Senior Relationship Manager

Role & responsibilities

Strategy & Planning

• Leads business planning for the designated geography/category of partnerships, aligned with the broader market strategy.
• Identifies and develops opportunities to drive business growth, revenue, and brand impact within the assigned market.
• Prioritises strategic relationships based on their potential contribution and business value.
• Owns and monitors KPIs and targets for education partnerships.
• Analyses student intake trends, market dynamics, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities.
• Identifies new recruitment channels and opportunities to expand university and learning-partner networks.
• Contributes directly to regional growth and student recruitment targets.
• Demonstrates innovation and awareness of evolving trends in accountancy education and training.

Partner Engagement & Business Development

• Leads and manages key strategic partner relationships to achieve and exceed agreed business targets.
• Develops and implements relationship plans for priority partners, including multi-level stakeholder engagement.
• Builds partnerships across universities, learning providers, employers, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Negotiates and concludes commercial agreements with education partners.
• Collaborates with internal teams and regional stakeholders to leverage global solutions and best practices.
• Supports partners through accreditation and other processes to strengthen engagement and performance.
• Represents the organisation at relevant local and regional forums to enhance visibility, reputation, and market presence.
• Builds new sources of recruitment and strengthens the overall partner ecosystem.

Leadership & Management

• Coaches and mentors junior business development team members to enhance capability, engagement, and performance.
• Uses market, student, competitor, and business data to identify insights and optimise growth opportunities.
• Develops and shares expertise on market conditions, economic trends, sector developments, competitor activity, and product/service offerings.
• Tracks and reports progress against agreed activities, KPIs, and business targets through established reporting mechanisms.

Preferred candidate profile

• Minimum educated to degree level, relevant post graduate/ professional qualification would be advantageous
• Strong track record in business development and business-to-business selling, ideally in a professional service or education environment
• Knowledge of business development frameworks, processes and techniques
• Understanding of accountancy and local regulatory frameworks (desirable)
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build long term, high quality, trusted relationships up to and including board level
• Strong communicator with excellent oral and written presentation skills
• Strong networker and prospector at all levels with excellent influencing and negotiation skills
• Highly motivated, proactive and enthusiastic with the ability to plan, manage and prioritise work for self and others
• Commercially orientated and results driven with a track record of successful delivery