Strategic BD Director: Growth & Partnerships in Reading

At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. We empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work‑life balance.

This is an exciting opportunity to help our partners and directors deliver on their ambitious growth targets by ensuring rigour and momentum in their business and client development activities. You will play a pivotal role in driving strategic business initiatives, fostering client relationships, and expanding our market reach within the mid‑market. You will collaborate closely with internal teams to develop and implement effective business development strategies, contributing to overall growth and success of our firm.

We’re happy to talk flexible working and consider reduced hours and job shares, and we’ll support you to balance your work and life.

• Identify and establish relationships with potential clients, nurturing leads and opportunities.
• Work on the strongest platforms from which to succeed, collaborating with a National Marketing function and business leaders on the BD strategy for our firm‑wide approach to the midmarket.
• Connect across teams in all sectors, regions and Service line teams to drive penetration.
• Engage prospective clients through effective communication and presentations to showcase our services and value proposition.
• Cultivate relationships with key stakeholders and industry influencers to enhance our market presence.
• Represent our firm at industry events, conferences and networking opportunities to build strategic partnerships and alliances.
• Prepare regular reports and presentations summarising business development activities, progress and outcomes.

The minimum criteria you’ll need is a proven track record of business development within a B2B environment at C‑Suite level with professional services. It would be great if you had some of the following skills, but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box; we’ll help you develop along the way.

• Thorough understanding of lead generation, sales and identifying cold targets.
• Strong understanding of market dynamics, industry trends and competitive landscapes.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross‑functional teams and manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to break down silos and barriers.
• Self‑motivated and result‑oriented.

Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people. We never settle for what is easy, and we look beyond to deliver the right thing for everyone. Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential. Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. We value what sets you apart and give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.

Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, so we’ll look at flexible working options for all our roles and do our best to keep your work and life in balance. The impact you can make goes far beyond your day job. From secondments to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society. It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our CLEARR values – Collaboration, Leadership, Excellence, Agility, Respect and Responsibility. We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to proudly do what’s right for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves. It’s how it should be.