At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage the bid process to secure high-quality work for BDO.
- Company: Join BDO, a dynamic accountancy and business advisory firm.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, career development, and a supportive culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving successful bids in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in bids management and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a people-centred culture with excellent growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are BDO, an accountancy and business advisory firm, providing the advice and solutions entrepreneurial organisations need to navigate today’s changing world. We work with the companies that are Britain’s economic engine – ambitious, entrepreneurially-spirited and high-growth businesses that fuel the economy - and directly advise the owners and management teams that lead them.
Our Marketing team is the driving force behind the creativity and growth at BDO. Their main goal is to equip the business to win, covering most touchpoints of the customer journey. Highlights include a national advertising campaign, the launch of a new firm-wide sales planning process, and the implementation of new digital marketing tools. You’ll be supported to build your career while being yourself in the office. Help the firm succeed by staying ahead of the latest market trends, confidently implementing your ideas, and collaborating with a range of stakeholders. You’ll be rewarded with a great work-life balance and a career with real purpose.
Leading organisations trust us because of the quality of our advice, which grows from a thorough understanding of their business. You’ll be someone who is comfortable working proactively and managing your own tasks, as well as confident collaborating with others and communicating regularly with senior managers, directors, and BDO’s partners. You’ll be encouraged to identify and draw attention to opportunities for enhancing our delivery and providing additional services to organisations we work with.
BDO’s Bids and Pursuits team sits within MSC (Markets, Sales & Clients). Its core focus is winning profitable, high-quality work from new and existing clients and audited entities. The team identifies and prioritises opportunities and drives the pursuit and bid process to maximise our chance of winning. Currently, there are 7 people in the Bids and Pursuits team located in London and Manchester, although they support the firm nationally.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced bid professional to join our team. You will already be experienced in delivering all parts of a bid response but now you will be keen to own and drive the bid process from end to end. Reporting to an experienced Pursuit Opportunity Conversion Lead (POCL), you will focus on supporting bids that are strategically important to the firm across all sectors and streams of the business. You will be one of the 3 Bid Managers in the Central Bids and Pursuits Team. This role is based out of our Baker Street hub.
In this role you’ll:
- Assist the Pursuit & Opportunity Conversion Lead (POCL) in Chances of Winning conversations, including deputising where appropriate.
- Design and build the project plan to ensure the correct process and approach is taken and correct skill sets are leveraged to deliver maximum value.
- Assist the POCL in kick-off sessions, stakeholder meeting preparation sessions, value proposition and storyboard development.
- Write the first draft of proposal Executive Summary.
- Brief design teams to produce concepts that reflect the win themes, and provide feedback.
- Co-ordinate the production of the final proposal & pitch materials, ensuring they have been signed off by the appropriate team members.
- Support other Bid Managers by performing RFP compliance reviews on their opportunities.
- Manage day-to-day activities of the client team throughout the response process and be a central point of contact for queries and concerns.
- Drive activity and leverage the correct skills to deliver the plan & maximise chances of success.
- Advise team and partner on pursuit or bid process and steps based on firmwide best practice approach.
- Assist the POCL in presentation planning and preparation.
- Ensure best practice is implemented on each bid as appropriate through support from POCL.
- Maintain statistics on win/loss ratio, opportunity scores and contribute to analysis on firm-wide trends in winning and losing.
- Help spread best practice across the firm by updating "self-service" bids content on BDO’s intranet, taking part in "lunch and learn" sessions, and producing posts for the Bids Team Viva Engage Board.
You’ll be someone with:
- Professional bids experience with a strong motivation to 'win'
- Proven experience of working in a bids and pursuits team (from a professional services business)
- Stakeholder management skills
- A good understanding of, and experience in delivering, the 'end-to-end bid process'
- The ability to converse comfortably with senior stakeholders
- Confidence to ask insightful questions to both understand and challenge thinking
- Strong project management experience
- Strong writing and communication skills
You’ll be able to be yourself; we’ll recognise and value you for who you are and celebrate and reward your contributions to the business. We’re committed to agile working, and we offer every colleague the opportunity to work in ways that suit you, your teams, and the task at hand.
At BDO, we’ll help you achieve your personal goals and career ambitions, and we have programmes, resources, and frameworks that provide clarity and structure around career development.
Mutual support and respect is one of BDO’s core values and we’re proud of our distinctive, people-centred culture. From informal success conversations to formal mentoring and coaching, we’ll support you at every stage in your career, whatever your personal and professional needs.
Our agile working framework helps us stay connected, bringing teams together where and when it counts so they can share ideas and help one another. At BDO, you’ll always have access to the people and resources you need to do your best work.
We know that collaboration is the key to creating value for the companies we work with and satisfying experiences for our colleagues, so we’ve invested in state-of-the-art collaboration spaces in our offices. BDO’s people represent a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and we’ll encourage you to build your network, work alongside others, and share your skills and experiences. With a range of multidisciplinary events and dedicated resources, you’ll never stop learning at BDO.
At BDO, we help entrepreneurial businesses to succeed, fuelling the UK economy. Our success is powered by our people, which is why we’re always finding new ways to invest in you. Across the UK thousands of unique minds continue to come together to help companies we work with to achieve their ambitions. We’ve got a clear purpose, and we’re confident in our future, because we’re adapting and evolving to build on our strengths, ensuring we continue to find the right combination of global reach, integrity and expertise. We shape the future together with openness and clarity, because we believe in empowering people to think creatively about how we can do things better.
Bids Manager in London employer: BDO LLP
Contact Detail:
BDO LLP Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Bids Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching BDO and understanding their values and recent projects. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in bids and pursuits.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to discuss your past bid experiences and how you've contributed to winning proposals. Use specific examples that highlight your skills in project management and stakeholder engagement.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the BDO team.
We think you need these skills to ace Bids Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Bids Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in bid management and showcase how your skills align with what we’re looking for at BDO.
Showcase Your Writing Skills: Since strong writing is key for this role, ensure your application is clear, concise, and free of errors. Use it as an opportunity to demonstrate your communication prowess right from the start!
Be Authentic: We want to know the real you! Don’t hesitate to let your personality shine through in your application. Share your passion for bids and how you can contribute to our team’s success.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to submit your application through our official website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive and review your application!
How to prepare for a job interview at BDO LLP
✨Know Your Bids Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the end-to-end bid process. Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges and opportunities in the bids and pursuits sector, especially as they relate to BDO. This will help you speak confidently about your experience and how it aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your ability to manage relationships with senior stakeholders. Think of situations where you successfully navigated complex conversations or influenced decision-making. This is crucial for a Bids Manager role, so be ready to discuss these experiences in detail.
✨Demonstrate Your Project Management Prowess
Be prepared to talk about your project management experience, particularly in relation to bids. Have specific examples ready that showcase your ability to design and build project plans, coordinate teams, and ensure timely delivery of proposals. This will show that you can handle the responsibilities of the role effectively.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
During the interview, don’t hesitate to ask questions that demonstrate your understanding of the industry and the company’s goals. Inquire about their current bidding strategies or how they measure success in their bids. This not only shows your interest but also your proactive approach to understanding their business.