International Political Economy jobs in London

Strategic Business Development Associate | Advisory

E. Cartier & Co (Global) Ltd
£38,000 to £50,000 per annum plus performance related commission
Full time | Permanent | United Kingdom
Remote based, with travel for client and company meetings where required

The Appointment

E. Cartier & Co is recruiting exceptional early career and associate level professionals into its Strategic Origination & Commercial Development function.

This is not a conventional sales role. It sits where commercial intelligence becomes commercial action.

You will investigate businesses and strategic situations, identify where a genuine advisory opportunity may exist, determine its commercial significance, identify who owns the decision, create credible access and progressively take responsibility for moving opportunities towards paid advisory mandates.

We are deliberately seeking candidates whose current title may understate their future capability. The strongest applicants will combine exceptional academic or professional achievement, commercial instinct, intellectual ability, evidence of outperformance and confidence around senior decision makers.

Although this is an individual contributor appointment, you will be expected to lead from your position.

About E. Cartier & Co

E. Cartier & Co is an independent strategic advisory firm working with founders, owners, executives, private clients and organisations facing commercially significant situations.

Our work begins with the client objective rather than a predetermined service. We seek to establish what must become true, what is preventing it, where value is at stake, who owns the decision, what evidence is required and what needs to happen next.

The Role

The commercial cycle is:

Identify → Understand → Qualify → Access → Shape → Progress → Win → Develop

You are not being recruited simply to book meetings. As your capability develops, you will take progressively greater ownership of the commercial journey.

What You Will Do

• Research companies, ownership structures, sectors, strategic developments and senior decision makers.
• Identify circumstances that could create legitimate advisory demand, including growth, performance pressure, ownership change, transactions, succession, executive transition, international expansion, capital requirements, restructuring and strategic partnerships.
• Develop a concise commercial thesis explaining what appears to be happening, why it matters, what value may be at stake and where E. Cartier could legitimately add value.
• Separate confirmed fact, credible evidence, inference, assumption and unanswered questions.
• Determine who actually owns the relevant decision.
• Develop credible routes into founders, CEOs, owners, investors and other senior stakeholders through direct engagement, relationships, networks, introducers and referrals.
• Conduct initial commercial conversations and establish the objective, urgency, authority, constraints, willingness to act and whether there is a legitimate basis for E. Cartier involvement.
• Distinguish genuine strategic need from immature, poor fit, low value or inappropriate opportunities.
• Work with senior colleagues and specialists to develop mandate theses, executive briefings, proposals and opportunity strategy.
• Maintain momentum through complex commercial cycles, support negotiations and progress appropriate opportunities towards signed and paid engagements.
• Remain commercially involved with relationships you originate and identify legitimate follow on, expansion and referral opportunities.
• Maintain accurate CRM, attribution, pipeline and forecasting records.

What You Will Be Measured On

We do not regard activity volume as a substitute for commercial performance.

You will be assessed on opportunity quality, commercial analysis, senior decision maker access, substantive conversations, qualification accuracy, pipeline quality, conversion into collected client revenue, mandate quality, relationship development, forecast reliability, CRM discipline, judgement and conduct.

The standard is not simply: Did you generate activity?

It is: Did your judgement create valuable commercial outcomes?

The Candidate Standard

This is a deliberately selective appointment.

We are not seeking the largest possible applicant pool, and satisfying one minimum criterion will not make an application competitive.

Strong applicants will normally demonstrate several of the following:

• exceptional academic achievement
• experience within a demanding professional environment
• evidence of materially outperforming peers
• strong commercial or analytical judgement
• intellectual curiosity
• senior stakeholder exposure
• unusually high responsibility for career stage
• excellent written and verbal communication
• measurable achievement
• a consistent tendency to take ownership

A prestigious institution or employer is useful evidence of selectivity, but it is not sufficient by itself. We want to understand what you actually achieved once you were there.

We are particularly interested in candidates whose trajectory indicates that their current level may materially understate what they are ultimately capable of becoming.

Acadmic Standard

Applicants should normally hold a First Class Honours Bachelor's degree, or strong international equivalent.

Relevant disciplines may include Economics, Finance, Accounting, Law, PPE, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Business, Management, International Relations, Politics, History, Real Estate or another intellectually demanding discipline.

A 2:1 would not ordinarily satisfy the academic benchmark on its own.

Candidates with a 2:1 may still be considered where the wider record provides compelling evidence of exceptional capability, such as Distinction level postgraduate performance, a demanding professional qualification, outstanding commercial results, accelerated progression or unusually significant responsibility.

Academic excellence is the presumption. Exceptional professional evidence can override it. Average evidence cannot.

Postgraduate Qualifications

A relevant Master's degree is strongly advantageous, particularly an MBA or Executive MBA, or postgraduate study in Finance, Economics, Strategy, Management, Corporate Finance, Investment Management, Private Equity, Venture Capital, Business Analytics, International Business, Wealth Management, Real Estate Finance, International Political Economy, Law or another relevant discipline.

