Director, Corporate Development & M&A - job 1 of 21

The Director, Corporate Development & M&A at Visa is primarily responsible for supporting the company's growth strategy through the identification, assessment, and execution of potential mergers, acquisitions, investments, and joint ventures. They conduct comprehensive analyses to provide valuable insights on acquisition opportunities and actively engage with business leaders to develop and realize strategic goals.

Candidates should possess significant experience in the payments industry, a proven record of successfully managing multiple transactions, and a deep understanding of the acquisition process. Skills in strategic thinking, valuation, and business case modeling are essential, along with the ability to effectively communicate insights and collaborate with various stakeholders.

The Director plays a crucial role in shaping Visa’s M&A agenda by evaluating industry trends, identifying growth opportunities, and forming persuasive viewpoints rooted in data. They partner closely with business units and corporate leaders, ensuring seamless alignment with Visa’s overall strategic objectives.

This hybrid position allows the Director, Corporate Development & M&A to split their time between remote work and our San Francisco office. Employees are encouraged to work from the office Tuesday through Thursday, fostering collaboration while still enjoying flexibility in their work arrangements.

Success in this position requires exceptional analytical skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage complex diligence processes effectively. Building strong relationships, both internally and externally, is vital, as is the capability to communicate risks and rationales clearly to stakeholders.

When answering this question, highlight specific transactions you've worked on, detailing your role in each phase from target identification to closing. Emphasize the skills you utilized throughout these processes, such as stakeholder engagement and due diligence.

Discuss your method for evaluating acquisitions, including the criteria you consider most important. Mention analytical techniques you use, such as SWOT analysis, financial modeling, and market assessment, along with your ability to collaborate with different teams to gather necessary insights.

When responding to this question, emphasize your leadership style and how you facilitate communication and cooperation among varied functions. Share specific examples of successful projects where you coordinated multiple teams to achieve a common goal.

Highlight your research methods, including industry reports, networking with professionals, and attending industry events. Discuss how you synthesize and present this information to key stakeholders to inform strategic decisions.

Use the STAR method to frame your answer—discuss the Situation, Task, Action, and Result of a specific challenge you faced during a deal. Show how your analytical skills and communication capabilities helped navigate the difficulties.

Explain your approach to creating an investment thesis based on thorough analysis and research. Include how you ensure your thesis is supported by data and clearly communicates the potential benefits and risks to stakeholders.

Reflect on how effective communication has been vital in past projects, especially in aligning teams and securing stakeholder buy-in. Illustrate with examples of successful negotiations or presentations you've led.

Discuss your decision-making criteria, such as strategic fit, potential ROI, and alignment with business objectives. Explain how you use data-informed insights to prioritize which deals to pursue actively.

Share the details of a specific transaction, focusing on your role, the challenges faced, and what made it successful. Highlight your strategic approach and the collaboration involved.

Explain your networking strategies, such as attending industry conferences or outreach events. Discuss the importance of trust and transparency in building lasting relationships with investment banking and private equity partners.