I passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam while studying at university and joined a major audit firm as a new graduate. At the time, I didn’t have a clear vision of what specific career I wanted to pursue. However, I decided to become a CPA because I believed that gaining expertise in accounting would expand my future career options.

At the audit firm, I primarily worked on financial audits. It was an exciting experience to be exposed to the accounting and financial operations of multiple large corporations right from the start of my career.

During that time, I also had the opportunity to work with clients involved in M&A transactions. However, as an auditor, my role was to review post-M&A financial reporting, ensuring that the accounting treatment was correct after the deal had been executed. This made me increasingly interested in getting involved before and during the M&A process, which ultimately led me to pursue a career as an M&A advisor.

M&A is a major, high-stakes project—not just for small and medium-sized businesses experiencing it for the first time, but also for large corporations that have gone through multiple transactions. In many cases, the outcome of an M&A deal can shape the future of a company.

Being involved in such critical projects as an advisor gives me a strong sense of purpose and fulfillment.

M&A also requires a broad range of expertise, including industry knowledge, accounting, taxation, legal aspects, regulations, and deal structuring. Every transaction presents unique challenges, and there is no single “right” answer. I find it exciting to work side by side with clients, navigating these challenges together, and striving for a successful outcome.

Without a doubt, it’s the moment when a deal successfully closes.

As an M&A advisor, my role is to communicate with many stakeholders—including our clients, legal teams, external advisors, and the counterparty. I take the lead in negotiations, manage the process, and guide the deal to a successful outcome.

M&A transactions often take at least six months, and some can stretch beyond a year. So when a deal is finally completed, the sense of accomplishment is immense.

I feel especially rewarded when a client personally thanks me by name, saying, “We couldn’t have done it without you, Kabasawa.” I believe that true professionals are recognized not just by their company name, but as individuals, so hearing my name mentioned directly makes me feel that I truly made a difference.

At our company, our motto is "Enjoy the work, while staying professional."

Enjoyment comes from the belief that who you work with is just as important as what you work on. We foster a flat, open environment where trust and mutual respect are valued. It’s the opposite of a workplace where people simply agree with their superiors to please them.

Professionalism means that regardless of age or experience, every individual is expected to be independent, responsible, and take ownership of their work.

As mentioned earlier, M&A requires a broad range of expertise, and some deals can be particularly complex and challenging to execute. At our company, we believe in sharing knowledge across the team, ensuring that we take on and overcome challenges together.

Of course, we have a structured hierarchy in terms of roles and responsibilities, but our culture is built on trust, mutual respect, and professional growth. We look forward to welcoming new team members who will help us continue building this kind of collaborative and inspiring workplace.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably interested in a career as an M&A advisor.

I mentioned earlier that broad knowledge is essential in this field, but what’s even more important is character. This means having a strong sense of responsibility to see things through for our clients, mutual respect among colleagues and external partners, and the ability to be independent and self-driven as a professional.

Our company is still relatively new, but it is built on a team of professionals who embody these values. Whether you have experience in this field or not, we are looking for people who share this mindset.

Let’s learn, grow, and take on challenges together! I look forward to meeting you.