At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive business growth by acquiring and managing relationships with Independent Financial Adviser firms.
- Company: Join Defaqto, a trusted leader in financial product intelligence.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, vibrant office culture, and focus on wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the financial sector while developing your career.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in business development with a strong grasp of the UK IFA market.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for continuous learning and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Part of Fintel plc, Defaqto is one of the UK’s most trusted sources of financial product and market intelligence, supporting financial institutions, intermediaries and consumers to make smarter financial decisions. We are looking for business development professionals with significant experience selling into UK financial advice firms. You'll have at least 5 years' relevant experience and be comfortable combining new business acquisition and account management.
Role overview
As Business Development Manager, you will be responsible for acquiring and growing relationships with Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) firms. This includes full-cycle sales, account management, and positioning Defaqto’s expanding suite of solutions for future upselling. The role requires a consultative approach, strong commercial acumen, and a commitment to continuous learning of new tools and their value to clients.
What you'll do
- New Business Acquisition
- Identify and engage prospective IFA firms.
- Conduct needs-based discovery and deliver tailored product demos.
- Close new business deals aligned with quarterly and annual targets.
- Account Management
- Own post-sale relationships, ensuring high levels of engagement and satisfaction.
- Drive product adoption and usage across adviser teams.
- Product Knowledge & Upselling
- Proactively learn new Defaqto tools and services as they are released.
- Translate product capabilities into client value propositions.
- Identify upsell opportunities such as data services or enhanced modules.
- Collaboration & Feedback
- Work closely with marketing and customer success to align efforts.
- Provide market feedback to product and strategy teams.
- Represent Defaqto at industry events and webinars.
What you'll need to succeed
- Strong understanding of the UK IFA market and advice process.
- Proven experience in managing a territory and prioritising high-potential accounts.
- Experience selling technical products and comfortable learning about new ones.
- A strong grasp of SaaS-based sales cycles, including lead generation, demos and renewals.
- Ability to consistently generate new business through proactive outreach, effective qualification, and closing skills.
- Experienced in positioning additional features, tiers, or services that align with evolving client needs and deliver measurable ROI.
Your approach to work
- Ownership: you'll take the initiative to identify opportunities and consistently work towards exceeding sales targets.
- Growth mindset: you'll focus on understanding client needs and delivering tailored SaaS solutions that drive value.
- Collaboration: you'll work and collaborate effectively across teams (e.g., product, marketing, CS) and adapt quickly in fast-paced environments.
Location
You’ll work on a hybrid basis from our London office - normally 2 days a week - on top of any travel for face-to-face meetings with advisers.
Right to Work
Applicants must already hold a legal right to work in the UK without time restrictions. We are currently unable to provide Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.
How we Work
Our values define how we work so that we can achieve our vision, provide a great employee experience, and positively impact our customers. Think Big | Be Bold | Own it | Team up | Be a Star. We have a vibrant office environment with a hybrid approach to working supported by our flexible working promise. We have a focus on wellbeing, a programme of social, charity and team-building events and free fresh fruit delivered to the office.
Fintel plc and all the businesses within it adopt a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination on any of the protected grounds in the Equality Act 2010. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all current and prospective employees regardless of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse workforce because, in our view, diversity enables better business outcomes. We also believe that a more inclusive workplace, where people of different backgrounds work together, ensures better outcomes for all staff. From application to interview, we place inclusion at the heart of all we do. For these reasons we strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds.
Business Development Manager in London employer: Defaqto
Contact Detail:
Defaqto Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the financial advice sector. Attend industry events, webinars, and meetups to build relationships that could lead to job opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your knowledge! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your understanding of the UK IFA market and how you can add value to their business.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to deliver a killer elevator pitch that showcases your experience in new business acquisition and account management. Keep it concise and impactful!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After meeting someone or having an interview, send a quick thank-you note or message. It keeps you on their radar and shows your enthusiasm for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Business Development Manager. Highlight your experience in selling to UK financial advice firms and showcase your achievements in new business acquisition and account management.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about the role and how your skills align with our mission at Defaqto. Don’t forget to mention your understanding of the IFA market!
Showcase Your Consultative Approach: In your application, emphasise your consultative sales approach. We want to see how you’ve successfully identified client needs and delivered tailored solutions in the past. This is key for the role!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Defaqto
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, brush up on your understanding of the UK IFA market and the advice process. Familiarise yourself with current trends and challenges that financial advice firms face. This will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Sales Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully acquired new business and managed accounts in the past. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, highlighting your ability to close deals and drive product adoption.
✨Demonstrate a Growth Mindset
Be ready to talk about how you approach learning new tools and services. Share instances where you've proactively sought out knowledge to better serve clients. This shows that you're committed to continuous improvement and can adapt to evolving client needs.
✨Collaborate and Communicate
Since collaboration is key in this role, think of examples where you've worked effectively with marketing or customer success teams. Highlight your communication skills and how you've used feedback to improve processes or products, aligning with Defaqto's values of teamwork and innovation.