Following on from our guides about jobs in London and jobs in Birmingham, we continue our tour of the insolvency & corporate finance jobs of the UK by taking a look at Manchester. With its talent pipeline from top universities, its robust infrastructure, and continual signs of growth, Manchester has become increasingly appealing for professionals and businesses alike. Here’s why.
Manchester’s corporate finance jobs market
Manchester is second only to London when it comes to the scale of financial, professional and business services (FPBS) in the UK – over 280,000 people are employed in the sector.
Recent trends suggest a more selective market that’s following a “fewer, but larger” trend. In H1 2025, there were 419 deals, an 18% decline in volume from the same period in 2024 – yet only a 6% drop in value. This is partly due to tighter financing conditions, partly a focus on strategically significant acquisitions. Private equity is active: it’s just disciplined and selective.
What this means is talent demand will likely skew towards those with high-value deal experience, and that “quality over quantity” will apply to hirings. This is a great opportunity for those with high level experience. That opportunity extends to those seeking flexible or interim roles – these are increasingly offered and very lucrative to those with the right experience to come in and make an instant impression.
But this talk of fewer acquisitions shouldn’t be disheartening to those starting out, as there are still opportunities for those with the right skill sets. Firms are desperate for adaptable, intelligent analysts who can contribute on multiple fronts, so versatility is a virtue.
Manchester is the leading UK city outside of London for new business creation – 33,000 new businesses in 2024 alone. And all these new SMEs will need finance teams. An individual with financial modelling skills, transaction service experience or data literacy skills will always find a home in Manchester.
Gambit Search can help you find Manchester’s corporate finance jobs. Previously, we’ve found roles for Transaction Services Managers, and we’re always looking to pair talent with the right company. We also have the latest Corporate Finance Salary Guides, helping advise you on what you can expect in these roles.
Manchester’s insolvency jobs market
Following a high in 2024, our projections for 2025 is a slight decrease in insolvencies in the Manchester area. But the demand for Manchester insolvency jobs remains strong, matching nationwide trends.
That sharp rise in 2024 was the result of a cost-of-living crisis, high-interest rates, energy price spikes and COVID era support dwindling, leading to the most insolvencies in Manchester since the 2008 financial crisis. This largely matches nationwide trends – whilst the 2024 distress peak led to a lot of crisis hirings in the city, the simple fact is insolvencies in 2025 are projected to be 21% higher than they were in 2020.
This is good news for those seeking insolvency jobs in Manchester. Managers, administrators and specialists in insolvency are in demand to manage complex and often high-value cases. The good news follows down to mid-level professionals: those moving from corporate finance can find plentiful opportunities in Manchester’s distressed M&A market.
And for those starting out, insolvency provides faster client access, allowing you to interact and make meaningful connections much earlier in your career than a comparative role in corporate finance would allow.
Manchester has the largest concentration of insolvency and business recovery practitioners outside of London. This ensures a steady flow of opportunities. In the past, Gambit Search has helped fill insolvency positions in Manchester for a range of roles – Insolvency Managers and Contentious Insolvency Managing Associates.
You can check our current openings for insolvency & restructuring jobs in Manchester here. And, of course, these often overlap with London too, as cross-office collaboration can become a necessity.
If you’re looking for a new role in insolvency in Manchester, see what you could be earning with our 2025 Insolvency Salary Guide.
In short, Manchester is a thriving hub of activity in the north for those seeking insolvency and corporate finance jobs alike. Upload your CV today or get in touch with our expert insolvency and corporate finance recruiters today by calling 0203 633 2500. Your new role in the north awaits.
