Business Account Manager

Purpose

Predominantly based in the London office, the role of the Business Account Manager is to establish and grow relationships with financial adviser firms in partnership with the field based BDM, which in turn will create opportunities to sell the broad 7IM proposition. Interaction with advisers will be carried out using a combination of the telephone and Microsoft Teams.

Responsibilities

Sales

• Work with BDM and BAM Team Leader to agree a developmental panel of accounts and target list of prospects they will own and be responsible for business development from.
• Lead new business development with this panel by taking a consultative approach to identifying appropriate opportunities to hand to BDM and/or Discretionary/PRM/Investment Solutions team where required.
• Frontline for all 7IM products, undertaking regular product training to maintain knowledge at a level sufficient to talk in depth about investment solutions, DFM and platform.
• Manage retention and identify cross-sell opportunities to an agreed list of existing key accounts.
• Have a regular structured meeting with line manager to review and discuss progress, general performance and agreed priorities going forward.

Service

• Support the BDM with their development work on their wider panel accounts as required.
• Field-based visits as and when appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with the BDM to ensure service and support to existing adviser partners is maintained to high standard.
• Regularly meet and formally review both panels with the relevant BDM and promote/relegate clients as appropriate.
• Assist with regional event planning and organisation.
• Assist with targeted campaigns and associated follow-ups.

Compliance & Conduct

• Ensure all panel ownerships are accurately recorded and updated in CRM.
• Ensure all meeting notes and relevant client activity is accurately recorded in CRM.
• Undertake regular 7IM Product Training and maintain wider industry and competitor knowledge.
• In this role, it is essential that you consistently follow the FCA's Consumer Duty principles. You are expected to act in good faith, prevent potential harm, and actively support our customers in achieving their financial goals. 

Skills

Business Development Skills Required

• Commercial awareness in order to build credibility with IFAs, to understand their situation, businesses and motivations, and to input into develop the content and format of effective marketing messages which are targeted to deliver the 7IM proposition appropriately in this competitive environment.
• Relationship building skills in order to rapidly establish a high level of trust with individuals, both in terms of personal competence and trustworthiness. Questioning and listening skills which are focused and empathic in order to fully understand the individuals’ true understanding, views and feelings.
• Verbal skills in order to clearly and passionately communicate and persuade on the appropriate 7IM proposition and information to the intermediaries and advisors, combined with the patience to clearly explain the mechanics and processes of how the IFAs can place business with 7IM.
• Mental dexterity to respond appropriately, accurately and relevantly to questions, challenges and any misapprehensions from IFAs.
• Assertiveness and tenacity in order to address specific challenges and objections on the telephone and to close for commitment, action, and orders in a professional and effective manner

• Planning and time management skills in order to most effectively allocate own time and maximise the efficiency of operation and service.
• Resilience in order to manage conflicting priorities and demands, ambiguity, high work load, rejection and other sources of pressure.
• Accuracy, thoroughness and attention to detail in order to maintain the highest levels of service to 7IM’s intermediaries and advisors.
• Team working combined with individual initiative, creativity and self-sufficiency in order to remain effective in the face of rapid change and a lean and efficient management and resource structure.
• Personal development focus, taking responsibility for driving both personal and professional development in order to maximise effectiveness in this demanding role, and to grow with the role, and beyond.
• Written skills, in order to clearly, concisely and thoroughly present information to clients and advisors.
• Numeracy skills in order to understand, process and check a range of data
• Telephone answering, rapport and relationship building skills in order to rapidly establish a high level of trust with the clients and advisors, to manage expectations, and to demonstrate a high level of ownership, competence, reliability and responsiveness
• Flexibility and innovation to handle and support changing (and sometimes conflicting) needs and demands, and continually to improve working practices
• Personal development focus, taking responsibility (with the company) for driving forward both personal and professional development in order to maximise effectiveness in this demanding role, and to grow in the role, and beyond

• Knowledge of retail funds and the asset/investment management industry would be beneficial

Qualifications

• A good grounding in financial services, ideally qualified with a Diploma in Financial Planning (CII or similar) or Investment Management Diploma, or with a desire to complete in the near future

Other relevant information

• Adhere and contribute to 7IMs Values, Purpose and Vision.