Job Description
Summary
Kraken is a market leader in one of the most innovative and fastest growing industries in the world. We are expanding across multiple dimensions, in part due to M&A and strategic investments around the world. The Corporate Development team is critical to Kraken’s growth as we look to remain nimble and opportunistic, seeking out innovative, leap-frog deals and new sources of competitive advantage.
As the leader of our Corporate Development team, you’ll be responsible for leading and executing all M&A transactions that drive our strategic vision forward. Working closely with a cross-functional team of stakeholders, you’ll lead discussions with target leadership, negotiate key terms, coordinate due diligence, identify sources of risk, and drive deals to a timely closing. You will regularly interact with Kraken’s leadership team and C-Suite, driving effective decision-making across all Corporate Development initiatives. You bring a deep interest in the crypto industry, expertise across all aspects of the M&A process, exceptional financial modeling and valuation skills, and the ability to work fluidly across multiple high-priority initiatives.
The opportunity
- Define and drive Kraken’s global M&A and strategic investment strategy in conjunction with the VP, Business Expansion and Kraken’s leadership team
- Lead, manage, and grow our existing (and exceptionally high-caliber) Corporate development team
- Actively identify potential acquisition targets, JV, and/or investment opportunities to accelerate the realization of Kraken’s strategic objectives
- Own the entire deal process including sourcing, due diligence, contract negotiation, closing, and integration
- Work with leaders across functions, including Product Management, Engineering, Operations, Legal, Finance, and Marketing throughout the due diligence and integration planning processes
- Lead negotiations on purchase price and deal terms; build financial models to support valuation and establish key benchmarks for post-integration planning
- Articulate key value drivers and considerations for potential M&A opportunities in concise deal memos and executive presentations; actively build consensus and drive effective decision-making across leadership and the wider organization
- Monitor industry trends, market dynamics, and competitor activities to inform strategic decision-making and identify opportunities for differentiation or competitive advantage
- Build and maintain an extensive network in the crypto industry to maintain deal flow and stay on top of key trends and developments
Skills you should HODL
- 12+ years of relevant experience in Corporate Development, ideally in crypto or at a hyper-growth FinTech company; earlier career experience in related fields such as investment banking, strategy/operations, or product management are desirable
- Extensive track record of managing and growing high-performing teams
- Demonstrated ability to drive multiple concurrent transactions through all phases of the deal lifecycle, including a strong working knowledge of related legal issues and experience leading M&A integrations
- Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail, including the ability to build parsimonious financial models (DCF, accretion / dilution, LBO, etc.)
- Exceptionally strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to distill complex issues into coherent narratives that drive effective decision-making
- Strong knowledge of and/or passion for financial markets and the cryptocurrency industry; deep network in crypto and TradFi markets a plus
- Knowledge of global financial regulations (and how they apply to crypto); international business experience a plus
Skills
- Analytical Thinking
- Attention to Detail
- Business Development
- Communications Skills
- Negotiations Skills