Business Manager

Key Objectives:

Business partner to the specialist departments focused on driving revenue across all channels via P&L and pipeline management. Responsible for all financial deals and corresponding legal consignment agreements. Accountable for consignment and sale execution, including sale settlement.

Responsibilities Include:

Financial

• Partner with RMs and senior business getters to drive sales and revenue stream accountability using the Consignment Pipeline tool: accountable for pipeline entry for tracking sale(s) and annual goals. Responsible for Pipeline presentation and discussion with CFO, Heads of Departments, Specialists, and RMs
• Manage and lead consignments; with oversight from senior Business Management where appropriate.
• Budget planning preparation in partnership with Head of Sale and/or Head of Department.
• Partner with Financial Analyst for (1) month end close (2) forecasting (3) general ongoing P&L maintenance.
• Develop financial models/scenarios to support deals for all revenue streams; approve/escalate for Commercial approval where appropriate.
• Deal related cost review and approval.
• Prep and execute Sale Tracking (commission analysis compilation and execution, for sales where Finance is not involved; review/approval for Evening sales)
• Track key consignment won/lost for competitive analysis and future learnings
• Track and approval of Sale Settlement in coordination with Post-Sale
  • Extended payment terms
  • Consignor and Buyer billing oversight where appropriate

Operations

• In partnership with Operations manage department inventory
• Assisting with various PSS issues where there are financial impacts (e.g. shipping, export licenses, tax(es), etc)

Legal/Compliance

• Oversight of templated legal agreements drafted by Pre-Sale Administration
• Partner with Legal on all contract negotiations (consignment, introductory commission, vendor, consultant); escalating to senior Business Management where appropriate.
• Track and Manage respective department Master Consignment Agreements
• Support Irrevocable Bidder process

Strategic Analysis

• Competitive analysis and market share
• Research potential additional revenue streams and/or type of property offered for long term strategy and growth in collaboration with the General Manager
• Build and support presentation of Post-Sale reports and/or other-directed analysis (BM SxS Management Reports) with input from Business Intelligence, as appropriate

Sale Management

• Allocate/confirm respective sale department sales Significant Contribution for colleagues for accurate consignor/buyer/underbidder activity.
• Private Sales incentive review/approval/accountability, where appropriate
• Assist with Sale Management, where appropriate

Procurement

• Review and approval of all Sale and Department costs (Opex and Capex)
• Proactively manage and review all Department consultants
• Process and Policies
• In partnership, propose, manage, and implement efficiencies, integration and adoption for new IT and digital improvements aligned to overall responsibilities

Skills / Competencies

• Educated to Degree level (MBA or other post graduate business-related qualifications are an advantage)
• Post qualification business experience, ideally in a financial or business support role
• A solid understanding of the art world, and ideally experience in an international auction house
• Ability to communicate at all seniority levels
• Strong communication skills as it relates to delivering key financial commentary on sales budget, forecast, and achievements to both senior management (CFO) and specialist departments.
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills
• Highly organised, detail oriented, multi-tasker
• Creative problem solver, energetic and persistent
• Confident team player, capable of working well independently and as part of a busy team
• Fluent in English, other Asian languages would be an advantage