M&A Senior Manager

About the role

This role defines and owns Preply's M&A strategy from the ground up, establishing the investment thesis and target criteria that will fuel our next chapter of growth. You will build the acquisition pipeline from scratch, identifying and shepherding targets that align with our human-led, tech-enabled learning mission. You will partner deeply with Finance, Legal, and Product to evaluate opportunities and execute transactions that materially shape Preply's trajectory. You will lead end-to-end due diligence and financial modelling, translating complex data into board-ready narratives and clear strategic recommendations. This position is critical for driving deal processes forward, managing cross-functional integration planning, and ensuring every acquisition advances our vision to transform education at global scale. Every decision you make will directly influence how we unlock the potential of learners and tutors across 180+ countries. Joining now means playing a defining role in building the future of education as we scale toward our next chapter of impact.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Define Preply's M&A strategy and investment thesis, setting precise criteria for target types, deal size, and strategic fit with our growth priorities.
• Build and manage Preply's acquisition pipeline, proactively identifying strategic targets and developing rigorous investment theses.
• Lead financial modelling and valuation work across deal processes, constructing DCF, accretion/dilution, and LBO models with disciplined assumption management.
• Conduct comprehensive due diligence spanning financial, commercial, legal, and operational dimensions, coordinating effectively with external advisors.
• Project-manage cross-functional workstreams, aligning Finance, Legal, Product, and HR throughout deal execution and integration planning.
• Synthesize complex analyses into board-ready strategic recommendations and executive-level presentations that clearly articulate value creation.
• Own pipeline metrics and reporting, providing transparent oversight of deal status, risks, and progress against strategic objectives.
• Partner with Product and Finance to assess product synergies and commercial integration scenarios, ensuring alignment with learner and tutor value.
• Evaluate target companies through a rigorous lens, stress-testing assumptions and validating commercial and operational realities.
• Drive integration planning post-close, identifying key milestones and ownership to realize expected synergies and impact.

Requirements

• 7-10 years of M&A experience in-house at a tech company or in investment banking/PE, with demonstrated ownership of deal execution rather than purely advisory support.
• Expert-level proficiency in Excel or equivalent tools, with a proven ability to build complex financial models from scratch and defend every assumption.
• A track record of managing acquisitions end-to-end, from origination through close, with post-merger integration experience being a clear advantage.
• Strong P&L literacy and analytical rigor, thriving in fast-moving, ambiguous environments while maintaining attention to detail.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, translating intricate analyses into clear, executive-level narratives for senior leadership.
• Comfort working within a human-led, tech-enabled learning environment where data informs but does not replace human connection.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, managing competing priorities, and delivering under tight deadlines.
• Ideally, prior experience in EdTech, SaaS, or high-growth tech, with an understanding of marketplace and learning dynamics.

Nice to have

• Experience in marketplace or education sectors where network effects and tutor supply dynamics are central.
• Familiarity with platforms that connect distributed workforces or global talent pools.
• Background in regions or markets where Preply operates, with insight into local education ecosystems and regulatory nuances.
• Exposure to AI-enhanced learning products and the implications for product-led growth.

Practical notes

• This is a full-time position based in Barcelona.
• Not in Barcelona? We offer an attractive relocation package to join us in our Preply Barcelona Hub.
• Access to free mental health support platforms is available.
• Gympass-partnered wellness and gym centers throughout Spain are included to support well-being and physical health.
• A generous monthly allowance for lessons on Preply.com is part of your learning & development benefits.
• A competitive financial package with equity, leave allowance, and health insurance is offered.
• The opportunity to unlock the potential of learners and tutors through language learning and teaching spans 175 countries and growing.