Relationship Development & Business Growth Manager – South and Midlands in Oxford

About Hilton-Baird Financial Solutions

Founded in 1997, Hilton‑Baird Financial Solutions is an award‑winning, FCA‑authorised commercial finance broker. We help businesses of all sizes unlock working capital by introducing the most suitable funding solutions from a wide range of banks and independent lenders. With deep expertise in the invoice finance sector and broader commercial finance landscape, we have supported thousands of UK businesses in overcoming cash flow challenges and achieving growth. Hilton‑Baird is part of FRP Advisory Group, a leading national business advisory firm with 35 offices and more than 850 team members, including over 100 Partners, across the UK and overseas. We value clarity, integrity and considered thinking, and we are always looking for talented people to help our clients make confident, informed decisions.

Job Description Overview

This is a multi‑faced, relationship‑focused role encompassing client generation, business development, stakeholder (lead opportunity introducer) management and strategic partnership development. The role may extend to building an outsourced sales model.

Reports to Managing Director / Partner

Hours 9.00am‑5.30pm, Monday to Friday

Location This is a mobile / hybrid role that includes working from various FRP offices and meeting introducers such as accountants. The successful candidate will cover the South of England up to Birmingham.

Key Responsibilities

• The primary function of this role is to generate income through new business by building exceptional relationships, instilling confidence in all stakeholders, and creating new business opportunities.
• Over time the role may include a comprehensive outsourced sales model whilst providing full‑service support to clients and finance partners as an independent intermediary.
• The role requires a relationship‑focused professional with a proven track record in the IF/ABL market, experience as a client manager and an understanding of how IF/ABL facilities work.
• The successful candidate will be motivated, organised, professional and able to deliver in a fast‑paced environment while maintaining the highest standards of compliance and best practice within our FCA‑regulated business.

Relationship Building & New Client Engagement

• Establish exceptional rapport with new introducers and partners - instilling confidence through professional behaviours and demonstration of expertise and genuine care and interest.
• Engage with businesses throughout their journey, providing new business opportunities for the brokerage team and extensive support without creating fiduciary duty.
• Manage expectations effectively whilst identifying opportunities to add value and exceed client expectations.
• Develop and maintain detailed introducer relationships, understanding their business challenges, client base and aspirations and those of the clients they introduce to HBFS.
• Act as the primary relationship anchor for the connections established within the role, ensuring stakeholders feel supported and well‑informed throughout processes.

Business Development & Case Management

• Generate new business opportunities through strategic relationship building and referral networks (mainly externally but also some internally, amongst FRP’s wider pillars).
• Work collaboratively on cases with all stakeholders, ensuring seamless coordination and delivery.
• Complete comprehensive fact‑finding exercises, gathering crucial business intelligence to inform optimal solutions and ensuring compliance.
• Manage complex multi‑party communications, ensuring transparency and alignment across stakeholders.
• Identify and assess potential risks, communicate them transparently and develop appropriate mitigation strategies where possible.
• Utilise extensive insight and deal construction to generate increased opportunities to convert cases.

Partnership Development

• Identify and engage with strategic partners who become a source of new business leads and opportunities.
• Establish strong relationships with accountants, business advisors and other professionals who can be a valuable lead source.
• Create a compelling partnership proposition that demonstrates mutual value and long‑term benefit.
• Develop referral networks that generate high‑quality leads and sustainable business growth.
• Convey our USPs and service proposition to lenders, and bring to life our service levels for clients that require managed‑away or additional funding.
• Develop relationships with, where appropriate, enhancing service offerings and adding value.
• Provide analytical insights and risk assessments to support informed lending decisions.
• Maintain detailed records within our CRM of all business interactions to ensure compliance and enable strategic analysis.
• Identify trends and opportunities for process improvements and service enhancements.
• Facilitate escalations and ensure appropriate stakeholder involvement at all stages.

Key Performance Areas

• Deliver against business touchstones and KPIs across relationship building, business generation, partnership development and compliance / quality aspects.
• Produce reporting on pipeline activity as required, detailing new business opportunities and relationship development progress and business outcomes.
• Maintain the highest levels of quality, professionalism and compliance in all interactions.
• Add measurable value to business results through relationship excellence and strategic insight.
• Build and maintain a sustainable network of referral partners and loyal relationships.
• Support colleagues and share knowledge to enhance team performance.

Qualifications

Essential Experience

• The candidate should have extensive experience in relationship‑driven commercial finance, with a proven track record in engagement and business development.
• A thorough understanding of Invoice Finance, Asset‑Based Lending and commercial finance markets is essential.
• Prior experience in relationship management, sales, risk, recovery and stakeholder coordination is required, along with a demonstrated ability to build trust and rapport with diverse audiences.

Skills And Attributes

• Relationship Excellence: Exceptional interpersonal skills with natural ability to build rapport and trust. Outstanding communication skills across all mediums (face‑to‑face, telephone, written, video conferencing, presentation). Professional presence that instils confidence in introducers, their clients and colleagues. Empathetic approach combined with commercial acumen.
• Business Acumen: High level of analytical thinking and problem‑solving capability. Ability to assess risks and identify potential mitigation strategies. Strong understanding of commercial finance products and market dynamics. Capable of managing complex stakeholder relationships and expectations. Ability to communicate the background, story, journey, manage expectations and negotiate the best possible outcome for all stakeholders.
• Personal Attributes: Self‑motivated, driven individual with entrepreneurial mindset. Excellent time management and organisational skills. Adaptable and dynamic, able to modify approaches as needed. Professional, reliable and detail‑oriented. Determined and collaborative, an individual who knows they have much to offer and wants to make a positive impact.
• Technical Proficiencies: Advanced proficiency in CRM systems, Microsoft Office Suite. Comfortable with various online applications and accounts packages. Full clean driving licence. Ability to work under pressure whilst maintaining composure and high quality standards.
• Collaborative Skills: Proven team player who supports colleagues effectively. Ability to work independently while taking direction constructively. Keen to evolve, develop and share knowledge with others. Constructive participant in meetings, training and team events.

What We Offer

• Vibrant, enjoyable and committed workplace with hybrid/flexible working.
• Rewarding balanced scorecard‑based discretionary bonus structure after completing a full financial year (May to April).
• Permanent health insurance and life assurance benefits post commencement.
• 25‑27 days holiday plus bank holidays (dependent on grade and experience).
• FRP pension scheme after three months’ service.
• Comprehensive ongoing training and development programme.
• Opportunity to be integral to a company making a real difference to UK SME and corporate businesses.
• Career development opportunities.
• Annual flu vaccination and Employee Assistance Programme.
• Flexible benefits scheme with enhanced and optional benefit selections.

Additional Information

Our Values: Straightforward: We provide clear, no‑nonsense advice. Confident: Our guidance is backed by expertise and evidence. Pragmatic: We focus on practical solutions and tangible outcomes. Real: We are professional yet approachable, understanding the challenges our clients face.

Our Commitment to You and the Environment: At FRP, sustainability is integral to our strategy and operations. We reduce our impact on the natural environment and build and maintain meaningful, long‑term relationships with all stakeholders, including employees, clients and local communities. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and diverse culture for our people, maintaining an Equal Opportunities Policy. Recruitment and employment decisions are based solely on the skills and experience required for our professional services – regardless of ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, disability or any other protected characteristic. We believe every individual should have the opportunity to thrive.