Reporting to: Head of Internal Business Development Team
Department: Sales
About Downing
Downing is dedicated to delivering investments that matter – for our economy, our health, our society, our local communities and our environment.
For over 35 years, our highly experienced team and our entrepreneurial spirit has driven us to seek out long-term and unique opportunities that solve challenges faced by investors, companies and society.
From our headquarters in the City of London, and from offices in Cardiff, Glasgow, Helsinki and Stockholm, we structure and manage innovative investments that meet specific investor needs and look to the future with conviction. Our 200-plus employees drive our vision of long-term value creation, which we achieve by being bold, straightforward and ambitious.
Guided by these principles we have a broad range of investment opportunities. Our private market offerings include renewable energy infrastructure, private equity and private credit. In public markets, we have a boutique of specialist fund managers that provide a distinctive suite of investment mandates.
As a certified B Corp, we take our responsibilities, to our investors, our stakeholders and society, seriously. We invest for return while always considering our impact on the world.
Diversity is important to us, and we see the benefits that having a team with a range of backgrounds and perspectives can bring. We are bold and ambitious, straightforward and we support each other. These core values are vital to everything we do – from the businesses we invest in, to the people we hire.
Role and responsibilities
The Sales Development Associates should integrate into the regional teams and support the BDMs and IBDMs in writing more business and developing new opportunities.
This represents a great opportunity to develop a new role and to make it varied and rewarding.
Your responsibilities will include:
Proactive sales calls
- Follow up on literature and illustration requests.
- Engage with pipeline prospects (as agreed with regional teams).
- Gather feedback from new supporters to improve service quality.
- Ensure clients have had a positive onboarding experience.
Meetings and relationship building
- Attend face-to-face and Teams meetings with advisers and paraplanners.
- Shadow senior sales colleagues to gain exposure and build rapport with regional contacts.
- Take notes and contribute where appropriate to deepen understanding of client needs.
Sales Support & Administration
- Maintain accurate records of interactions in CRM systems.
- Assist in preparing meeting packs, presentations, and follow-up materials.
- Monitor and report on sales activity and pipeline progress.
- Support the coordination of regional campaigns and events.
Learning and development
- Participate in product and compliance training sessions.
- Stay up to date with financial products, industry trends, and regulatory changes.
- Work towards relevant financial services qualifications (e.g., CII, CISI).
Team collaboration
- Liaise with marketing, compliance, and operations teams to ensure smooth client journeys.
- Share insights and feedback with internal stakeholders to improve processes.
- Contribute to team meetings and brainstorming sessions.
Education, experience and skills
The ideal candidate will have the following:
- Degree level or equivalent education
- Commercial experience, ideally within a sales environment through multiple sales cycles
Personal characteristics
- Bright, driven and enthusiastic
- Sales focused
- Positive attitude
- Positive outlook toward problem solving
- Hard working and keen to go the extra mile
- Outgoing and gregarious
Further information
Downing’s values - Be bold and ambitious | Be straightforward | Support each other
Our values serve as a guide that shapes every aspect of Downing. They extend far beyond the conduct of our employees and encompass our products, services, and relationships with our investors and their advisers. By upholding these values, we firmly believe that we can navigate challenges and seize opportunities. Our commitment to these values ensures that we make a positive impact in everything we do, leaving a lasting and meaningful imprint on the world around us.
Hybrid working
Downing operates a hybrid working policy whereby employees are expected to work from the office for a minimum of 3 days each week. If specific days are required in the office, this will be communicated during the interview process.
Diversity and inclusion
At Downing, we work hard to create a safe space for everyone: an environment for people to be themselves, and to be straightforward, honest and candid. Diversity is important to us, and we are passionate about creating an inclusive culture that supports and celebrates this.
We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly throughout our recruitment process and every aspect of employment, irrespective of background, disability or any other protected characteristic.
Reasonable adjustments
We will make reasonable adjustments within our recruitment process (and throughout employment) where needed. If you need any adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please do not hesitate to speak to the hiring manager or Downing’s People Team (people@downing.co.uk).
Privacy
To understand what information we collect about you, how we will use it and for what purpose, please read our privacy notice
About Downing
Downing is dedicated to delivering investments that matter – for our economy, our health, our society, our local communities and our environment.
For over 35 years, our highly experienced team and our entrepreneurial spirit has driven us to seek out long-term and unique opportunities that solve challenges faced by investors, companies and society.
From our headquarters in the City of London, and from offices in Cardiff, Glasgow, Helsinki and Stockholm, we structure and manage innovative investments that meet specific investor needs and look to the future with conviction. Our 200-plus employees drive our vision of long-term value creation, which we achieve by being bold, straightforward and ambitious.
Guided by these principles we have a broad range of investment opportunities. Our private market offerings include renewable energy infrastructure, private equity and private credit. In public markets, we have a boutique of specialist fund managers that provide a distinctive suite of investment mandates.
As a certified B Corp, we take our responsibilities, to our investors, our stakeholders and society, seriously. We invest for return while always considering our impact on the world.
Diversity is important to us, and we see the benefits that having a team with a range of backgrounds and perspectives can bring. We are bold and ambitious, straightforward and we support each other. These core values are vital to everything we do – from the businesses we invest in, to the people we hire.
About the team
IT Operations and Security is a growing team at Downing with the primary goal of improving operational efficiency across the business. The team is also responsible for Information Security, Data Governance, and ISO accreditation, this role will have some involvement in these areas.
Role and responsibilities
The IT Operations Assistant serves as a central coordinating role, facilitating the effective functioning of the IT department by providing support in procurement, inventory management, logistics, record keeping, and compliance. Although this position is not exclusively technical, it is integral to IT delivery, bridging people, processes, and systems within the organisation.
Participation in ongoing training, professional development and compliance training in line with an FCA-registered business would be expected.
Your responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:
Operational and administrative support
- Maintain and update records, databases, and documentation related to IT operations.
- Assist in the creation and maintenance of IT process documentation, checklists and standard operating procedures.
- Help draft and update user guides, FAQs, and training materials for internal systems and tools (e.g., ClickUp, ITOS, Power BI, SharePoint)
- Collaborate with various departments to ensure smooth execution of IT initiatives
- Collate and prepare data used for IT operational reporting.
Inventory procurement
- Help with the procurement and inventory management of IT assets.
- Maintain accurate inventory records and ensure timely replenishment of stock.
- Conduct regular audits of inventory to ensure accuracy and compliance with company policies.
Managing couriers
- Coordinate and manage courier services for the IT department, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of equipment.
- Track and document all shipments and resolve any issues related to courier services, including delays or lost items.
Induction and access setup
- Facilitate onboarding of new starters: ensure access to ClickUp, ITOS, Power BI, and shared folders.
- Support leavers’ processes and maintain system access hygiene
Key skills and experience
The ideal candidate will have the following:
- Broad understanding of IT systems, networks, and software applications.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with team members and other departments.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy in documentation.
- Creative approach to finding solutions and improving processes.
- Ability to work under pressure and handle unexpected challenges
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritise effectively.
- Efficient time management skills.
- Commitment to providing excellent support to users.
- Experience in managing IT inventory and procurement processes.
- Ability to track and manage IT assets and supplies.
- Experience in a similar IT support or administrative role would be beneficial.
Personal profile
Detail-oriented and proactive IT Admin Support professional with experience in providing comprehensive administrative support. Adept at managing IT assets, and ensuring seamless communication between departments. Known for good problem-solving skills, strong organisational abilities, and a commitment to delivering high-quality support to enhance operational efficiency.
- Passionate about what you do - you are always happy to roll up your sleeves.
- Team player – have fun! We do our best to cultivate an open, honest, hard-working but fun culture at Downing.
- Customer oriented - you are approachable, friendly and professional whilst working diligently. Nothing is too much trouble.
- Assertive and focus on execution – you make things happen.
- Eloquent – you can explain complex things in simple, relevant terms, and in good English.
This role is perfect for someone who:
- Has administrative or operational experience in a tech-related environment.
- Understands IT and systems thinking.
- Enjoys organising, tracking, and making things run smoothly behind the scenes.
- Wants to grow knowledge of broader IT operations, security, or governance areas.
Pay and benefits
For the successful candidate, we will put together an attractive reward package that will include:
- Competitive salary dependent on experience and qualifications
- Discretionary bonus
- Pension scheme
- Health insurance
- Life assurance
- Income Protection
- Death in service
- Additional social perks
Additional details
All candidates must be eligible to work in the UK or have a working visa.
We endeavour to reply to all individual applicants and will provide feedback for any candidates that reach the interview stage.
Please note, we are committed to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.
To understand what information we collect about you, how we will use it and for what purpose, please read our privacy notice
