Business Strategy Consultant
Sage-Solutions
27 Brooke Avenue, Upton, Chester, Cheshire, CH2 1HQ
Full-time, permanent | Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
£52,200–£55,200 per year (£4,350–£4,600 per month), depending on relevant experience
Hybrid working available after successful completion of probation
Sage-Solutions is entering a period of planned expansion, and we are recruiting a Business Strategy Consultant to help shape and deliver it. Over the past few years we have built a consultancy practice covering business operations, commercial strategy, project management support, process improvement and outsourced business support. We now need to decide, with proper evidence behind it, which of those services we grow, which markets we move into, what we invest in and what our internal structure needs to look like to support that. Our 2027 expansion plan is the starting point, and this appointment exists to turn it into something structured, costed and measurable.
This is a genuine strategy role rather than a sales position, an administrative appointment or a junior analyst post. You will report directly to the Managing Director, hold structured weekly meetings with them, and work alongside the Business Development Manager, Operations Manager, Finance Manager and marketing team. You will have real commercial influence over which opportunities we pursue and how we resource them, and you will be expected to defend your recommendations with financial modelling and market evidence rather than opinion. Equally, you will be involved in implementation, not just analysis.
About Sage-Solutions
We are a growing business consultancy based in Chester, operating since 2007. We help organisations improve how they operate, strengthen commercial performance and deliver strategic projects successfully. Our work is tailored to each client rather than drawn from templates, and typically involves examining how a business currently functions, identifying commercial opportunities, improving internal processes, supporting change projects and building realistic growth plans.
Why this position is being created
Sage-Solutions is preparing its 2027 growth strategy. This covers development of our service portfolio, client acquisition, entry into appropriate markets, improvement of internal systems and ensuring we have the operational and financial capacity to expand sustainably. Growth of this kind fails when it is unplanned, and we would rather appoint someone with the right commercial and analytical background to build the plan properly than attempt it informally alongside existing workloads.
Role overview
You will help develop and execute a structured three-to-five-year growth strategy, beginning with the 2027 expansion plans. That means assessing commercial opportunities, building financial and operational business cases, improving how we work internally, supporting strategic client acquisition and providing evidence-based recommendations to the Managing Director.
You will not only produce reports. Recommendations will need to be converted into defined projects, implementation roadmaps, performance measures and outcomes that can be tracked.
Key responsibilities
- Work with the Managing Director and senior management team to develop a three-to-five-year strategic plan covering revenue objectives, priority services, target markets, geographic expansion, investment requirements, recruitment needs and operational capacity.
- Translate the 2027 expansion objectives into a practical roadmap setting out milestones, budgets, responsibilities, dependencies, performance measures and target completion dates.
- Research target industries, regional markets, competitor positioning, client demand, pricing trends and barriers to market entry, and use those findings to advise where we should expand or introduce additional consultancy services.
- Evaluate the commercial and strategic value of our existing service lines, and recommend which should be expanded, repackaged, repositioned, combined or reviewed.
- Build revenue forecasts, cost models, pricing structures, break-even calculations, scenario analyses and return-on-investment assessments for proposed hires, service launches, technology investments, office expansion and strategic partnerships.
- Work with the Business Development Manager and marketing team to define ideal client profiles, identify high-value target sectors, prioritise prospects and strengthen the commercial positioning of proposals and consultancy packages.
- Analyse client needs, service usage and commercial potential across existing accounts to identify appropriate opportunities for additional consultancy support, longer-term engagements or complementary services.
- Assess how work currently moves between business development, consulting, operations, finance, marketing, project management, administration and client delivery, and recommend changes that reduce duplication, clarify accountability and shorten delivery times without affecting service quality.
- Design practical dashboards and reporting frameworks covering revenue growth, gross and operating margins, pipeline value, conversion rates, project profitability, consultant utilisation, client retention, service-delivery times, customer satisfaction, strategic-project completion and operational savings.
- Lead or coordinate strategic change projects, which may include implementing a CRM system, introducing project-management software, redesigning internal workflows, standardising consultancy frameworks, improving pricing processes or restructuring departmental responsibilities.
- Prepare reports, business cases and presentations for the Managing Director and senior management team, setting out market findings, commercial risks, financial implications, resource requirements and recommended actions clearly enough to support informed decisions.
- Monitor progress against the strategic roadmap, flag delays or resource gaps, question assumptions that are not supported by evidence, and escalate material risks promptly.
