At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support proposal development for high-stakes bids, shaping messaging and strategy.
- Company: Join BDO, a dynamic accountancy and business advisory firm driving entrepreneurial success.
- Benefits: Enjoy career development, mentoring, and a supportive, people-centred culture.
- Other info: Agile working framework with state-of-the-art collaboration spaces and continuous learning opportunities.
- Why this job: Make an impact by helping businesses succeed while growing your skills in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing bids and proposals, strong writing skills, and ability to coach others.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 € per year.
We're BDO, an accountancy and business advisory firm, providing the advice and solutions entrepreneurial organisations need to navigate today's changing world. We work with ambitious, entrepreneurially-spirited and high growth businesses that fuel the economy.
Our Sales and Marketing team is being reshaped to directly support BDO's growth ambitions. We're building a high-performing function that is proud of its technical skills, reliable in delivery, and outcome-led in how we prioritise and execute. You'll join a team big enough to offer diverse roles and opportunities, yet personal enough to ensure you're supported and empowered from day one.
Here, we think beyond activity. You'll bring ideas, fresh thinking and help shape how we deliver campaigns, insights and engagement across the business. Working closely with internal clients, you'll deepen your understanding of our sectors and add value in your role.
Leading organisations trust us because of the quality of our advice. That quality grows from a thorough understanding of their business, which comes from working closely with them and building long-lasting relationships.
The Sales and Marketing team are recruiting a Pursuits and Proposals Manager.
Role purpose
The Pursuit and Proposal Manager supports the firm's priority pursuits with a blend of coaching and hands-on proposal support. The role works on significant bids where disciplined governance, strong win themes and high-quality written submissions are required, partnering closely with pursuit leads to shape messaging and differentiation and to deliver a distinctive proposal and pitch approach.
This role supports and contributes to coaching while also taking a more active role in proposal development—working closely with designers, content owners and production support to strengthen the look, feel, structure and persuasiveness of the submission. The role is an expert in the "win it" stage and supports knowledge transfer to managers and senior managers involved in pursuits.
Key responsibilities
- Support development of win themes and differentiated messaging; ensure they are applied consistently across proposal and pitch materials.
- Identify evidence gaps and coordinate inputs from SMEs and asset sources to strengthen proof points.
- Contribute to competitor/buyer understanding and implications for how the team should position the response.
- Drive the proposal management process on assigned pursuits: workplan, contributors, deadlines, review cycles and actions.
- Shape the structure, narrative flow and clarity of the submission; edit and improve content for quality and buyer relevance.
- Work closely with Design/document production to ensure a professional, distinctive and consistent output.
- Support pitch preparation and rehearsal sessions: provide feedback on story, structure, roles and Q&A.
- Coach managers/SMs on effective bid behaviours and standards, escalating where issues risk quality or readiness.
- Coordinate with Content/Markets Activation/Marketing teams where messaging alignment or campaign context is relevant.
You’ll be someone with
- Strong experience managing bids and proposals in a professional services or complex B2B environment.
- Ability to coach and influence stakeholders while also managing delivery and document quality.
- Strong writing/editing judgement and ability to shape persuasive narratives.
- Confident coordinating multiple contributors and deadlines; strong risk awareness.
- Comfortable supporting pitch preparation and rehearsals.
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.
We're looking forward to the future. 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.
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.
Pursuits and Proposals Manager - Audit in London employer: BDO UK
At BDO, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a supportive and collaborative work culture. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through tailored career development programmes and access to state-of-the-art resources, ensuring you have the tools to succeed in your role as Pursuits and Proposals Manager. Located in a vibrant environment, you'll be part of a team that values mutual respect and innovation, empowering you to make a meaningful impact while working with some of Britain's most ambitious businesses.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Pursuits and Proposals Manager - Audit in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those at BDO. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising your storytelling skills. Think about how your experiences align with BDO's values and the role of Pursuits and Proposals Manager. We want to hear your unique narrative!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills in proposal management during interviews. Bring examples of past successes and how you’ve influenced stakeholders. This is your chance to shine and demonstrate your expertise!
✨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 serious about joining the BDO team.
We think you need these skills to ace Pursuits and Proposals Manager - Audit in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Pursuits and Proposals Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing bids and proposals, and don’t forget to showcase your strong writing skills. We want to see how you can bring fresh ideas to our team!
Showcase Your Skills:Use your application to demonstrate your ability to coach and influence stakeholders. Share examples of how you've successfully managed multiple contributors and deadlines in the past. This will help us see how you can fit into our collaborative culture at BDO.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key! Make sure your narrative flows well and is easy to read. We appreciate a well-structured submission that gets straight to the point while still being persuasive. Remember, we’re looking for quality and relevance!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our company culture there, which can help you tailor your application even further!
How to prepare for a job interview at BDO UK
✨Know Your BDO Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into BDO's values, mission, and recent projects. Understanding their approach to entrepreneurial businesses will help you align your answers with their goals and demonstrate that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Showcase Your Proposal Skills
Prepare specific examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed bids and proposals. Highlight how you shaped messaging, identified gaps, and collaborated with teams to deliver high-quality submissions. This will show that you have the hands-on experience they’re looking for.
✨Practice Your Coaching Techniques
Since the role involves coaching others, think of instances where you've influenced stakeholders or guided a team. Be ready to discuss your coaching style and how you ensure quality and readiness in proposals. This will illustrate your ability to lead and support others effectively.
✨Engage in Mock Pitch Sessions
Since pitch preparation is key, consider doing mock pitch sessions with friends or colleagues. Practising your storytelling and feedback skills will not only boost your confidence but also prepare you for the real deal, showcasing your ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.
