At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage bids, ensuring high-quality submissions that meet client needs.
- Company: Join the UK's top 10 fastest growing accountancy firm with a legacy of excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and collaboration across teams.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping winning bid strategies and driving client success.
- Qualifications: Experience in bid management and strong writing skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 56250 - 68750 £ per year.
In a world that is constantly evolving we help our clients thrive by simplifying the complex, illuminating new paths, and shaping solutions that make a difference. At S&W our mission is to help navigate challenges, unlock potential, and achieve the extraordinary. As the UK’s top 10 fastest growing accountancy firm, we’ve been there, as a trusted partner, helping businesses and individuals meet challenges and seize opportunities across generations. Since 1881, we’ve been a trusted partner, building a legacy on expertise, simplicity, and an unrelenting commitment to client success. Our specialists provide an extensive range of services from tax and accountancy, advisory and assurance, to corporate finance and restructuring, helping businesses and individuals both in the UK and internationally meet challenges and seize opportunities.
Job Description
To lead and manage bids from initiation through to submission, ensuring a high-quality, client focused approach that meets the set requirements. You will drive bid strategy, consistency and governance across submissions, working closely with stakeholders to develop winning responses, while continuously improving performance through insight, feedback and best practice.
Key Responsibilities
- Bid delivery
- Manage bids end to end, from initial opportunity through to final submission
- Develop and maintain clear bid plans, timelines and responsibilities
- Coordinate input from subject matter experts and ensure contributions are aligned to the brief
- Support bid kick-off sessions and help shape clear, client focused messaging and response structure
- Ensure all submissions are compliant, high quality and delivered on time
- Ensure responses clearly articulate value, differentiation and alignment to client evaluation criteria
- Manage document control, versioning and submission logistics
- Content and bid writing
- Write, edit and refine bid content, including executive summaries and key responses
- Translate technical and specialist input into clear client focused messages
- Ensure all content is concise, consistent and tailored to the specific opportunity
- Review and challenge SME input to improve consistency and impact
- Contribute to and work with the bid team members to ensure the content management platform, Seismic is kept up to date
- Stakeholder management
- Lead bid meetings and ensure stakeholders remain engaged and accountable
- Work closely with partners, business development team and service lines to shape responses
- Build strong relationships across the business to enable effective collaboration
- Provide guidance and feedback to improve the quality of contributions
- Process and continuous improvement
- Apply structured project management techniques to deliver a controlled and efficient bid process
- Monitor progress, proactively manage risks and escalating where required
- Support post bid reviews, capturing feedback from wins and losses to identify trends and improve future performance
- Contribute to reporting on bid activity, outcomes and key insights to support continuous improvement
- Support ongoing enhancements of tools, templates and processes
- Wider team support
- Work collaboratively with the Bid Administrator who is responsible for managing bid portals and initial opportunity distribution
- Support preparation for client presentations and pitch responses where required
- Arrange and document post-bid reviews - capturing feedback
- Contribute to broader business development and marketing initiatives where appropriate
Qualifications
Experience
- Proven experience in bid management within a professional services or complex commercial environment
- Strong bid writing and editing skills, with the ability to create clear, client focused content
- Excellent project management skills, with experience managing multiple concurrent bids and deadlines
- Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, including working with senior internal stakeholders
- Good commercial awareness, with an understanding of what drives successful bids and client decision making
- Good understanding of complex sales processes and long sales cycles
- High attention to detail and a strong focus on quality and accuracy
Professional Qualifications and Education
- Degree level education, ideally in a relevant subject such as business, marketing, English, or public relations
- Relevant professional qualification (for example APMP) desirable but not essential.
Additional Information
Key Competencies
- Bid Strategy Development
- Proposal Management
- Commercial Awareness
- Stakeholder Management
- Written Communication
- Project Management
- Influencing and Negotiation
- Attention to Detail
- Client Focus
- Leadership and Team Coordination
Bid Manager in London employer: S&W
S&W is an exceptional employer that values professional growth and offers a supportive work culture in the heart of Scotland. With a focus on hybrid working, employees enjoy a balanced lifestyle while being part of a dynamic team that fosters collaboration and innovation. The company provides ample opportunities for career advancement, making it an ideal place for qualified Accountants looking to make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Bid Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Bid Manager at S&W!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like S&W or be willing to refer you for that Bid Manager position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from S&W who’s on the lookout for their next Bid Manager star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Bid Manager role at S&W!
We think you need these skills to ace Bid Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at S&W. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at S&W
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at S&W. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