Who you will work with
You will report to the Managing Director and meet with them weekly on a structured basis. Day to day, you will work closely with the Business Development Manager, Operations Manager and Finance Manager, collaborate with the marketing team, and engage with other internal functions as strategic projects require.
Essential experience and skills
- Approximately three to five years of relevant experience in business strategy, management consulting, corporate strategy, commercial strategy, business transformation, professional services or a closely related field.
- Demonstrable experience developing strategic plans, growth roadmaps or commercial business cases.
- Experience conducting market, competitor and customer-demand research and translating findings into recommendations.
- Strong financial and commercial understanding, including revenue forecasting, cost modelling, pricing analysis, break-even calculations and ROI assessment.
- Advanced or highly competent use of Microsoft Excel, or a comparable spreadsheet tool, for financial modelling and scenario analysis.
- Experience creating and monitoring KPIs, dashboards or management-information reporting.
- Experience managing cross-functional projects involving multiple departments and senior stakeholders.
- Confident written and verbal communication, including the ability to prepare concise reports and presentations for directors and senior decision-makers.
- The judgement to challenge assumptions professionally and support recommendations with evidence, alongside the ability to balance long-term thinking with practical implementation.
- Strong organisation, discretion when handling commercially sensitive information, and the ability to work independently while keeping senior leadership informed.
A degree in business management, strategy, economics, finance, accounting, commerce, data analysis or a related discipline is welcome, though equivalent professional experience demonstrating the same capability will be considered equally.
Desirable qualifications and experience
- Chartered Management Consultant accreditation, or CMI qualification or membership
- PRINCE2, APM Project Management Qualification or AgilePM
- Lean Six Sigma
- A relevant finance, accounting or commercial-analysis qualification
- Familiarity with Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft 365, CRM systems, project-management platforms, or business-intelligence and data-visualisation tools
Appointment is subject to the company completing the appropriate UK right-to-work checks.
Salary and benefits
Salary: £52,200–£55,200 per year (£4,350–£4,600 per month). The starting figure within that range reflects relevant experience, technical capability and the scope of previous strategic responsibilities.
Annual performance bonus: Up to 10% of base salary, linked to agreed and measurable outcomes such as revenue growth, improved profit margins, successful service launches, operational savings and completion of strategic projects. The maximum is not guaranteed income; any award is subject to the company bonus scheme, the targets agreed with you, and individual and company performance.
Six-month salary review: A formal review after six months, based on agreed objectives including progress against the growth roadmap, quality of strategic recommendations, project delivery and measurable business improvements. A review is not an automatic or guaranteed increase.
Professional development funding: Funding towards relevant strategy, project-management, finance or leadership qualifications, suitable industry conferences and appropriate professional memberships, including CMI where relevant. Funding is subject to prior approval and relevance to the role.
Private medical insurance: Individual cover following successful completion of probation. Depending on the terms of our chosen provider, this may include virtual GP access, mental-health support, diagnostic services and specialist referrals.
Hybrid and flexible working: Up to two home-working days per week after successful completion of probation, subject to client meetings, strategic workshops, leadership meetings and business requirements. Flexible start and finish times are available around agreed core hours.
Working location
The role is based at our Chester office, which remains the contractual place of work, and requires regular in-person collaboration with the Managing Director and departmental leaders. Our offices are also open on Saturdays from 9:00am to 2:00pm; this is not part of the contracted working pattern for this position, which is Monday to Friday.
The position will suit someone comfortable working in a growing consultancy, moving between analysis, planning and implementation, managing competing priorities, presenting to senior leadership, handling commercially sensitive information, supporting change across several departments and attending client or partner meetings where reasonably required.
Career development
There is a defined potential pathway towards Senior Business Strategy Consultant, Strategy Manager or Head of Strategy. Progression is assessed against commercial impact, quality of delivery, leadership capability and contribution to the company's expansion, and depends on sustained performance, organisational requirements and suitable opportunities being available. We do not guarantee promotion within a fixed period.
How to apply
Please submit an up-to-date CV through Indeed. We would encourage you to make clear where your experience covers strategic planning, commercial analysis, financial modelling, business improvement, consultancy or transformation projects, and communication with senior stakeholders.
Equal opportunities
Sage-Solutions welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. Applicants are assessed on relevant skills, experience and ability to perform the role. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know and we will discuss how we can accommodate them.
Pay: £4,350.00-£4,600.00 per month
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- Free or subsidised travel
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Private medical insurance
- Profit sharing
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Chester CH2 1HQ: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- business strategy or management consulting: 3 years (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
