Overview

Business Development Senior Manager – Public Interest Audit at Grant Thornton UK. This role is designed to drive the Public Interest (PI) audit team’s approach to winning new business and delivering profitable growth in the large listed market and large equivalent privately held companies, including major-PE backed groups. You will be part of a supportive Go to Market team and the national Markets and Clients community, helping partners and directors achieve ambitious growth targets through rigorous and proactive business development activities.

Responsibilities

• Transform our approach to winning new business with a proactive, structured and rigorous method aligned with the Firm’s Sales and Marketing Cycle.
• Evolve our Business Development approach by bringing fresh perspective and insights to drive the right mindset.
• Define, identify and oversee a pipeline of tiered pursuits and tenders to grow the PI business, introduce a key account management programme and tier targets for resource and investment, and increase conversion rates.
• Fully adopt the new CRM system (Dynamics), acting as a champion for best practice across the PI Audit practice.
• Account manage priority PI targets, work with the Pursuits team to set relationships and win strategies before tender processes, and regularly qualify targets.
• Oversee and monitor KPIs related to the sales pipeline.
• Support audit leaders, Head of G2M team and PI partners in identifying and pursuing new markets and key targets, driving BD efforts.
• Hold PI partners to account on actions and target development, flagging issues or lack of progress.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to inform go-to-market plans and ensure they are leveraged by the business.
• Help develop propositions for the PI market through collaboration with wider assurance, tax and advisory practices, providing insights for different businesses.
• Liaise with other BD teams as needed (e.g., Large Corporate, Industries, Regional, Advisory and Tax).
• Build a sales culture and community within PI through regular communication and coordination.
• Identify BD/sales/account management training needs and arrange coaching and development through the firm’s Learning and Innovation team.
• Support strategic client and target conversations alongside senior stakeholders to encourage broader discussion.

Qualifications

Minimum criteria – the following are required:

• Professional services experience – ideally Big 4
• Background in BD and account management in the FTSE 350 space
• Experience in effective stakeholder management at a senior level
• Interest or knowledge of Audit is beneficial but not critical

The role is flexible on location but has national remit so travel to different offices may be required.

Additional skills – desirable qualities include:

• Understanding of lead generation, sales and client management activity
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Drive, initiative and ability to work with ambiguity
• Experience with CRM systems (Salesforce, Dynamics, etc.)
• Project management experience
• Proactive, can-do attitude
• Ability to break down siloes and barriers
• Resilience and tenacity

Working at Grant Thornton

We embrace uniqueness and value contributions from all our people. We build an inclusive culture where differences are respected, helping our people perform at their best and realise their potential. Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and what you bring to our firm. You’ll have the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.

Beyond the job We offer flexible working options where possible and aim to keep your work-life balance in mind. The impact you can make goes beyond your day job, including opportunities such as secondments, local charity fundraising, and investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, guided by our values—purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.

We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to proudly do what is right for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves.