Assistant Business Development Manager - Asset Finance

About Allica Bank

Allica is the UK’s fastest growing company - and the fastest-growing financial technology (Fintech) firm ever. Our purpose is to help established SMEs, one of the last major underserved opportunities in Fintech.

Established SMEs are the backbone of local communities - representing over a third of our economy - yet have been largely neglected both by traditional high street banks and modern fintech providers.

Department Description

Allica exists for the half a million or so established SMEs with typically 5 to 100 employees. These SMEs are a crucial pillar of the UK’s prosperity - representing more than a quarter of all turnover and jobs - yet are increasingly neglected by traditional high street banks.

Allica has had a great start building our presence through brokers, winning three awards from the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB) in our first year of lending, and four in our second year including BDM Team of the year two years running, as well as a host of other key industry awards.

The Distribution team are responsible for the development and execution of the Allica Bank commercial strategy to generate profitable opportunities to meet SME customer needs safely by working with Asset Finance Introducers across Britain. Based on using modern tools, having local relationships and tailored expertise’.

Role Description

Reporting to the Head of Sales – Broker Asset Finance and working alongside the Allica Bank field-based Business Development Managers (BDMs), this role will support the ongoing delivery of Allica’s Asset Finance proposition.

You will be 1st line support and responsible, together with completing Back Office activities, for supporting the smooth running of the function.

You will be directly involved as appropriate in all aspects of the Asset Finance proposition by supporting the Managing Director – Intermediaries and BDM Team to ensure that our broker partners and customers receive the highest possible level of service.

Principal Accountabilities

Business Development

• Providing first line support to panel introducer firms through being a product expert and being able to articulate the Bank’s current lending appetite.

• Handling inbound calls and making outbound calls to develop new business, resolve issues for existing brokers, potential brokers, and potential customers.

• Reviewing Asset Finance lending opportunities and providing indicative terms.

• Provide cover to Business Development Managers including telephone and email support for Bank Panel Brokers.

• Handling of Customer Services enquiries and liaison with the department to help improve the quality of information sent through and education of call handlers.

• Assist the broker panel with issue resolution.

• Work closely with and collaboratively with all areas of Allica to drive the effective delivery of the Bank’s annual lending budget and ensure a seamless and professional service is always provided

Administrative Support

• Undertake regular chasing of cases in the Asset Finance pipeline.

• Manage the onboarding of new to Bank introducer firms.

• Assist in managing the Bank’s Introducer Panel including review processes.

• Organisation of, and participation in, regional events and corporate gifts.

• Work closely with the Broker Support Team to progress approved cases through to completion.

• Supporting the creation of meaningful and actionable Management Information.

• Liaison with marketing for tombstones, profiles, and product/policy changes.

• Monitoring competitor activity and providing feedback to management.

General

• Adhere to and support Allica’s risk management framework.

• Ensure full compliance with Allica’s policies as required.

• To support other teams as appropriate, where customer communication or engagement is required.

• Personally execute key tasks as appropriate as the team continues to grow.  

• Establishing and actively managing objectives and a personal development plan.

• Ensuring your personal conduct and Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) is front and centre in everything that you do.

• Being a positive contributor to Allica’s culture, and always promoting our values

• Complying with all mandatory policies, and adherence to operational procedures to maintain internal controls.

Personal Attributes & Experience

• Be capable of working in a fast-paced environment, managing complex, competing, and alternating priorities with a constant focus on delivery.

• Have resilience and energy for collaborating with others, working flexibly, and driving developments rapidly.

• Have confidence, creditability, and highly developed interpersonal skills with a ‘can-do’ attitude.

• Able to bring people together in a constructive and collaborative way by emphasising a common vision.

• Clear and independent thinker, logical, analytical, and structured in approach to all business issues.

• Prepared to win support for their views through reasoned persuasion.

• Pragmatic and astute in their dealings with others.

• Be a ‘doer’ - happy to roll sleeves up as needed and do whatever is needed to move the business along.

• You’ll demonstrate an ability to analyse and review financial accounts and associated information.

• Sound product knowledge of commercial banking products associated with SME businesses.

• Excellent understanding of Asset Finance lending and Credit Risk.

• Experienced in reviewing Asset Finance lending opportunities.

• Knowledge of the Asset Finance Broker market.

• Evidence of quality relationship management skills and the ability to engage across a wide range of differing stakeholders.

• Organisational and time-management skills.

• Strong technical skills, especially MS Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Outlook, etc.

• Excellent communicator - well developed numeracy and written skills.

Working at Allica Bank

At Allica Bank we want to ensure our employees have the right tools and environment in which to succeed in their role and in support of our customers.

Our employees are at the heart of everything we do, so our benefits are designed with you in mind:

• Full onboarding support and continued development opportunities

• Options for flexible working

• Regular social activities

• Pension contributions

• Discretionary bonus scheme

• Private health cover

• Life assurance

• Family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity & Paternity leave

Don’t tick every box?

Don’t worry if you don’t have all the skills or requirements listed on the job description. If you think you’ll be a good fit, we’d still love to hear from you!

Flexible working

We know the ‘9-to-5’ isn’t right for everyone. That’s why Allica Bank is fully committed to flexible and hybrid working. Please let us know what is best for you and, if we can, we will do our best to accommodate.

Diversity

We’re a diverse bunch here at Allica, with all kinds of experiences, backgrounds and lifestyles. Our openness and differences make us stronger, and we want everybody to feel comfortable bringing as much of themselves to work with them as they like.