At a Glance
- Tasks: Attract and convert customer proposals into new business while supporting the SME sales team.
- Company: Join an award-winning UK bank committed to growth and employee wellbeing.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holiday allowance, flexible working, and exclusive employee discounts.
- Other info: Diversity and inclusion are at our core; we welcome all applicants!
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a friendly environment focused on your personal and professional growth.
- Qualifications: Experience in financial services and strong interpersonal skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
A Platinum Investors in People employer and an award-winning UK bank, focused on growth. Our customers include savers and businesses across the UK and, working together, we use our specialist expertise to help them achieve their ambitions and build a sustainable future. If you’re an experienced Business Development Associate looking for an opportunity to grow in a friendly environment, we’re looking for you! We’re flexible, inclusive, committed to your wellbeing and passionate about you reaching your potential. Let’s grow together.
Purpose of the role
Working with the SME external sales team, to proactively attract, negotiate and convert customer proposals into new business to Paragon. To support the wider SME external sales team, develop and manage specific allocated introducers / prospects / customers. Deliver an accurate, consistent, efficient & knowledgeable service to our SME External Sales channel customers / External sales team. To support and drive change delivery initiatives to achieve improved business performance which maximises business opportunities.
Duties and responsibilities
- Support SME External sales Build and maintain new and existing relationships with introductory sources for example Financial brokers, Accountants, Vendors, Client referral, other lenders or direct.
- Support SME External sales to achieve an increase in the performance of the allocated portfolio of Introducer accounts in partnership with the assigned External Sale team.
- Complete risk templates for sanction of the facility, chase outstanding enquiries and paperwork on deals, maintain CRM system, attend sales team meetings.
- Develop knowledge and understanding of the asset-based finance industry including Paragon products and services, competitors, introducers, risks, client industry, market and sectors.
- Support for business change initiatives, adapting role as required, relating to delivery of enhanced new business performance.
- Effective management of the individual proposal pipeline, to deliver defined KPI’s across the customer journey.
- Achieve conversion rates and allocated financial target which supports the business growth strategy.
- Providing and establishing calculated contact strategies to ensure effective communications are delivered in line with customer feedback.
- Proactively support and contribute to the wider performance of the Internal Sales Team.
- Ensure all interactions and behaviours are in line with the group competency framework.
- Ensure work and quality achieve the Quality Assurance standards underpinned by ‘Right First Time’ delivery.
About You
Skills
- Understanding of Asset Finance products.
- Experience in a Financial Services or Internal Sales environment.
- Good organizational skills.
- Good teamworking and interpersonal skills.
- Basic fluency with credit analysis.
- Basic numerical skills and fluency with financial analysis.
- Basic business analytical skills.
Qualifications and experience
Will have already attained or be willing to attain Paragon Credit Accreditation Level 1. Interpersonal skills will be every bit as important as formal qualifications and the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate and articulate the benefits of both.
Working hours
40 hours per week – whilst our standard hours are Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm (one hour for lunch) we encourage flexible working and your preferred options will be considered.
Even if you don’t meet all the criteria, we encourage you to apply. At Paragon, we value diversity and we’re excited to hear from passionate individuals like you! If you’re ready to contribute to the team, please apply.
Further information on the role can be found in the Purpose and Performance Profile (PPP), which is downloadable on this page.
Inclusion
As a Disability Confident Employer, we want to ensure that our vacancies are accessible for everyone. If you have a disability, long term health condition or are neurodiverse and need us to adjust our recruitment process please get in touch with our recruitment team.
About Us
What can we offer you?
- Generous Holiday Allowance: Starting from 25 days and climbing to 30, you also get to enjoy a day off for your birthday, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve. You can also buy or sell up to a week’s leave.
- Share Save Scheme: Annually, you have the opportunity to buy shares in Paragon at a discounted rate.
- Profit Related Pay: We share some of our annual profit with our eligible employees.
- Pension Plan: We contribute up to 10% of your annual salary towards your pension.
- Family Friendly policies: We offer enhanced parental pay and paid time off for fertility treatment.
- Employee Discounts: Enjoy exclusive discounts on entertainment, travel, shopping, motoring and more.
- Volunteering Day: Contribute to causes you care about with one volunteering day per year.
- Life Assurance and Personal Accident Cover.
Be flexible
We promote flexibility around how and where we work so that you can achieve a healthier work-life balance. We operate hybrid working, splitting our week between the office and home.
Be yourself
As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome diversity and care about inclusion. That’s why we want you to be your whole self at work. We believe an inclusive workplace is good for each of us, great for our customers and better for our business. Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Network meets regularly to share challenges, experience, and ideas to build a more equal, diverse, and inclusive business.
Be heard
We listen to your point of view, with our People Forum and regular employee surveys making sure you can use your voice and influence our future.
Be well
We will give you access to a range of tools and resources to support your wellbeing. This will include a digital GP service via our free Employee Assistance Programme, access to our Wellbeing team to connect you with the help you need to get more out of life and our Vitality at Work programme to provide you with discounted gym membership, fitness equipment and another multitude of wellbeing services.
Be better
We want you to reach your potential and, as a Platinum Investors in People employer, we’ll encourage you to learn and develop by building a personalised development plan together with your manager.
Business Development Associate in Southampton employer: Paragon Bank
Paragon Bank is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration within the Network team. With a hybrid working model, generous holiday allowance, and robust pension contributions, employees are supported in achieving a healthy work-life balance while also having ample opportunities for professional growth and development in the ever-evolving field of IT infrastructure.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Associate in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even reach out to folks on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company inside out, know their products, and understand their market position. When you walk in, you want to impress them with your knowledge and enthusiasm.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows you're genuinely interested and keeps you fresh in their minds. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t hesitate to apply through our website! We love seeing passionate candidates who are eager to grow with us. Even if you don’t tick every box, we encourage you to throw your hat in the ring!
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Associate in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Business Development Associate role. Highlight your understanding of asset finance products and any relevant experience in financial services to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how you can contribute to our team. Be genuine and let your personality come through.
Showcase Your Interpersonal Skills:Since interpersonal skills are key for this position, make sure to include examples of how you've built relationships in previous roles. We love seeing how you connect with others and drive results!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Paragon Bank
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of asset finance products and the specific services offered by the bank. Research their competitors and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their growth strategy.
✨Showcase Your Interpersonal Skills
Since this role involves building relationships with introducers and clients, be prepared to demonstrate your interpersonal skills. Share examples from your past experiences where you've successfully built rapport or resolved conflicts.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and how you handle challenges. Think of scenarios where you've had to negotiate or convert proposals into business, and be ready to explain your thought process.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, ask questions that show your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about their approach to supporting employee wellbeing or how they measure success in the Business Development team.
