Senior Sales Development Executive - Inside New Business

IRIS Software Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

IRIS Software Group is seeking a Senior Sales Development Executive to join the Inside Sales – New Business team in Manchester. You will drive growth by generating new business, qualifying opportunities, and leading the sales pipeline with a consultative approach.

As a senior team member, you’ll lead by example, share best practices, and collaborate with Account Executives to maximise revenue. A SaaS background and proactive outbound skills are highly valued.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of achieving or exceeding sales targets.
• Experience in outbound prospecting and cold calling.
• Strong communication, questioning and influencing skills.
• Commercial, target-driven mindset.
• Ability to build rapport and credibility quickly.
• Experience in SaaS/software or technology is advantageous.
• Lead by example and support others within the team.

Responsibilities

• Generate new business through outbound calls, email, LinkedIn and other channels.
• Identify and qualify opportunities by understanding customer challenges and buying needs.
• Have consultative conversations to demonstrate how IRIS solutions fit customers' needs.
• Own your pipeline and maintain CRM records, targeting revenue and pipeline goals.
• Collaborate with Account Executives and wider teams to move opportunities through the sales cycle.
• Develop market knowledge of IRIS products, customers, and competitors.
• Lead by example and share knowledge to support junior colleagues.
• Continuously test approaches and improve conversion and team performance.

Skills

Sales development

Business development

Inside sales

Prospecting

CRM management

Communication skills

LinkedIn outreach

Tools

CRM

LinkedIn

Job description

About IRIS

IRIS Software Group is one of the UK's largest privately held software companies, trusted by 100,000+ businesses, schools and accountancy firms to keep their operations running. Our software pays 1 in 6 UK employees, supports over 12,000 schools, and is relied on by 91 of the top 100 UK accountancy firms.

We're a Great Place to Work® certified employer, recognised for our commitment to well-being, inclusion and development - and we're growing fast.

Location: Manchester – Hybrid
Company: IRIS Software Group
Team: Inside Sales – New Business
Contract: Full-time, Permanent

The Opportunity

We’re looking for an experienced and commercially driven Senior Sales Development Executive to join our Inside Sales New Business team at IRIS Software Group.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who loves winning new business, building relationships and creating opportunities from scratch. You’ll play a key role in driving growth by identifying prospective customers, understanding their challenges and introducing them to the right IRIS solutions.

As a senior member of the team, you’ll be expected to lead from the front — delivering against your own targets while sharing best practice, supporting colleagues and helping us continuously improve how we approach new business.

What You’ll Be Doing

Generate new business – Proactively engage prospective customers through outbound calling, email, LinkedIn and other channels.

Identify & qualify opportunities – Ask the right questions to understand customer challenges, priorities and buying needs, turning conversations into high-quality opportunities.

Have consultative conversations – Build credibility with prospects and clearly communicate how IRIS solutions can support their business.

Own your pipeline – Manage your activity and opportunities effectively, maintaining accurate CRM records and consistently working towards individual revenue and pipeline targets.

Work closely with Sales – Partner with Account Executives and wider commercial teams to ensure qualified opportunities progress effectively through the sales cycle.

Develop your market knowledge – Build a strong understanding of IRIS products, our customers, competitors and the wider software market.

Lead by example – As a senior member of the team, demonstrate excellent sales behaviours, share knowledge and support less experienced colleagues with their development.

Continuously improve – Test different approaches, learn from data and feedback, and contribute ideas that improve conversion and overall team performance.

What We’re Looking For

You’ll ideally have previous experience within Sales Development, Business Development, Inside Sales or another B2B new-business sales environment.

We’d love to see:

• A proven track record of achieving or exceeding sales targets

• Confidence with proactive outbound prospecting and cold calling

• Strong communication, questioning and influencing skills

• A genuinely commercial and target-driven mindset

• The ability to build rapport and credibility quickly

• Strong discovery and qualification skills

• Confidence managing a pipeline and working within a CRM

• Experience within SaaS/software or technology would be advantageous

• A curious mindset and willingness to continuously learn

• The confidence to lead by example and support others within the team

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Impact: Your work will influence millions globally.

• Growth: Continuous learning and career development opportunities.

• Belonging: A culture that celebrates diversity and empowers every individual.