Head of Corporate Development

• Plaid’s Corporate Development function drives inorganic growth, evaluating and executing M&A and investment opportunities that extend Plaid’s product, technology, and market position
• As Head of Corporate Development you will report directly to the CFO and serve as Plaid’s primary architect for build-vs-buy decisions
• Beyond executing deals, you will be a key voice in shaping Plaid’s strategic direction, using market and competitive insights to inform where the company invests, builds, or acquires next
• You’ll partner closely with the Executive team, Product, Engineering, Legal, and Corporate Finance to source, evaluate, and close deals that accelerate Plaid’s strategy
• M&A & Investment Strategy. Build and own a proactive pipeline of acquisition and investment opportunities aligned to Plaid’s strategic priorities. Maintain an up-to-date view of the competitive and startup landscape to identify targets before they’re formally for sale
• Outbound Relationship Building. Build and nurture a network of founders, executives, and investors across fintech and adjacent markets to source proprietary deal flow
• Market & Competitive Intelligence. Develop well-researched and insightful points of view on adjacent categories and key competitors, and use that intelligence to help inform Plaid’s strategic direction and investment priorities
• Deal Execution & Diligence. Lead end-to-end deal execution: valuation, financial modeling, diligence coordination, negotiation, and structuring, partnering with key cross-functional throughout
• Post-Deal Integration & Accountability. Partner with Finance, Legal, People and business leaders to successfully integrate closed acquisitions. Set a clear integration plan with milestones and performance metrics, track integration milestones and backtest outcomes against the original investment thesis
• Cross-Functional Orchestration. Engage Product, Engineering, and GTM to qualify opportunities and sharpen Plaid’s areas of strategic interest
• Executive & Board Communication. Prepare board- and executive-ready materials on market landscape, deal pipeline, deal evaluation and due diligence findings, integration plan and post-close performance

Benefits

• Vibrant offices in SF, NYC, and Raleigh-Durham—with catered meals, happy hours, and clubs to keep you connected
• Competitive pay, comprehensive health benefits, and support for fertility, mental health, and parental leave
• Lifestyle perks including home office stipends, daycare support, and commuting benefits like CitiBike and Lyft

• Deal Execution. Deep, hands-on experience evaluating and executing deals end-to-end, including sourcing, valuation, financial modeling, diligence, negotiation, and closing
• Track Record. A track record of managing multiple complex deals simultaneously, from inception through post-close integration
• Builder Mindset. Comfort building frameworks and processes, turning ambiguity into repeatable motions
• Industry experience. Prior experience in Technology is a must-have. Experience partnering with Product and Engineering leaders is a plus; fintech or financial services experience is a plus
• Communication. Executive presence and excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, with the ability to engage senior stakeholders and Board-level audiences
• Judgment. Strong analytical rigor paired with sound business judgment, knowing when to dig deeper and when to move forward with a decision
• Experience. 12+ years of experience across Investment Banking, Private Equity, Corporate Development or Management Consulting (with a focus on PE due diligence work)
• We encourage you to apply to a role even if your experience doesn’t fully match the job description