Business development manager in banking in London

FT Specialist is a division of the FT Group, providing specialist audiences with essential information and insight that helps them make better decisions and operate more effectively.

Responsibilities:

• Present and sell FT Specialist’s banking products effectively to prospective and existing clients.
• Build, develop and maintain strong relationships with customers and prospects.
• Deliver against agreed new-business sales targets.
• Manage opportunities throughout the sales cycle, from prospecting and initial engagement through to negotiation and close.
• Prepare and deliver presentations, proposals and sales contracts, and lead detailed sales discussions with prospective clients.
• Use marketing and customer data effectively to identify opportunities and generate subscription sales.
• Maintain an accurate sales pipeline and provide regular reporting on activity, opportunities and forecasts.
• Proactively develop new business through outbound prospecting, including telephone and email engagement.
• Gather and communicate market and customer feedback to help inform ongoing product development and commercial strategy.
• Clearly explain subscription terms, conditions and relevant company policies to customers.
• Represent FT Specialist at relevant conferences and industry events, building relationships and identifying new opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across teams including editorial and marketing.

Requirements:

• Experience selling into the banking or wider financial services sector, with a good understanding of the industry and its customers.
• A strong track record in new-business sales, including experience selling through face-to-face, telephone, email and virtual channels.
• Experience in prospecting, lead development, lead follow-up, targeted account selling and closing new business.
• Strong persuasion, negotiation and commercial communication skills.
• A consultative sales approach, with the ability to understand customer needs and communicate a compelling value proposition.
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen carefully and communicate effectively with stakeholders at different levels of seniority.
• Experience managing complex or high-value client relationships.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple opportunities in a fast-paced environment.
• A commitment to delivering excellent customer service.
• A proactive and resilient approach to new-business development and problem-solving.
• The ability to work independently while contributing effectively as part of a collaborative team.
• Confidence presenting to clients and prospective customers at a range of levels.

Desirable:

• Additional language skills.
• An established professional network within financial services across multiple geographic regions.
• Experience developing commercial opportunities through conferences, trade shows or other industry events.

Conditions:

Our benefits vary by location but we are committed to providing best-in-class perks across all our offices. These include generous annual leave, medical cover, inclusive parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and opportunities to give back to the community. We’ve embraced a 50% hybrid working model (averaging two to three days onsite) that fosters trust and remote adaptability while encouraging in-person camaraderie and peer learning. Additionally, we are open to accommodating specific flexible working pattern requests for all roles where feasible.