Program Manager, M&A Technology

Company: Ares Operations
Location: Los Angeles
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry. Job Description The M&A Technology Integration Program Manager within the Global Technology organization will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and driving the execution of technology integration activities for mergers and acquisitions. This role supports transactions from due diligence through Day 0 / Day 1 readiness and post-close integration, ensuring disciplined execution, transparency, and risk management across all technology workstreams. This individual will serve as the program management backbone for M&A technology integrations, partnering closely with application, infrastructure, cybersecurity, data, and business stakeholders. The role requires strong program and project management skills, the ability to influence without authority in a matrixed environment, and a solid understanding of technology concepts to effectively orchestrate complex, cross-functional integrations. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who has supported multiple M&A transactions, is comfortable operating in fast-paced and ambiguous environments, and can bring structure, rigor, and momentum to integration efforts. Reporting relationships: Reports to: Head of M&A Technology Integrations Primary functions and essential responsibilities: M&A Program Management & Execution Support and execute end-to-end M&A technology integration activities, from due diligence through Day 0 / Day 1 readiness and post-close integration planning and execution. Develop and manage detailed integration plans, timelines, milestones, and dependencies across all technology workstreams. Coordinate activities across application, infrastructure, cybersecurity, identity, data, and end-user computing teams to ensure aligned execution. Track progress, risks, issues, and decisions, escalating appropriately to ensure timely resolution. Support integration cutover planning and execution to minimize business disruption. Due Diligence & Integration Planning Participate in technology due diligence for potential acquisitions, supporting assessment of applications, infrastructure, security posture, and integration complexity. Assist in translating diligence findings into actionable integration plans, sequencing, and resourcing models. Maintain clear documentation of assumptions, risks, and integration recommendations. Standards, Playbooks & Continuous Improvement Develop, maintain, and continuously improve M&A technology integration playbooks, checklists, templates, and standards. Institutionalize repeatable integration practices to improve speed, consistency, and outcomes across transactions. Capture lessons learned from completed integrations and incorporate them into future planning. Stakeholder Coordination & Communication Act as a central point of coordination for technology integration activities, ensuring clear communication across stakeholders. Prepare and deliver concise status updates, dashboards, and executive-ready materials for senior technology leadership. Facilitate integration forums, working sessions, and steering meetings as required. Build strong working relationships across internal teams and external partners. Risk, Dependency & Issue Management Proactively identify integration risks, dependencies, and constraints across technology domains. Work with functional teams to develop mitigation plans and drive timely decisions. Ensure alignment with enterprise security, compliance, and operational standards. Qualifications: Education Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field. Experience Required 10 years of progressive experience in technology program or project management roles, with at least 5 years in the Financial Services industry. Minimum of 5 years of direct experience supporting M&A technology integrations, including participation in multiple transactions. Demonstrated experience supporting technology due diligence and post-close integration planning and execution. Strong working knowledge of technology domains, including enterprise applications, infrastructure, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, and identity/access management. Experience operating in complex, matrixed organizations with the ability to influence outcomes without direct authority. Experience developing program artifacts such as integration plans, RAID logs, executive status reports, and governance materials. Nice to have: Prior experience in management consulting, Big 4 advisory, or a dedicated integration PMO supporting technology-led M&A initiatives. Skills & Attributes Strong program and project management discipline, with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages for technical and non-technical audiences. Comfortable navigating ambiguity and fast-moving environments typical of M&A activity. Self-starter with a proactive mindset and the ability to drive momentum across multiple stakeholders. Solid understanding of technology terminology and concepts across applications, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Highly organized, structured problem-solver with strong planning and coordination skills. Collaborative team player who builds trust and credibility across functions. Reporting Relationships Compensation The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role. $150k - $200k The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit. Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more. There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.

Keywords: Ares Operations, Bell Gardens , Program Manager, M&A Technology, IT / Software / Systems , Los Angeles, California