Overview
An exciting opportunity for an experienced and commercially driven sales leader as a Head of Desk within the Corporate Sales function at a high-growth FX and payments business.
Our client is seeking a proven sales leader to manage and scale a team of Business Development Executives focused on delivering foreign exchange, international payments, and cross-border solutions to SMEs, corporates, and selected financial institutions.
This role requires a strategic thinker with strong execution capability — someone who can drive revenue growth, elevate team performance, and build a high-energy, results-oriented culture.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership & Team Management
- Set clear performance expectations through measurable KPIs and structured targets.
- Ensure the team has the appropriate tools, training, process documentation, and support framework required to succeed.
- Conduct regular 1:1 meetings and performance reviews, providing both clarity and accountability.
- Drive results through effective workload distribution, recruitment, coaching, and issue resolution.
- Foster a high-performance culture where success is recognised, engagement is prioritised, and development is actively supported.
Sales Strategy & Market Development
- Develop and implement a targeted sales strategy focused on the UK SME and corporate market.
- Analyse market trends, competitor activity, and customer behaviour to refine commercial positioning.
- Own forecasting accuracy and pipeline health to ensure consistent delivery against revenue targets.
- Identify opportunities for expansion into new customer segments and vertical markets.
Client Acquisition & Commercial Execution
- Lead new business origination initiatives across SMEs and corporates.
- Embed a consultative, solution-led sales approach focused on FX, payments, and cross-border optimisation.
- Support the team in delivering tailored value propositions aligned to client risk profiles and operational needs.
Sales Operations & Performance Oversight
- Ensure disciplined use of CRM systems for lead management, pipeline tracking, and reporting.
- Provide structured performance updates to senior leadership with actionable insight.
- Monitor sales activity metrics and conversion ratios to optimise performance.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Product, Marketing, Operations, and Compliance teams to ensure commercial alignment.
- Keep the team informed of product enhancements, regulatory developments, and market changes impacting client activity.
Compliance & Risk Governance
- Ensure all sales activity adheres to regulatory standards and internal policy requirements within the financial services framework.
- Promote a culture of responsible selling and risk awareness.
Product Expertise & Development
- Maintain strong knowledge of FX markets, international payments, and hedging solutions.
- Ensure the team is technically competent and confident in articulating product benefits and differentiators.
Partnerships & Market Expansion
- Identify and support strategic partnerships that expand market reach within the SME and corporate sectors.
- Explore opportunities to deepen penetration within existing client verticals.
Budget & Commercial Discipline
- Manage sales budget allocation effectively to maximise return on investment.
- Monitor and control sales-related expenditure to support profitable growth.
Innovation & Continuous Improvement
- Establish structured feedback channels to enhance sales processes and client experience.
- Encourage innovative thinking within the team to maintain competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving FX and payments landscape.
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
- Demonstrated experience leading and scaling high-performing sales teams within FX, payments, or financial services.
- Strong understanding of the FX market, including hedging products and regulatory frameworks (UK and Canada exposure advantageous).
- Proven ability to create a performance-driven culture with clear accountability.
- Excellent leadership capability, including handling challenging conversations and driving behavioural standards.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data and market trends.
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Proficient in CRM systems and sales enablement tools.
- Resilient, adaptable, and capable of performing under pressure.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or related discipline (postgraduate qualification advantageous).
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