Business Development Analyst

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ANALYST Based in the Johannesburg office, the Business Development Analyst supports the Business Development Manager and the firm's practices and sectors by conducting client, prospect, competitor, market and business intelligence research; analysing business operations, strategies and data sources to identify leads and business development opportunities; and supporting the preparation of presentations, proposals, reports and client engagement materials. The role contributes to improved firm strategies, competitiveness, engagement and the development of a sustainable client base through accurate research, CRM data management, dashboards, reporting and effective use of the BD Analyst systems portfolio.

Duties and Responsibilities

Client, Prospect and Market Research

• Conduct research regarding existing and prospective clients, competitor activity, market trends and business development opportunities.
• Undertake research for each practice and sector, including specific geographical and industry sectors, in connection with business development opportunities.
• Research clients, prospects, company structures, decision-makers, ownership information, executive appointments, listed-company information, legal and regulatory developments, macroeconomic indicators and industry trends using the BD Analyst systems portfolio.

Business Development Analysis and Opportunity Identification

• Analyse business operations, client data sources and strategies to identify new opportunities, possible leads, referrals, relationship gaps and cross-selling opportunities.
• Support the improvement of the firm's strategies and competitiveness by converting research, data and market intelligence into concise insights for practices, sectors and stakeholders.
• Monitor market developments, competitors, sectors, financial performance, M&A activity, ESG information, investment trends and procurement opportunities relevant to the firm's clients and target markets.

Client Engagement Support

• Provide support to the firm in preparing presentations, proposals and supporting research in connection with business development opportunities.
• Prepare reports, client and prospect profiles, financial analysis, presentation content, general business documentation to support client engagement.
• Support client newsletter, legal update, event invitation and outreach activities, including monitoring engagement metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, registrations and other response data.

CRM, Data Management and Knowledge Management

• Maintain and support accurate client and prospect information, relationship ownership, business development activities, opportunities, referrals and client interaction reporting in Microsoft Dynamics 365.
• Build contact lists, verify company information and support outreach campaigns using approved prospecting and intelligence platforms.
• Use SharePoint as the central repository for reports, templates, client intelligence, knowledge management, collaboration and document version control.
• Ensure confidentiality of all firm and client documentation, data and information.

Reporting, Dashboards and Analytics

• Develop and support dashboards and reports for revenue analysis, client profitability, practice and sector trends, business development performance, cross-selling opportunities and executive reporting.
• Use business intelligence, statistical and visualisation tools to analyse data, identify trends, support forecasting and improve management decision-making.
• Track projects, deliverables, workflows, progress, team collaboration and business development actions using approved workflow and project management tools.

Productivity, Automation and Collaboration

• Use Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft Office, Forms and OneNote to support document drafting, meeting summarisation, data analysis, presentation development, task automation and productivity improvements.
• Collaborate confidently with individuals at all levels of the organisation, including Business Development, Marketing, practice and sector stakeholders.
• Manage multiple business development research, reporting, pitch and engagement support activities simultaneously while maintaining accuracy, professionalism and service quality.

Qualifications/Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Marketing or a related field.
• At least 3+ years of experience in business analysis, data analytics or business development, preferably in a professional services or legal environment.
• Experience in law firm business development and marketing.
• Experience with legal research and legal news databases and resources.

Core Skills and Behavioural Competencies

• Excellent organisational and project management skills.
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work confidently and collaboratively with individuals at all levels of the organisation.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment.
• Strong analytical thinking, commercial awareness, attention to detail, problem-solving ability, logical reasoning and focus on results.
• Client focus, confidentiality, professionalism, agility and adaptability.

Technical and Data Competencies

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Forms and OneNote for reports, analysis, presentations, surveys, meeting notes, budgeting models and business documentation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and relevant CRM, legal research, company intelligence, financial market, economic, workflow, dashboarding and collaboration systems used in the BD Analyst portfolio.
• Ability to prepare concise research summaries, client profiles, pitch inputs, campaign reports, financial analysis, market intelligence notes and decision-support insights.
• Ability to analyse data, identify trends, support statistical modelling, forecasting, predictive analytics, data cleaning, econometric analysis and advanced visualisation requirements as needed