Disputes & Valuations Consultant - Vice President

At AlixPartners, we solve the most complex and critical challenges by moving quickly from analysis to action when it really matters; creating value that has a lasting impact on companies, their people, and the communities they serve. By understanding, respecting, and honouring the needs of our employees, clients, and communities, AlixPartners actively promotes an inclusive environment. We strongly believe in the value that diversity brings to our experiences and are committed to the perpetual enhancements of initiatives, policies, and practices. We hold ourselves accountable by providing the space for authenticity, growth, and equity for everyone.

AlixPartners has embraced a hybrid work model to provide flexibility and support our employees’ work-life integration.  Our hybrid model combines a mix of in-person (client site or AlixPartners office) and remote working.  Travel is part of this position, but the frequency may vary based on client, team, and individual circumstances.

An opportunity has become available for a Senior Vice President to join our Disputes & Valuations team in our London Risk Advisory practice. We provide independent, objective critical thinking to help companies, and their stakeholders address high-stakes disputes, litigation, and investigations. Our clients include a wide array of organisations and their legal counsel, who we assist with expert testimony, valuation models, forensic accounting, investigations, and financial and economic analyses. Recent cases include performing financial analyses in a cartel case, providing expert valuations of companies in a billion-dollar claim, providing advice in claims following high profile acquisitions and investigations ranging from financial institutions to high profile sports clubs. We also work closely with our teams around the globe.

As we regularly provide expert witness evidence for Courts, Tribunals and in other situations. Our work often includes assessing losses suffered by a company or individual or providing expert technical accounting evidence in dispute settings. Our success relies on thinking through complex issues and presenting logical analysis in a clear, concise manner and preparing accurate, reliable, and robust analysis and reports. You will direct research and analysis, determine the approach to damages and valuation assessments, oversee the development of integrated financial models, critically assess the work of the opposing expert and draft expert reports and other deliverables, adapting to the writing style of the Expert.

We also support legal teams and organisations by performing forensic accounting and investigative procedures where companies face allegations of fraud, financial irregularities, bribery, corruption, or employee misconduct. These can be cross-border issues that may attract regulatory focus. Therefore, organisations need to understand the facts and respond quickly. You will assist with the scoping of investigations, considering stakeholders, time constraints, the availability of information and any jurisdiction specific rules, prepare investigative interview questions and direct the team in the forensic analysis of complex chains of transactions, the review of electronic data (working with our digital forensics team) and the drafting of investigative reports.

You will play a leading role in the day-to-day delivery of fast-paced forensic accounting engagements and complex scenarios, working closely with Directors and testifying Experts. You will also work alongside digital forensic experts to build, handle, and interrogate large data sets, and with economics, M&A, restructuring and industry specialists across a variety of projects. In addition, we are a global company, and there may be opportunities to work with our offices that are based abroad. Throughout these different experiences, AlixPartners will provide you with a constant challenge, stretching your technical, consultative and leadership skills whilst putting you at the heart of supportive and collaborative teams.

Our Vice Presidents form a crucial part of our project teams, leading individual work streams and supporting the development of our Consultants. You will work in highly skilled, purpose-built teams with experienced accounting, economics, and digital forensic professionals.

From the first day, we focus on your development. You will be supported throughout your career with a dedicated Performance Partner who is focused on your career, opportunities to integrate your skills with those from other areas of the business, and access to a wealth of training resources.

What you’ll do

You will work on a range of complex projects across a spectrum of industries, alongside senior members of the team, taking responsibility for discrete work streams and the quality of their output. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Leading work streams on litigation, arbitration, valuation and investigation matters, understanding engagement objectives and how each work stream fits into the wider project

• Planning and conducting research using tools such as Capital IQ, Companies House and Bloomberg, focusing on critical points and interpreting the data independently

• Managing document organisation and review on platforms such as Relativity, and working with our eDiscovery team on document uploads, review panels, identifying relevant factual evidence and preparing requests for additional documents

• Performing detailed analysis of financial statements and accounting records, understanding the key performance drivers, challenging client explanations where appropriate and summarising conclusions for senior leadership

• Building logical, flexible financial models in line with modelling best practice, including scenario functionality, cleansing large datasets and documenting the approach taken so it is auditable and can be reperformed

• Preparing damages calculations, or parts of damages calculations, identifying the information required, determining appropriate assumptions and highlighting sensitive assumptions and risk areas

• Applying valuation techniques, developing the WACC for the target business and refining comparable company and transaction data sets, explaining key assumptions and their consequences

• Identifying, interpreting and applying relevant accounting standards, with direction, and interrogating accounting data to assess whether the accounting treatment is compliant

• Performing comprehensive reviews of the opposing expert’s analysis, modelling and report, identifying significant issues, developing counter-arguments derived from the analysis and research performed

• Preparing clear, concise written deliverables, including expert report sections, with limited guidance, together with clear and effective demonstrative graphics and presentations

• Assisting with the compilation and organisation of materials for expert preparation, contributing to the identification of key issues, risk areas and cross-examination questions

• Liaising with solicitors, barristers, clients and industry specialists

• Coaching, mentoring and reviewing the work of Consultants

• Assisting in practice development projects, such as internal training, presentations and the production of marketing literature and other aspects of practice development as the business seeks to continue to grow.

What you’ll need 

• A recognised accountancy qualification such as the ACA or ACCA and Degree qualified

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience either in forensic accounting, disputes, valuation or financial advisory

• Experience of disputes, valuation or investigation engagements, ideally including contributing to expert reports

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including building flexible financial models in line with best practice.

• Working knowledge of research and valuation data sources (e.g. Capital IQ, Bloomberg, Mergermarket and Companies House) and document review platforms (e.g. Relativity)

• A solid understanding of valuation approaches and techniques (including DCF and WACC analysis), the different types of damages claims, and IFRS and UK GAAP

• Strong communication skills, both written and spoken

• Fluency in English is essential; knowledge of an additional language would be advantageous.

• Ability to lead a work stream, prioritise competing tasks to meet challenging deadlines

• Must become familiar with, and promote and abide by, our Core Values as defined by the AlixPartners’ Code of Conduct and foster an inclusive environment with people at all levels of an organisation

* The minimum experience is intended as a guide only and does not preclude applications from those with more or less years of experience.

The firm offers market-leading benefits that provide flexible options to support our employee’s needs including health benefits to help prioritise their physical and emotional well-being, time-off policies to help to recharge and financial/ retirement benefits that offer income protection and support long-term planning.

AlixPartners is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other characteristics, race, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status or status as an individual with disability.

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