients, investment committees, and senior stakeholders while maintaining professional gravitas. Uphold the firm’s values of discretion, integrity, entrepreneurial drive, and partnership orientation. DISCLAIMER: This Job Description is for reference only, and whilst this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, it is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions associated with the job. The management reserves the right to revise the job and may, at his or her discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or any other category protected by law.