At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive new business for Kriya's high-velocity SME lending products and manage your own sales pipeline.
- Company: Join Allica Bank, the UK's fastest-growing fintech, dedicated to supporting SMEs.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, social activities, private health cover, and a discretionary bonus scheme.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team with excellent growth opportunities in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by helping small businesses access the funding they need quickly.
- Qualifications: Experience in SME lending sales and a track record of meeting targets is essential.
About Allica Bank
Allica is the UK’s fastest growing company - and the fastest-growing financial technology (Fintech) firm ever. Our purpose is to help established SMEs, one of the last major underserved opportunities in Fintech.
Established SMEs are the backbone of local communities - representing over a third of our economy - yet have been largely neglected both by traditional high street banks and modern fintech providers.
Kriya sits inside that story as Allica's platform for building new credit products. We already offer invoice finance to mid-market SMEs. We are now evaluating how best to launch unsecured lending products to SMEs, building on the well-known MarketFinance loans franchise, but backed by Allica's balance sheet, cost of funds, and 30,000+ SME customer base.
Role Description
Small businesses can't afford to wait around. When a cash flow gap or a growth opportunity appears, the SMEs we serve need funding that moves at the same speed they do, which is exactly the gap Kriya's unsecured lending products are built to fill.
We are looking for a Commercial Finance BDM to help drive new business across Kriya's unsecured, high-velocity SME lending products. This is an entrepreneurial, high-activity sales role: you'll build and manage your own pipeline of prospects, qualify fast, and take ownership of your numbers. Every conversation with a prospective customer is different, and how well you manage your own pipeline rather than any one big deal is what will make the difference to your results. You will also have Allica’s wider distribution network to make the most of.
The products:
- Invoice Finance, Export lending, SME loans and working capital products
- Facility sizes: £100k - £1m
- Pricing positioned competitively against non-bank competitors
- Multiple inbound, outbound and referral channels available from day one
- Room to grow into larger facilities and broader working capital products over time
Principal Accountabilities
- Build and nurture a high-quality pipeline of SME prospects
- Run fast, structured qualification conversations to confirm genuine funding need and fit, using your own judgement on which businesses are worth pursuing
- Own the sales cycle end-to-end: outreach, pitch, objection handling, close
- Consistently hit and go beyond your weekly and monthly activity and conversion targets
- Maintain accurate, up-to-date CRM records to support forecasting and pipeline visibility
- Build repeatable outbound habits: call volume, meeting volume, follow-up cadence
- Collaborate closely with credit, risk, operations and collections to resolve customer queries quickly and keep deals on track
- Feed market and competitor intelligence back into the commercial team, and share what's working with the rest of the group
- Build toward future team growth as origination volume justifies expansion
- Implement AI in your workflows
Personal Attributes & Experience
- Experience selling one or more of: SME business loans, working capital loans, merchant cash advance, revenue-based finance, invoice finance, or business lines / cash flow lending.
- A track record of direct SME new-business sales, not just via the introducer base
- Demonstrable success operating in short sales cycles with high deal volume, ideally with a proven record of meeting or beating targets
- Based in London and willing to work 1-2 days a week from the office regularly
- Background at a high-volume non-bank funder, fintech or embedded lender
- Exposure to fast, digital-first onboarding and payout journeys
- A good understanding of the challenges facing small businesses, and the range of finance products SMEs use to manage them
- Confident, direct communicator, able to explain complex financial products in a simple, compelling way to owners with little experience of commercial finance
- Resilient and target-driven: you take setbacks in your stride and treat them as feedback
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy, even when managing a high volume of accounts at pace
- Organised pipeline management; CRM management, with deals tracked accurately at every stage
- Comfortable in a hybrid Kriya-inside-Allica setup: startup-pace commercial team, bank-grade governance around it
Working at Allica Bank
At Allica Bank we want to ensure our employees have the right tools and environment in which to succeed in their role and in support of our customers.
Our employees are at the heart of everything we do, so our benefits are designed with you in mind:
- Full onboarding support and continued development opportunities
- Options for flexible working
- Regular social activities
- Pension contributions
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Private health cover
- Life assurance
- Family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity & Paternity leave
Don’t tick every box?
Don’t worry if you don’t have all the skills or requirements listed on the job description. If you think you’ll be a good fit, we’d still love to hear from you!
Flexible working
We know the ‘9-to-5’ isn’t right for everyone. That’s why Allica Bank is fully committed to flexible and hybrid working. Please let us know what is best for you and, if we can, we will do our best to accommodate.
Diversity
We’re a diverse bunch here at Allica, with all kinds of experiences, backgrounds and lifestyles. Our openness and differences make us stronger, and we want everybody to feel comfortable bringing as much of themselves to work with them as they like.
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Commercial Finance Business Development Manager employer: Allica
Allica Bank is an excellent employer that prioritises employee growth and development within a dynamic and supportive work culture. Located in a vibrant area, we offer competitive benefits and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lending sector, ensuring fair outcomes for our customers while fostering strong relationships. Join us to be part of a team that values innovation and collaboration as we scale our operations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Finance Business Development Manager
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Allica. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Finance Business Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Allica.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Allica's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Allica
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Allica.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Allica will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Allica employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
