The opportunity
The Client Executive (CE) aligned to PE portfolio companies is a critical member of the core Private Equity Industry team.
They are responsible for working alongside priority PE account teams to open up and build strong client relationships in order to drive cross-service post-deal sales opportunities across a number of PE portfolio companies, ultimately turning these investees into significant clients of the firm in their own right.
Your key responsibilities
The CE will be responsible for originating sales within a defined group of portfolio clients and will:
1. Initiate, build and sustain exceptional client relationships at the most senior levels of portfolio clients and targets
2. Drive exceptional client service in every external and internal encounter
3. Be insightful and leverage the knowledge of the client's issues and the industry/sector trends to identify and help develop new service offerings that will meet the client's needs
4. Be connected to the fund agenda by working very closely with the fund account and deal teams
5. Understand investee/sponsor’s strategic intentions and value creation thesis
6. Play an account leadership role and building high performing account teams
7. Lead / catalyse coordination of cross-SL EY teams through the sign to close and subsequent post deal phases to fully maximise the opportunity to EY - bringing rigour, sustained focus and the broadest mindset
8. Identify and position for post deal Value Creation opportunities, across the full spectrum of EY services, with the support of content owners/service line colleagues
9. Focus on exit opportunities and oversee the relationship throughout the ownership cycle in order to best position for sellside/exit readiness work
10. Understand permissible services and Independence restrictions
In addition, the CE will play a leading role running the overall go-to-market programme for Portfolio CSPs. Working alongside the sponsoring partner, the CE will:
11. Be responsible for running quarterly meetings with Solution/ content owners to agree and prioritise offerings and campaigns relevant to portfolio companies
12. Host regular community calls with the CSP community to cascade content, discuss success in the market and create a valuable feedback loop back into the Solution owners
13. Complete bi-annual reviews of the selected priority portfolio companies with PE House account teams to ensure CSP resource is appropriately allocated
14. Work with Sales, Brand and Marketing to ensure alignment and relevant promotion of events and client successes
15. Work with PE Operations to provide regular programme reporting
The role is expected to be 70% client sales, 30% programme management.
Skills and attributes for success
A trusted advisor who can:
16. Gain clients’ and colleagues’ trust and confidence
17. Be seen by clients to be bringing the best of EY in a responsive, helpful manner
18. Drive commercial outcomes that align with the interests of our clients
19. Bring an origination mindset and grow ‘break-in’ accounts
20. Bring the best of EY capabilities to the PE Portfolio community
21. Work collaboratively to create, shape and support wider EY teams to win big deals
22. Prioritise effectively; understand and navigate complex organisational structures
A leader who can:
23. Build effective, diverse and inclusive networks; promote EYs and own personal brand
24. Value difference, is attuned to clients and team members’ needs, and is comfortable with ambiguity and differences of opinion
25. Intentionally flex their style for the client and teams’ needs
26. Bring the right balance to the role – ie operating very effectively externally and spending majority time in the market, but crucially able to ‘make things happen’ internally across EY’s matrix structure
To qualify for the role you must have
27. Be able to operate at ‘speed’ – aligning to the fast pace and demanding culture common within the PE market
28. 10+ years of client service, relationship management or business development experience in the professional services and solutions arena.
29. Demonstrated ability to communicate, present and influence credibly and effectively at all levels of the organisation
30. Strong business/commercial acumen and an understanding of major industry sector trends preferred with experience in delivering client-focused solutions based on customer needs
31. Work as an extension to the Fund team (share insights and tightly connected) and in solo capacity to drive activity on the portfolio companies
32. Proven sound judgment and flexibility in balancing multiple project requirements, tight deadlines, and keeping people and projects moving on schedule, with high attention to detail
33. Facilitate effective ‘hand overs’ between service line teams and provide continuity of relationship to the client
Ideally, you’ll also have
34. Experience of working in the TMT, Business Services, Consumer/Retail or Industrial Products industry a plus
35. Understand the deal lifecycle and services that EY can provide throughout
36. Experience shaping GTM campaign material
What we offer
We offer a competitive remuneration package where you’ll be rewarded for your individual and team performance. Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with MyReward you can select benefits that suit your needs, covering holidays, health and well-being, insurance, savings and a wide range of discounts, offers and promotions. Plus, we offer:
37. Continuous learning: You’ll develop the mindset and skills to navigate whatever comes next.
38. Success as defined by you: We’ll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.
39. Transformative leadership: We’ll give you the insights, coaching and confidence to be the leader the world needs.
40. Diverse and inclusive culture: You’ll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.
Please note
Prior to finalizing your application, you will be asked to provide personal information across several dimensions of diversity and inclusiveness. The information you provide is kept entirely confidential and will not be used to evaluate your candidacy. We collect this data to help us analyse our recruitment process holistically and implement actions that promote diversity and inclusiveness. While optional, we encourage you to provide this information to hold us accountable towards our goal of building a better working world. Read more about our commitment to diversity & inclusiveness. We ask because it matters!