Sales Support Associate - Milan

About Columbia Threadneedle Investments

Working at Columbia Threadneedle Investments you'll find growth and career opportunities across all of our businesses.

We're intentionally built to help you succeed. Our reach is expansive with a global team of 2,300 people working together. Our capability is diverse with more than 550 investment professionals sharing global perspectives across all major asset classes and markets. Our clients have access to a broad array of investment strategies, and we have the capability to create bespoke solutions matched to clients' specific requirements. Our unwavering focus on our clients and strong financial foundation connects each of our enterprise businesses — Ameriprise Financial, Columbia Threadneedle Investments and RiverSource Insurance and Annuities.

Job Description

Where you’ll fit in & what our team goals are…

You will provide sales support to the Italian Country Head and Sales Team, as well as the wider CTI business in the Italian market.

As our presence in Italy continues to grow, we are expanding our team with a new Sales Support professional to strengthen our commercial effectiveness. Your role will enhance our client engagement by providing timely, accurate, and high quality support to our Sales Managers, ensuring they can focus on strategic client activities and deepen relationships across the branch network.

How you'll spend your time...

• As a member of the Italian Distribution team you will build strong relationships with our Italian based clients ranging from global financial institutions and wealth managers to pension funds. Working with your Sales colleagues alongside the in-country sales team you will gain in-depth understanding of our clients requirements and become their trusted long-term partner 

• In this varied role, the Sales Support interactions with both clients and internal stakeholders is essential in growing and retaining clients assets and developing the Columbia Threadneedle Investments client proposition; strong communication and listening are key

• The role will involve providing support on both a proactive and reactive basis, prempting where possible and responding to client requests. The role is an integral part of the sales process and involves a variety of activities, including:

- Assistance in preparing marketing materials, presentations, and proposals for client meetings and presentations.

- Monitor sales flows of the branch and provide regular and depth analysis to the sales team at country level, channel and clients level 

- Monitor market trends and competitor activities to identify potential sales opportunities.

- Liaising with internal central team: Client Enablement team, the Competitor Analysis team and Performance teams

- Frontline for client queries and requests from clients and prospects ensuring they are answered in a timely and accurate manner and tracked on Salesforce;

- On Sales demand follow up with potential clients and existing clients to gather feedback, address concerns, and ensure high client satisfaction.

- In cooperation with Sales and CS team maintain accurate client records in the customer relationship management (Salesforce) system and update the system with relevant information.

- Co-ordination and completion of internal activities in support of the Sales team, including client due diligence, share class requests, arranging distribution of client and regulatory reporting and implementation of procedural controls

- Co-ordination of despatch of fund literature e.g. factsheets, portfolios, commentaries

- Occasional attendance at external events on a local and regional basis as required

- Assistance, alongside marketing, with fund presentations for in-house meetings, conferences and roadshows

- Attendance, where required at meetings and conference calls with clients, prospects, fund managers, and ratings agencies

To be successful in this role you will have...

• Fluency in English as well as in Italian

• Business Degree / BA Economics or equivalent

• Established experience is similar role    

• Knowledge of MS Office including Copilot

• Technical and time managements skills

• Attention to detail

• Being a team player with the ability to be focused on satisfying client needs

• Analytical and data driven mindset, including the ability to interpret sales, client, and marketing data to support commercial decision making. 

• Comfort in using digital tools and AI enabled applications to enhance reporting, client insights, and sales effectiveness.

• Good communication skills, both verbal and written;

• Organisational skills

If you also had this, it would be great…

• Knowledge of Salesforce

Full timePermanentSales

Columbia Threadneedle is a people business, and we recognise that our success is due to our talented people, who bring diversity of thought, complementary skills and capabilities. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and performance-based culture where everyone can belong, grow, contribute and realise their potential.

We appreciate that work-life balance is an important factor for many when considering their next move so please discuss any flexible working requirements directly with your recruiter.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to racial or ethnic background, religion or belief, sex or gender, nationality, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, pregnancy or maternity or any other basis prohibited by law.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to aid your participation in the application or interview process, speak to your recruiter to discuss how we can support you.