Distinction level or equivalent postgraduate performance will be particularly valued.

Professional Qualifications

Relevant professional qualifications are highly valued where they complement demonstrable commercial ability.

Examples include CFA, CAIA, IMC, CISI, Chartered Wealth Manager, Chartered Banker, ACA, ICAS or CA, ACCA, CIMA, Corporate Finance Qualification, recognised valuation or financial modelling credentials, Solicitor qualification, SQE progression, Barrister qualification, Chartered Governance Institute qualifications, Chartered Manager, CMI and Institute of Directors qualifications.

Recognised M&A, private equity, venture capital, investment analysis, deal execution, commercial intelligence, business analysis or data analysis qualifications may also strengthen an application.

Credentials alone do not determine selection. We are interested in whether knowledge is converted into judgement and commercial outcomes.

Professional Backgrounds We Particularly Value

We are particularly interested in candidates who have already earned entry into demanding, high performance environments.

Investment Banking

M&A, corporate finance, restructuring, capital markets, leveraged finance, sector coverage or high quality independent advisory boutiques.

Private Equity, Growth Equity, Venture Capital or Private Credit

Investment analysis, origination, sourcing, sector research, portfolio development or relationship led opportunity creation.

Strategy Consulting

Leading strategy or management consulting environments requiring rigorous analysis, ambiguous problem solving and senior stakeholder exposure.

Big Four and Transaction Advisory

Deals, corporate finance, transaction services, commercial due diligence, valuations or restructuring.

Corporate Development and Corporate Strategy

Acquisitions, disposals, strategic investments, partnerships, market entry, transformation or other significant strategic initiatives.

Retained Executive Search

Researchers, Associates or Consultants experienced in market mapping, senior executive engagement and client development.

Institutional Financial Services

Institutional sales, asset management, investment research, private banking, wealth management, capital markets or sophisticated relationship led environments.

Leading Professional Services

Law, accounting, advisory, restructuring, consulting, wealth, private client or specialist professional services firms.

Founder, CEO or Investor Offices

High performing Analysts, Associates or Chiefs of Staff with direct exposure to consequential commercial decisions.

Complex Enterprise Commercial Roles

Exceptional performers with evidence of developing or winning high value, consultative engagements involving C suite or owner level decision makers.

The common denominator is whether the environment demanded intelligence, judgement, standards, responsibility and measurable performance.

Evidence of Exceptional Performance

A strong employer or university name alone will not make an application exceptional.

Competitive candidates will normally demonstrate several of the following:

• First Class academic achievement
• Distinction level postgraduate performance
• competitive professional qualifications
• selection into a highly demanding professional environment
• performance materially above peer expectations
• early promotion or accelerated responsibility
• meaningful transaction, investment, client or strategic exposure
• direct work with founders, CEOs, boards or investors
• measurable commercial results
• significant revenue, deals, relationships or projects personally influenced
• awards or formal recognition
• creation of a new opportunity, capability, process or revenue stream
• evidence of solving something others struggled to solve

We are seeking candidates whose trajectory, rather than merely their present title, indicates exceptional future capability.

Peronal Characteristics

The strongest candidates will demonstrate commercial intelligence, intellectual curiosity, independent judgement, evidence discipline, senior presence, ownership, resourcefulness, commercial urgency, discretion, constructive challenge and resilience.

You should be able to form and defend a reasoned commercial view, distinguish fact from assumption, communicate credibly with sophisticated people, take responsibility for difficult situations and maintain standards through ambiguity and pressure.

Leadership Without Management

This position does not initially carry people management responsibility. We nevertheless expect leadership behaviour.

Leadership at Associate level may mean taking control of an unclear situation, identifying something others missed, improving a decision, challenging a weak assumption, creating momentum, making a clear recommendation, maintaining standards under pressure and becoming trusted with increasingly consequential work.

You do not need direct reports to lead.

Remuneration

£38,000 to £50,000 per annum

Renumeration will reflect experience, demonstrated capability, academic and professional record, previous responsibility and the level at which the successful applicant can operate from commencement. This will also be explored in more detail during the interview process.

The position also carries commercial participation on qualifying professional fees actually collected by E. Cartier & Co.

10% for a personally originated and materially converted opportunity.

7.5% for genuine joint origination with material conversion contribution.

5% for an E. Cartier originated opportunity materially converted by you.

2.5% for a qualifying introduction only.

5% for a qualifying personally generated follow on engagement.

Detailed attribution, payment timing and scheme rules will be set out in the applicable commission documentation.

Individual Contributor Career Path

Associate → Senior Associate → Principal Associate → Senior Principal → Distinguished Principal

Exceptional commercial performers should not be forced into people management simply to progress.

