M&A Integration: Career Path, Exits, Lifestyle?

Older post but didn't see a response for you so I'll chime in - former business analyst > strategy manager/product > M&A Director. I've run full-lifecycle M&A for 6 years in industry but focusing 2/3 of my time on integrations these days. The benefit to integration work is you usually end up knowing more about your company's operations than anyone there including csuite. You have to understand the intricacies of all the people, systems, and processes around every department so you can effectively integrate the merging company. Because you know more than most people do about their own jobs you see a lot of Integration Leads lateral to leading specific departments they've worked closely with (similar to placement at Rotational Programs at companies like GE or P&G) or move up through the Operations or Strategy side of the house towards VP of Ops or COO. It's pretty common to see Integration Directors jump into leading Strategy or Ops at early stage start ups as well.  

Backgrounds really vary a lot. 3/4 of the integration directors I’ve worked with have a top 25 undergrad and most of those had an MBA. The most effective integration director I’ve ever met actually didn’t graduate college but left to start his own company and sold for mid 6 figures, worked above me for a few years, then left for a Chief Strategy Officer role at a start up. Formal education clearly can help but is not the end all be all. Your ability to work strategically and understand risks and dependencies across all workstreams is a must and you won’t learn nearly enough of that at any undergrad or MBA.  

Technically you're a project manager or program manager so pay can be in line with that. Integration Project Managers may see 90k-140k base. If you're leading the M&A integration function as a Manager you might make 140k-170k base. If you're at director level running their Integration Management Office base might be 150k-250k+ depending on company size. Bonuses vary pretty greatly but I've seen anywhere from 10% for managers to 20% or more for directors. Integration VPs can make 500k+ base at larger companies but most people lateral before then.
Hours vary depending on the deal flow, industry, and company but expect to work 60hrs+ through integration planning into the first month of each integration then it can tapper off to much less than 40hrs/week if you build out effective processes. 

Overall it's a great career path that gives you daily face time with csuite. Pay is decent but can be great per hour compared to traditional IB. Exit Ops are really up to you but if you're effective at building out an IMO you can set your self up towards VP of Ops, the COO track, or Startup senior leadership. For what it’s worth every Integration Director I know who’s told me they wanted to use it as a stepping stone to get into senior leadership has got there within a few years.