Recruitment firm BWD has launched a mergers and acquisitions service - BWD M&A - aimed at finance advice businesses.

Leeds-based BWD says the service is “specifically designed” to simplify the process of M&A in the financial advice sector.

The financial advice sector has seen a surge in M&A activity at all levels over the past five years.

The new service is aimed at IFA and wealth businesses planning to sell. It provides an eight-step strategy to assist sellers to find potential acquirers who align with their values and objectives, the firm says.

The M&A service is led by David Rist who has over 30 years’ of experience in the financial services sector and has held senior management and executive positions with St James's Place (SJP), Fairstone and Inter-Alliance.

He co-founded Informed Financial Planning, which became the first Chartered Firm in Yorkshire.

As Informed’s managing director, he oversaw several acquisitions and one sale. More recently, he has been involved in over 20 sales and acquisitions.

He said: “Consolidation is a rapidly growing trend in our industry, and BWD M&A is here to make this process smoother and more strategic for all parties involved.”