In August this year Rupsa Mukherjee joined United Fintech as head of mergers and acquisitions after previous roles in corporate finance and investment banking, including Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs.

United Fintech was founded in 2020 to allow financial institutions to connect to a number of fintechs through one platform by acquiring and integrating firms with proven technologies. The platform is backed by strategic investors including BNP Paribas, Citi, Danske Bank, and Standard Chartered. So far, United Fintech has acquired six capital markets software companies – Athena, CobaltFX, FairXchange, Netdania, TTMzero and CBA.

Mukherjee will work with Christian Frahm, founder and chief executive of United Fintech, and the executive team to identify high-potential companies, lead acquisition strategy, and structure founder-friendly transactions.

In your last role you had worked at Deutsche Bank since 2017 , and advised on M&A transactions exceeding $20bn. Why did you join United Fintech after a long career in banking ? 

I am really excited about what Frahm and his team are building at United Fintech:  an industry neutral platform which seamlessly connects banks and financial institutions with fintechs. The problem that United Fintech is addressing is very real and tackles many of the challenges financial institutions face today.

Having worked at Deutsche Bank for seven years, and previously at Goldman Sachs, I have seen the issues experienced by institutions when trying to access innovation, AI-driven technology, or digital capabilities outside the bank. United Fintech is solving the problem by bridging the gap and creating value for both banks and fintechs. Banks get vetted, integrated innovation, while fintechs get scale, distribution, and credibility. United Fintech is not just a connector, but a strategic platform aimed at reshaping how financial institutions adopt new technologies.

The company has been actively acquiring fintechs since 2020, and I have been following their journey from the outside. I wanted to be part of this momentum and to play a key role in helping Christian and his team continue to build on what has been accomplished to date.

What are your aims in your new role?

I am still settling into my new role, but I want to make connections with founders and understand the industry landscape from both an M&A and product perspective while evolving our acquisition strategy and driving further growth.

What makes a good M&A deal?

A good M&A deal creates value for all stakeholders. Sometimes a deal makes sense on paper, but it is also really important to think about whether the deal makes sense operationally. There should be a strategic alignment between the buyer and the seller.

It is also crucial that there is a cultural fit between the teams and a clear path to integration. Financial metrics are obviously important, but for the long-term success of the combined entity it is critical to be able to unlock synergies, accelerate growth and strengthen market position by working together.

I am excited by my new role as I am moving from a very structured environment to a founder-driven universe. My focus will not only be on the product and whether it makes sense on our platform, but also on the continued success of the product post-acquisition.

You studied commerce at The University of Calcutta and then became a chartered accountant. Did you intend to go into finance ?

I grew up in a family of doctors, so did not get a lot of exposure into the various career paths in finance. I developed an interest in finance in high school and decided to pursue it for my undergraduate degree.

I really liked finance because it is analytical, but at the same time it has real world impact. My undergrad course helped me get the foundations of accounting, economics, business strategy, and my chartered accountancy helped me strengthen that foundation.

In terms of my career path, I have pursued different fields within finance including strategic finance and investment banking and am now heading up M&A in a fintech.

Finance has been my chosen path, however my career has always been about following opportunities that stretched me, and helped me to make an impact while building a global perspective.

In 2017 you completed an MBA from The Wharton School in the U.S. Why did you decide to do an MBA?

The MBA was about expanding my toolkit and getting more exposure towards understanding strategy and innovation leadership.

I had worked in multinational companies with global colleagues, but I wanted to get diverse perspectives from students from a variety of professional backgrounds. I was fortunate to go to Wharton for my MBA where we had students from 90 nationalities in my year.

For me, doing an MBA was also about taking a step back, thinking about what would help position me for more senior roles, gain more technical expertise and develop strategic perspectives that are required beyond finance.

After studying and working in India and the U.S., you moved to London with Deutsche Bank in 2019. How did you navigate these different environments ?

Things can be widely different even in the same organisation, when you are working across different cultures and countries. It is important to keep an open mind, actively listen and learn. You need to allow yourself time to adapt your expectations, and your communication style, depending on your audience. You also need to be respectful.

However, what I have realised is that people are quite similar irrespective of the region, language and the culture. This has helped me bring my authentic self no matter where I have worked and has helped me immensely in working with colleagues and clients from diverse backgrounds across borders.

In M&A, the human element of listening, understanding perspectives, and the ability to work with different people is critical. I’m very much looking forward to this role giving me that opportunity.

What advice would you give to women who want to work in finance?

Finance, especially M&A, is demanding but also rewarding in terms of the impact you are able to make.

My advice for women who want to work in finance is to trust your expertise and use your voice. Build relationships and seek mentors and sponsors who will advocate for you. In addition, stay curious and continue to learn because there is a lot of change, especially in fintech.

I think it is extremely exciting, because the industry is evolving all the time. Finally, it’s important to remember that you don’t need to fit into a mold because diverse perspectives are required for the industry to innovate and grow. Your voice and unique perspective is key.