Business Development Manager

Sumer Group Holdings Limited; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing professional services firm in Portsmouth seeks a proactive Business Development Manager to enhance their regional presence and foster long-lasting business relationships. The ideal candidate will have proven business development experience, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage a sales pipeline. This role offers an inclusive environment with various benefits including agile work hours and opportunities for personal growth.

Benefits

Paid overtime or time off in lieu

9% pension contributions

Opportunity to purchase additional holiday days

Cash Plan and Enterprise Health scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in business development or sales, ideally within professional or financial services.
• Enjoy building new and long lasting business relationships.
• Confidently engaging at senior level.

Responsibilities

• Attend local networking events and develop connections.
• Build and maintain relationships for generating referrals.
• Identify new business opportunities across Portsmouth and Southampton.

Skills

Business development experience

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Organized and self-motivated

Sales pipeline management

Job description

Business Development Manager

Department: Business Development

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Portsmouth

Description

Carpenter Box is proud to be part of the Sumer Group. We are chartered accountants, tax, and business advisers based in the South East. Our culture is built on collaboration, innovation, and professional excellence, where every team member is encouraged to grow, contribute, and make a real difference.

Due to continued growth and expansion across Hampshire, we’re seeking a proactive and commercially minded Business Development Manager to support the firm’s presence in Portsmouth, Southampton and the wider-Hampshire area. This is a new and exciting role, designed to help drive our regional growth.

The Role

Based between our Portsmouth and Southampton offices, this newly created role will play a key part in growing our regional footprint – developing new client relationships, building our professional network, and supporting revenue growth across our service lines.

We’re looking for someone who’s confident building relationships, enjoys networking, and understands how to turn opportunities into results. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you!

Responsibilities

• Attending local networking events, developing connections across the Hampshire business community
• Build and maintain relationships with other professional advisers to generate referrals, including solicitors, banks and financial advisers
• Identify new business opportunities for our teams across Portsmouth and Southampton
• Manage and update the business development pipeline, ensuring opportunities are progressed and recorded accurately
• Make introductions for fee earners, supporting proposal and tender submissions
• Work closely with the marketing team to deliver local campaigns, sponsorships and events
• Help raise awareness of the Carpenter Box brand in the region
• Provide insight on market trends, client needs and competitor activity

About You

Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience in business development or sales, ideally within professional or financial services.
• Enjoy building new and long lasting business relationships
• Proven communication and interpersonal skills, confidently engaging at senior level
• Organised, self-motivated and commercially minded
• Comfortable managing a sales pipeline
• Understand the sales process within a B2B or advisory environment
• Have knowledge of the Hampshire business community
• Have a full UK driving licence and are happy to travel regularly between offices and events

Belong @ Sumer

At Sumer, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment, not just as buzzwords, but as the heartbeat of our team. Our recruitment practices reflect this commitment, welcoming individuals from all backgrounds. We prioritise creating an environment where every candidate feels respected and supported throughout the hiring process.

Everyone is unique and we understand that each individual may have distinct needs to showcase their best selves during interviews. Our commitment is to offer personalised support for all candidates. Let our team know how we can bring out your fullest potential.

Job Benefits

• Working in a relaxed, friendly, modern environment with a great team
• Agile working hours and office space
• Paid overtime or take time off in lieu if you work over your contracted hours
• 9% pension contributions
• Opportunity to purchase additional holiday days
• Opportunity to join our Cash Plan and Enterprise Health scheme
• Carpenter Box Lifestyle Hub which offers discounts for online and high street shops
• Relaxed dress code