More than you expected
The UK member firms of Grant Thornton are part of global network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, made up of some 76,000 in over 150 countries. We're a team of independent thinkers who put quality, inclusion and integrity first. All around the world we bring a different experience to our clients. A better experience. One that delivers the expertise they need in a way that goes beyond. Personal, proactive, and agile. That's Grant Thornton.
Job Description:
Our audit practice is entering a new phase focused on growth. You will be a part of a supportive and growing audit Go to Market team, as well as the national Markets and Clients community. This is a really exciting opportunity to help our partners and directors deliver on their ambitious growth targets by ensuring rigour and momentum in their business and client development activities.
If you enjoy playing a key role in the process of winning work, and growing the business, you’ll fit right in. Grant Thornton operates in an exciting dynamic marketplace and, with a continued focus on growth and capitalising on exciting new market opportunities, we're investing in our audit go to market function, with a key part of this growth being bids.
Here are some things you can expect from this Pursuits Manager role which is focused at supporting the audit practice, particularly in the mid market space, but you may be required to work on pursuits in other areas.
1. Take responsibility. Key to the role is taking charge of the end to end pursuits process from market engagement/pre RFP to bid evaluation, document, presentation and debrief, driving the audit teams through the bid, with the right planning to ensure they know what to deliver when, at the right level of quality to maximise their success. You will:
o fully project manage and drive the bid process, including working on international bids which may involve coordinating input from our international member firms. The role will take a hands-on approach to support fee earners with bid no bid evaluation, project management, document production, meeting and presentation preparation, debrief and post bid evaluation.
o take up client tender opportunities by producing high quality deliverables, ensuring a best practice approach to planning and managing client interactions and be a great support to teams in ensuring we put ourselves in the best place to win.
o input and provide challenge at different stages of the bid process, including assigning responsibilities and milestones, connecting and bringing in the right people, generating content, ensuring compliance with the RFP, locating relevant commercial knowledge and insight, bringing in best practice and managing the production of any deliverables required.
o help build the right pitching team from around our business, and ensure clear ownership/sponsorship.
o draw in and manage resources where needed, including internal support teams (eg design/research) and third-party suppliers.
o act as a point of contact for general pursuit-related queries including day to day support for all internal client teams working on self-service proposals, providing feedback, reviewing and sense checking bid deliverables.
o help upskill fee-earners across the firm, so they are positioned for success – guiding teams and individuals in live pursuit scenarios as well as delivering basic bid training.
o take the lead on developing and maintaining templated content for the firm to use and evolve – this requires understanding internal stakeholders’ needs to ensure we have the best support infrastructure in place.
o identify emerging trends from the market and collaborate within the pursuits team to respond and evolve approaches accordingly.
2. Own your own work. You will be one of the primary contacts for pursuits within your remit at all stages of the process. With an active role in leading the project management of tenders, you will play a key role in shaping and driving the success of the tender, with support from the rest of the Go to Market team for Audit and the Audit Proposals Senior Manager, whom you'll also work with.
3. Making quality second nature. This means doing what’s right even when no one’s looking. The work that you will do has a major impact on our clients and our firm. We pride ourselves on the high standards we achieve in creating, developing and delivering tailored approaches to complex opportunities and identifying/escalating risks to the firm when reviewing new opportunities.
4. Be a part of a team. You will support the engagement teams, by coaching and supporting drive the bid strategy on the bids you project manage and drive. You will build up relationships with our BD and key account management teams to understand the pipeline and your workload alongside the Head of Go to Market Audit. Your role will span working on tenders across the country and so whilst you will have a base office, travel to London or regional locations may be required from time to time.
5. Build your brand. This role offers exciting opportunities for the right person to build on their experience, embrace challenge and help professionalise our approach by bringing examples of best practice to bid project management and what has worked well before. You will invest in building strong working relationships with key stakeholders within our business to gain credibility and sight of the upcoming opportunities.
The minimum criteria
* You will have worked within a pursuits and bids role previously project managing pitching teams and processes.
* Confidence in managing, influencing and challenging internal senior stakeholders.
* Drive and initiative to make an impact quickly.
* Proven attention to detail and ability to inspire confidence and influence.
Skills to set you apart
Here are a few more skills we are looking for. Don’t worry if you don’t tick every box. It’s important for us to support you in your role and help you to develop along the way.
* Strong and demonstrable experience in the bidding world in a professional services environment.
* Knowledge of the wider sales cycle would be beneficial.
* You will be able to establish business relationships and networks quickly and effectively.
Knowing we’re right for you
Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people, we never settle for what is easy, we look beyond to deliver the right thing, for everyone. Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential.
Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.
Beyond the job
Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, and we’ll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance.
The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society. It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm’s values – purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.
We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves. It’s how it should be.
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