Head of Strategic Transactions

Company Description

Welcome to TAL. As a leading life insurer, we’ve been protecting Australians for over 150 years. Backed by Daiichi Life, we're driven by big ambitions and empower to create better products and services. 

Together with our Partners, we’re helping millions of Australians live a life filled with choices, options, and freedoms. See the direct impact you make delivering support and financial security with care and expertise. Grow beyond expectations with diverse roles, global connections, and exclusive learning opportunities.

Work with passionate, bright and capable colleagues. Feel inspired by supportive leaders. Collaborate with heart, where flexibility, wellbeing and inclusivity is valued. Together, we're reimagining insurance. 

Bring your curiosity, ambition and unique perspective, and help us continue reimagining insurance through innovative thinking, digital capability and a commitment to better outcomes for the people who depend on us.

Job Description
Reporting to the General Manager Enterprise Solutions, M&A and Strategic Projects, you will lead the team across all stages of a transaction’s lifecycle, working closely with internal functional partners, business group leaders, counterparties and external advisers. You will oversee the end‑to‑end financial due diligence process, including directing modelling, valuation and analysis completed by junior team members, and ensuring robust, high‑quality outputs that support sound decision‑making. Partnering with operational teams, you will lead transaction execution and due diligence activities to validate the business case, identify key risks and issues, and clearly articulate areas of uncertainty, potential outcomes and risk exposure. You will work collaboratively with the business and deal team to develop and implement appropriate mitigation strategies, ensuring transaction structuring and documentation remain aligned to the commercial rationale. You will also prepare clear, succinct materials for senior management, the Board and shareholders, including presentation packs and bid documentation, translating complex analysis into practical insights and implications.

In this role you will:

• Build, mentor and develop a small team of high-performing professionals Originate value enhancing strategies, and ideas, document, syndicate, gain approval and execute.
• Develop financial metrics and risks for inorganic acquisition opportunities, divestiture opportunities or general commercial initiatives
• Lead the end-to-end M&A process, including target identification, strategic rationale development, financial modelling, due diligence, deal structuring, negotiation, and post-merger integration oversight
• Prepare Board papers, investment committee submissions, and executive briefings to support transaction decision-making.
• Manage relationships with external advisers, including investment banks, legal counsel, accountants, and actuarial consultants.
  
  
  

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of Life Insurance financial metrics and Capital requirements and a knowledge of the Australian regulatory environment, including APRA, ASIC, ACCC, and FIRB.
• A proven track record of leading of junior professionals throughout the end-to-end execution of a transaction Deep understanding of valuation methodologies, financial modelling, deal structuring, and negotiation.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage credibly with C-suite executives, regulators, and external advisers and a strong ability to communicate and to articulate complex concepts
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to balance strategic ambition with disciplined risk management

Benefits

At TAL, we're committed to helping our people thrive both professionally and personally. Depending on your role and eligibility, benefits may include:

• Flexible and blended ways of working that support your work and personal commitments.
• Access to learning, leadership development programs, LinkedIn Learning and global career opportunities through the Daiichi Life Group.
• TAL-funded Life, Income Protection and Total & Permanent Disability insurance, plus employee insurance discounts.
• Wellbeing support including Employee Assistance Program services, wellbeing resources, annual flu vaccinations and health initiatives.
• Additional leave benefits including paid parental leave, wellbeing leave, community leave and purchased leave options.
• Access to TAL Rewards Plus, offering discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and services.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We're proud to be recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality and maintain partnerships with organisations including Diversity Council Australia, Australian Disability Network and Pride in Diversity. Through our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, we're also committed to building meaningful relationships, creating opportunities and contributing to positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We welcome applications from people with diverse experiences, perspectives and backgrounds and are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment experience for all candidates. Need adjustments during the recruitment process? Let our team know by getting in touch with us here we’re here to support you.

If you are already a TAL employee, please apply via the Jobs Hub in Workday. This is important to ensure that your application is recorded accurately.