View Vacancy – JPN – Investment Adviser – Financial Services A2(L)

Main purpose of job:

Japanese investment into the UK has been a huge success story over recent years with over 1,000 Japanese companies established in the UK and 150,000 people employed directly by Japanese companies. The aim of this position is to support and grow Japanese investment in the UK in the active and vital sectors for the UK economy, Financial Services and Venture Capital (VC). 

You will work in the Financial Services & VC team along with an Investment team of 15 people in Japan, as well as a range of sector experts and partner agencies in the UK, to deliver the Japan Financial Services and VC business plans and support delivery of the wider investment strategy.  This is a fast moving, crosscutting, strategically important area.  You will lead Fintech and Business Services sectors, researching and approaching the potential Japanese companies, managing a client relationship with them, and persuading them to invest into the UK.  You will also engage with the UK network including the sector associations and start-ups, leveraging the UK’s capability to promote the UK in Japan.  You will need to be flexible as priorities may change. 

You will work in a friendly and dynamic environment engaging both with colleagues in Japan and in the UK. This job offers excellent experience both of business and of government in a unique setting. 

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Create a strong pipeline of projects:

• The Financial Services and VC team supports several investment projects into the UK each year.  Your role will be to
• Lead the  Fintech and Business Services sectors with support of the Senior Investment Adviser and aim to  generate new projects and deliver investment wins (new investments into the UK and existing investors’ expansion) from these sectors per annum.  This will include creating a strong pipeline of projects through engagement with Japanese companies and  support companies to covert projects into investment wins, by:
• Support and organise promotional events and activities including seminars, pitching sessions and inward and outward missions for the team’s responsible sectors such as Fintech and VC.
• Developing expertise across the sectors, in order to set the strategy for the sector and spot new opportunities and trends
• Researching, analysing and developing a target list of key Japanese companies to work with and then follow up engaging directly with the companies yourself.
• You will manage around 15 ongoing investment projects from these sectors per year and generate around 4-5 new project leads per year on your own, particularly focusing on high value and high impact investment opportunities.

You will take a particular lead on fintech, expanding the opportunities in Fintech sector and engaging with the most dynamic Fintech start-up companies:

Fintech is fast growing area and there are many smaller companies who are now looking to go global.

• You will develop a strong understanding of the Fintech ecosystems in Japan and the UK and promote the UK Fintech opportunity in Japan. 
• You will build up a live list of the key companies in your sectors that have a potential to invest in the UK.  You will build propositions for these companies and then set up meetings to present UK opportunities to them.
• You will develop an idea for the most effective ways of promoting the UK Fintech opportunity, collaborating with internal and external networks.

Provide support to the team:

• Develop and update key documents on statistics, projects, budgets, and maintain an up to date database. 
• Provide support to the wider investment team in Japan, and provide support to sector colleagues in other markets in APAC

Wider corporate support

• Contribute to the wider work of the Embassy, including active role in the crisis response plan and exercises.
• Collaborate with other teams to support on wider Embassy activities.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

N/A

Profile and manage admin and specific project budgets.

Learning and development opportunities

Two key areas of focus will be:

(i) building up a knowledge of the key sectors that you work in. On the job training, presentations from sector specialists and potential Developing Sector Knowledge course in the UK.

(ii) building up influencing and sales skills through on the job training and courses such as Effective Account Management and Consultancy Based Sales.

The British Embassy offers comprehensive learning and development opportunities that will be fully available to the jobholder. We regularly run both work area specific training, as well as more general skills development in project management, finance, and leadership. Each year the job holder will be encouraged to use 5 development days to pursue job related and personal development goals.

All staff are required to take a role in the embassy’s crisis preparation and response. Full training will be provided for this and regular opportunities will be available to test and develop your skills.

Working patterns:

Full time (37.5 hours per week), with some out of hours working required (e.g. for events) 

The Japan Network supports and promotes flexible working as a crucial part of our inclusive offering. This particular role allows for flexibility, for example in start and end times, working compressed hours, working remotely on one or a couple of days in a week, and the possibility of a job share arrangement, subject to agreement with management.  

This role requires flexibility to sometimes work outside of conditioned hours e.g. during Ministerial visits and Embassy events. 

• Language: Japanese and English – fluent/native level ability in one and at least business level in the other 
• Ability to work effectively in an increasingly digital environment (strong IT skills, ability to present online, knowledge of social media platforms)