Business Development Associate (South Africa) at Prescient

Purpose of role:

• Part of the Business Development team, this role works closely with the Head of Business Development and country Business Development Manager in all aspects relating to business development and new client engagements.
• The Business Development Associate must support business growth through implementing business development activities in the fund services market in accordance with the organisational sales targets and strategies.

Duties and responsibilities:

Business Development – by understanding the core admin and platform services PFS Provides, you will need to be able to provide technical support as part of the business development function which will amongst others, include:

• Provide support and represent alongside the Business Development Manager on relevant pitches and proposals.
• Provide support in due diligence requirements and requests for new business opportunities, supporting the Business Development Manager.
• Produce a client/prospect pitch “cheat sheet” for each relevant opportunity.
• Research the fund admin and platform industry and identify targets / proactive research and providing support to the Business Development Manager.
• Provide relevant BD reporting requirements on presales initiatives, including pipeline status, opsco, exco and board reporting as required, to the Business Development Manager submitted by the agreed reporting deadline.
• Documenting and supporting the Salesforce lifecycle including coordination with weekly opportunity, action plans, action items and dashboard monitoring and updating, using reports, dashboards and AI integration as required.
• Liaising on product development next steps as moving within stages in Salesforce – coordinating KYC&DD and Legal & Compliance stages / roles).
• Marketing liaising, BD pitch team alignment, setup with BD Coordinator and celebratory framework positioning for BD led initiatives.
• Team Interaction -The key objective to work on a collaborative basis, ensuring that the team remains cohesive and successful.
• Always operate within the Prescient value system (internally and externally).
• Deal with people as partners, with respect, an open mind and fairness.
• Contribute positively to morale and be solution driven.
• Collaborate across divisions and suggest and implement process and systems enhancements.
• Coordination of the onboarding process and managing internal checklist utilising Salesforce, Action Plans and Client Delivery administrator support.

Relationship building, able to positively influence all relevant stakeholders:

• Relationship building, external – Form successful partnerships with clients, service providers, external stakeholders which result in increased sales for PFS, including spreading of positive influence in dealing with the stakeholders.
• Maintain involvement in industry and networking bodies in order to maintain knowledge of funds landscape and changes in general market product offerings.

Required experience and qualifications: 

• 3-5 years’ experience in a Fund Services environment where you have worked with clients, dealing with client queries, business development support functions with the required sales aptitude to grow into a Business Development role.
• Related tertiary financial qualification (BCom / similar) is essential.

Key competencies: 

• Positive, team player who displays empathy and high levels of emotional awareness.
• Ability to work under limited supervision. Self-driven and self-managed.
• Excellent listening skills.
• Enthusiastic and client centric attitude. Able to build rapport with both internal and external stake holders.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Honesty and integrity.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal