BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Competent Candidates; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Competent Candidates is seeking a Business Development Manager with strong commercial and strategic thinking, supported by analytical and data-driven decision-making skills. The role focuses on growing revenue by managing a portfolio of financial advisors, recruiting top talent, and collaborating with Group subsidiaries to unlock opportunities.

The successful candidate will analyze market developments, align campaigns with advisor needs, and coach advisors on pipeline management, opportunity

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Finance, Marketing, Business Administration or Sales.
• Postgraduate diploma in financial planning/CFP® (advantageous).
• RE1 and RE5 (advantageous).
• Minimum of five years’ experience in financial services sales, business development or advisor management.

Responsibilities

• Grow revenue by managing ~45 advisors with clear annual growth plans.
• Recruit at least three advisors annually and onboard them over two years.
• Translate growth objectives into practical business development and recruitment plans.
• Manage advisor relationships to build trust and drive client satisfaction.
• Identify training needs and coordinate workshops and coaching.
• Represent the group at industry events and network to originate opportunities.
• Maintain CRM data, monitor KPIs and report results.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Strategic thinking

Analytical mindset

Communication

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

CRM experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Marketing/Business Admin/Sales

Postgraduate diploma in financial planning/CFP® (advantageous)

RE1/RE5 (advantageous)

Job description

Our client, a well‑established group of companies, is looking for a Business Development Manager with strong commercial and strategic thinking, supported by analytical and data-driven decision-making skills and excellent communication, influencing, negotiation and stakeholder-management skills. This is the ideal position for someone who wants to build their career by working for a company with an excellent reputation.

Education:

• A relevant bachelor’s degree in Finance, Marketing, Business Administration, Sales or a related discipline.
• A postgraduate diploma in financial planning and/or CFP® certification (advantageous).
• RE1 and RE5 (advantageous).

Experience Required:

• Minimum of five years’ relevant experience in financial services sales, business development, distribution or advisor management.
• Proven success in growing revenue, meeting commercial targets and managing senior stakeholder relationships.
• Experience working with financial advisors and using CRM, data and digital platforms to improve performance.
• Strong investment‑industry knowledge and working knowledge of life and short‑term insurance.

Duties:

Revenue Growth

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 45 advisors and agree clear annual growth plans, priorities and targets for each advisor.
• Identify and execute growth opportunities through cross‑selling, AUA conversion, GC improvement, lead conversion and wider use of Group products and services.
• Embed approved technologies to improve productivity, financial planning and client engagement.
• Monitor advisor revenue and sales activity, identify performance gaps and agree practical corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Group subsidiaries and internal teams to unlock opportunities and remove implementation barriers.

Recruitment

• Execute the approved advisor recruitment strategy with the Corporate Finance Manager and Wealth Management, targeting candidates who meet the agreed profile.
• Recruit at least three advisors annually, each with an average annual commission base of approximately R750 000.
• Coordinate the two‑year onboarding and integration of recruited advisors, including training, milestone tracking and access to appropriate Group support.
• Work with Group management to review progress and determine the appropriate advisor allocation after the initial development period.

Strategic Planning and Market Analysis

• Translate Group growth objectives into practical business‑development, portfolio and recruitment plans.
• Analyse market developments, competitor activity, advisor performance and client needs to identify opportunities, risks and required actions.
• Partner with marketing, product, technology and subsidiary teams to align campaigns and propositions with market and advisor needs.

Advisor Relationship Management

• Build trusted, commercially focused advisor relationships and maintain accountability for agreed growth plans and outcomes.
• Understand each advisor’s practice, client base, growth constraints and opportunities, and provide tailored support that strengthens client satisfaction and retention.
• Help advisors convert leads and identified opportunities into sustainable revenue and long‑term Group relationships.

Training and Development

• Identify advisor capability gaps and provide or coordinate relevant training, tools and support.
• Facilitate practical workshops on relevant Group offerings.
• Coach advisors on practice growth, pipeline management, opportunity conversion and disciplined execution.

Event Participation and Networking

• Represent the Group professionally at selected industry events, conferences and networking opportunities.
• Use events to develop relationships, originate opportunities, gather market intelligence and ensure disciplined follow‑up.

Performance Measurement

• Maintain accurate CRM, pipeline, activity and revenue information, and analyse performance data to identify trends and refine priorities.
• Report against agreed KPIs, evaluate the impact of Group initiatives and technology adoption, and recommend corrective actions or enhancements.