Business Development Executive - 3 month contract in Hampshire

About The Payroll Centre and Bright

The Payroll Centre has been providing expert payroll training and qualifications for more than 25 years, supporting organisations and individuals to consistently produce compliant and accurate payrolls through on‑demand expertise and professional development. At Bright, we deliver products that help accountants, payroll bureaus, and businesses across the UK and Ireland work smarter and win more.

About This Role

As Business Development Executive you will be responsible for generating new business and managing existing client accounts across the full range of Payroll Centre training products, memberships, and the Act learning platform. This is a consultative sales role. The BDE needs to understand the payroll landscape their clients operate in — compliance obligations, team structures, training gaps — and match solutions to those needs with precision.

What You'll Do

• Lead Generation and Prospecting: Identify target organisations — SMEs, large enterprises, multi‑site businesses, and agencies — that require payroll training. Generate leads through cold calling, networking, email outreach, LinkedIn, events, and partnerships. Qualify prospects to understand payroll volumes, pay frequencies, industry challenges, and existing systems.
• Understanding Client Needs: Identify key decision‑makers within target organisations: HR Directors, Payroll Managers, Finance Approvers, and Training Managers. Conduct detailed payroll needs assessments, covering compliance issues, staff turnover, and complexity flags. Understand clients' compliance pain points — RTI submissions, pension auto‑enrolment, statutory payments, and HMRC requirements. Present solutions that align with clients’ operational and regulatory needs.
• Client Relationship Management: Serve as the day‑to‑day contact for assigned clients, building strong and trusted relationships. Check in regularly to ensure satisfaction, identify challenges, and surface opportunities for improvement. Manage client expectations and communicate updates proactively.
• Account Growth and Retention: Identify upsell and cross‑sell opportunities within existing accounts. Prepare tailored proposals and quotes for additional services or enhancements. Monitor client engagement and take action to prevent attrition.
• Solution Presentation and Demonstrations: Deliver tailored demos of payroll training products and the Act platform, explaining key features clearly. Showcase cost savings, efficiency improvements, and risk reduction outcomes.
• Sales and Revenue: Create quotes and pricing structures based on payroll complexity and volume. Achieve monthly and quarterly sales targets for new client acquisition and existing client revenue.
• Internal Collaboration: Work closely with Act Account Managers, Marketing, and the Operations/Customer Success team to ensure smooth client onboarding. Share market insights to support product development and marketing strategy. Provide regular feedback on client requirements, industry trends, and competitive activity.
• Reporting and Administration: Maintain accurate records of interactions, leads, and opportunities in the CRM. Produce sales forecasts, pipeline updates, and monthly reports for management. Track conversion rates, lost‑deal reasons, and customer feedback.

What We're Looking For

• Essential Experience in business development, sales, or account management — particularly in a non‑face‑to‑face environment.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and consultative selling skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, CRM systems, and digital lead‑generation channels.
• Ability to explain technical processes clearly to non‑technical clients.
• Strong organisational and time‑management skills; able to manage multiple accounts without losing pace.
• Proactive and customer‑centric approach to service.
• Comfortable working alongside AI tools; curious about how technology can make you better at your job.

Desirable

• Background in payroll, HR, or professional training services.
• Experience with payroll software or compliance frameworks (RTI, HMRC, pension auto‑enrolment).
• Familiarity with IPASS or equivalent payroll qualifications.

Working With Us

We have a collaborative culture where you can be yourself. Even at 400+ people, there is still a team feel. People are genuinely looked after here, it's not just something we say. You get real autonomy to learn, to grow, to make an impact. And right now is a genuinely exciting time to join. We're growing fast, we're investing heavily in AI, and that creates real opportunity for the business and for the people in it. It's a place where curious people thrive.