At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic sales team and drive commercial growth in a modern B2B environment.
- Company: Join Mercia, a leading provider of training and support services for the UK accountancy profession.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, hybrid working, generous leave, and wellness resources.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive workplace that values individuality and offers career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on our growth strategy and client engagement while embracing new technologies.
- Qualifications: Proven B2B sales leadership experience in finance or professional services is essential.
The predicted salary is between 105000 - 110000 £ per year.
Location: Hybrid - Office based in Leicester, LE19 1SU
Salary: Package of £105,000 - £110,000 inc. of car allowance + Up to £30,000 Commission
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent
What We Can Offer You:
- 25 Days Annual Leave
- Additional Holiday Purchase
- Hybrid Working
- Life Assurance
- Vitality Private Healthcare
- Subsidised Gym Memberships
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Discount Vouchers
- Access to Wellbeing Resources
Why Do We Want You
Mercia, part of Wilmington Plc, is seeking a highly professional and strategically minded Sales Director to lead commercial growth across our expanding portfolio. We are looking for someone who comes from a professional, regulated financial environment ideally accounting, audit, tax, or banking with a proven ability to win, grow and develop new business within a modern B2B sales operation. You will oversee a team of 15, form a key part of the Senior Leadership Team, and play a central role in driving sustainable growth. We are looking for a calm, considerate and rational leader who brings credibility, strong commercial judgement, and a sophisticated approach to relationship-led sales. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned commercial leader or a Commercial Director ready to step up into a broader strategic role. You must also bring an awareness of AI advancements and a willingness to adopt new technologies to enhance sales capability and client engagement.
Job purpose, tasks and responsibilities
The role will develop, lead and progress commercial opportunities to accelerate Mercia's growth and performance. You will shape and execute a focused growth strategy while evolving our commercial approach across strategy, leadership, sales performance and client development.
You Will Be Responsible For:
- Developing, implementing and managing the sales strategy and ensure a consistent corporate image across all channels
- Leading, motivating and developing a sales team of 15, ensuring high performance, collaboration and accountability
- Defining and driving a modern, ethical and consultative sales culture aligned with professional services markets
- Identifying client needs and co-create tailored commercial solutions across Mercia's Promote, Support and Train offerings
- Driving new business acquisition, secure major wins, and expand strategic accounts
- Leading forecasting, pipeline management, sector targeting and performance goal-setting to grow market share
- Planning and optimising sales lead-generation campaigns and measure performance
- Preparing and presenting commercial reports, including sales results and growth opportunities
- Analysing sales performance against targets to determine effectiveness and adjust strategies accordingly and maintain strong senior-level relationships with key accounts
- Acting as an escalation point for major client discussions, ensuring exceptional standards of service
- Providing client insights to product teams to support continuous product and service improvements
- Championing the use of Salesforce to enhance targeting, pipeline management and sales execution
- Managing the sales and marketing cost budgets responsibly
- Representing Mercia professionally at senior client meetings and industry events
- Driving modernisation within the sales function, including adoption of AI-enabled tools and emerging technologies
What's the Best Thing About This Role
This role gives you direct influence over Mercia's commercial strategy and growth trajectory. You'll guide a talented sales team, shape our approach to client engagement, and play a key part in driving the success of a market-leading professional services brand. It's a role with significant autonomy, visibility and real impact.
What's the Most Challenging Thing About This Role
You will be expected to deliver strong results quickly while simultaneously embedding a more modern, data-led and client-centric sales approach. Balancing strategic leadership, team development, new business acquisition and stakeholder management requires a calm, structured and commercially astute leader.
To be successful in this role, you must have:
- Strong B2B sales leadership experience within accounting, tax, audit, or banking/finance
- Demonstrable success in winning, growing, and developing new business
- Experience leading high-performing teams and influencing at SLT level
- Ability to operate strategically while driving day-to-day performance
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships across internal and external stakeholders
- A modern, analytical and client-centric approach to sales, with strong numeracy and resilience
- A leadership style that is professional, calm, considerate and rational
- Awareness of AI developments and openness to using technology to enhance performance
To be successful in this role, it would be great if you have:
- Experience selling into professional services, ideally the accountancy marketplace
- Understanding of regulatory environments affecting finance, audit and tax teams
- Ability to use data and analytics to shape sales decisions
- Confidence representing the business at senior meetings and industry events
- A collaborative, cross-functional mindset
We know it's not a skill, but the successful candidate must have permission to work in the role's location by the start of their employment.
About Us
Mercia, part of Wilmington plc, is a leading provider of training, compliance and support services to the UK accountancy profession. Our focus is on helping accountants stay ahead of regulatory change and technical updates while supporting their development through practical learning resources. Join us and do Work That Means Something.
At Wilmington plc, we help global customers to do the right business in the right way - providing trusted data, insights, and education to navigate the Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) landscape. When you join us, you'll not only make a real difference for our customers, you'll also enjoy flexibility through hybrid working and benefit from a wide range of learning, career, and development opportunities. Whether you're just starting out, returning to work after a break, or looking to take your next step, you'll be doing work with meaning. Join us and make a real difference.
Sales Director employer: Mercia Group
Wilmington plc is an exceptional employer that offers a dynamic and supportive work environment in Leicester, where you can thrive as a Sales Team Manager. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide extensive learning opportunities, hybrid working options, and a comprehensive benefits package including private healthcare and wellbeing resources. Join us to lead a high-performing team, make a tangible impact, and enjoy a culture that values individuality and inclusivity.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sales Director
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Mercia Group. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Sales Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Mercia Group.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Mercia Group's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mercia Group
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Mercia Group.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Mercia Group will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Mercia Group employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
