Principal Consultant – M&A, Integration & Strategic Operations

About the position We are seeking a Principal Consultant at CFHS! The Principal Consultant at CFHS leads strategic M&A and growth engagements, managing due diligence, integration planning, and executive advisory to deliver actionable solutions. Responsibilities • Serve as a day-to-day engagement lead on M&A and strategic growth engagements, supporting CFHS team members and client executive teams through mergers, acquisitions, and affiliations with explicit confidentiality • Manage due diligence workstreams, including: Diligence Checklist project management Facilitating a regular meeting cadence between clients and CFHS SMEs Managing communication planning process for clients Problem solving and maintaining positive relationships between clients Providing detailed meeting minutes and project overview reports Flagging any issues of concern to the CFHS team regarding deal flow • Coordinate diligence timelines, document requests, interview schedules, and synthesis of findings • Translate diligence outputs into actionable recommendations and decision-ready materials • Support and help design post-transaction integration plans, including: Organizational and leadership alignment HR and workforce transition considerations Supporting SMEs in process, policy, and systems integration • Provide HR-related advisory support during transactions, including workforce planning, leadership transitions, and change implications • Develop and support internal and external communication plans for executives, boards, and staff • Participate in executive-level meetings and working sessions • Consistently meet or exceed monthly billable hour expectations • Serve as the primary point of contact between CFHS and Merakey for back-office services, specifically: Human Resources Information Technology Legal • Coordinate requests, timelines, and deliverables across Merakey service teams • Ensure CFHS needs are clearly articulated, prioritized, and resolved in a timely manner • Escalate issues appropriately and proactively manage dependencies • Maintain clarity around roles, responsibilities, and service expectations between CFHS and Merakey • Support leadership in maintaining strong, professional, and efficient partner relationships • Support internal CFHS initiatives, including: Engagement management and internal coordination Development and refinement of tools, templates, and frameworks Internal process documentation and improvement • Mentor junior consultants and support quality assurance across deliverables • Serve as a trusted internal resource on complex client matters • Uphold CFHS standards for white-glove client experience, responsiveness, and professionalism Requirements • 8–12+ years of experience in consulting, M&A advisory, or senior operational leadership roles • Direct experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, affiliations, or large-scale organizational change • Strong working knowledge of: Due diligence and integration processes HR, workforce, and organizational design Cross-functional coordination with business partners • Experience working directly with CEOs, executive teams, and boards • Strong project management and stakeholder management skills • Excellent written and verbal communication skills • High level of judgment, discretion, and follow-through Benefits • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus access to healthcare advocacy support. • Retirement plan -- both pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) options available for employee contributions. • DailyPay -- access your pay when you need it! • On the Goga well-being platform, featuring self-care tools and resources. • Access Care.com for backup childcare, elder care, and household services. • Confidential counseling, legal, and financial services through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). • Tuition reimbursement and educational partnerships. • Employee discounts and savings programs on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle. • Access to Pryor Online Learning for free online personal development classes. Apply tot his job