Progression is not automatic through tenure. Greater status, remuneration and responsibility follow sustained evidence of collected revenue, mandate quality, sophisticated opportunities, strong decision maker relationships, commercial judgement, repeat and referral economics, increasing independence and professional standards.

A separate leadership pathway exists for individuals who later demonstrate both the capability and desire to lead people or a wider commercial function.

Why Join at This Stage

The Strategic Origination & Commercial Development function is being built now.

Early Associates will help establish commercial research standards, opportunity selection methodology, decision maker mapping, qualification standards, CRM discipline, proposition development, pipeline governance and institutional learning from wins and losses.

You will be expected to help build the system, not merely operate inside it.

Selection Process

Stage 1: Application and CV review.

Stage 2: Structured initial interview.

Stage 3: Commercial assessment using a fictional or public domain company situation. Candidates may receive approximately 60 to 90 minutes to assess what appears to be happening, the commercial significance, likely decision maker, access route and whether the opportunity should be pursued.

Stage 4: Short verbal defence of conclusions.

Stage 5: Final interview.

Stage 6: Conditional offer and applicable pre employment screening.

Candidates will not be asked to perform unpaid client work.

Vetting Classification

This position is classified internally as E. Cartier Vetting Tier 2, Enhanced.

The classification reflects regular client contact and potential access to confidential, commercially sensitive, proprietary or non public information.

Tier 2, Enhanced is E. Cartier's internal role risk classification. It does not mean an Enhanced DBS certificate or government security clearance.

Appointment may be conditional upon satisfactory completion of lawful and proportionate pre employment screening.

Checks may include:

• identity verification
• UK right to work verification
• employment history verification
• verification of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications
• verification of material professional qualifications and memberships
• references appropriate to the candidate's experience
• relevant directorship and corporate history checks
• verification of relevant regulatory or disciplinary history
• conflicts of interest and outside interest declarations
• lawful and proportionate public domain integrity checks
• assessment of suitability to handle confidential or commercially sensitive information
• criminal record screening only at the level legally available and proportionate to the actual role

Screening is intended to assess competence, integrity, judgement, discretion, professional conduct and suitability.

Criminal Records and Previous Convictions

E. Cartier & Co does not operate an automatic blanket exclusion merely because an applicant has a previous conviction, caution or custodial sentence.

The firm will only request and consider criminal record information it is legally entitled to obtain and use.

Where lawfully available information is relevant, suitability will be assessed individually and proportionately, considering seriousness, relevance to the role, circumstances, time elapsed, whether conduct was isolated or repeated, subsequent conduct, rehabilitation, integrity during recruitment, client exposure and access to confidential information.

Because this is a commercial trust position, lawfully available information concerning serious fraud or dishonesty, bribery or corruption, money laundering or serious financial crime, identity or document fraud, serious misuse of confidential information, serious unauthorised computer or data access, or serious abuse of a position of trust may receive particular scrutiny.

Such matters remain subject to lawful individual assessment rather than indiscriminate automatic rejection.

Human Review of Vetting Information

Material adverse information will not be determined solely by an automated screening result.

Where appropriate, E. Cartier & Co may verify underlying information, assess its relevance to the position, obtain context from the candidate, consider candidate representations, conduct human review, document the rationale and escalate significant or finely balanced matters.

Confidentiality and Access

Successful Tier 2 screening does not create unrestricted access to company or client information.

Access to client files, systems, commercial intelligence, financial information, transaction related information and other sensitive material remains role based, assignment specific and need to know.

Employees may also be subject to applicable confidentiality, information security, conflicts, outside interest and personal dealing requirements.

Additional lawful and proportionate screening may be required if an employee later moves into a materially higher trust role or assignment.

Accuracy and Integrity During Recruitment

Candidates should ensure that material claims concerning education, qualifications, employment, responsibilities, performance, transactions, revenue, professional memberships and regulatory status are accurate and capable of appropriate verification.

A mistake is not automatically treated as dishonesty. Deliberate or material misrepresentation may affect an application or conditional offer.

Equal Opportunities

E. Cartier & Co recruits on capability, evidence, judgement, integrity, experience and suitability for the position.

Recruitment decisions will be made without unlawful discrimination. Reasonable adjustments can be requested during the recruitment and assessment process.

Our standards are deliberately high, but they are intended to identify excellence rather than one predetermined personal background.

How to Apply

Apply through Indeed with an up to date CV.

A traditional cover letter is not required.

Your CV should make clear, where possible, your academic results, postgraduate achievement, professional qualifications, measurable commercial or professional achievements, significant transaction, client, investment or strategic exposure, responsibility beyond your formal level, senior stakeholders worked with and outcomes for which you were personally accountable.

If there is something exceptional in your record that would not be apparent from your job title or employer alone, make it visible.

We are seeking individuals whose intellectual ability, commercial instinct, performance and trajectory suggest the potential to become exceptional commercial originators and advisers.

Pay: £38,000.00-£50,000.00 per year

Work Location: Remote