Senior Deal Desk Specialist - Sales Operations

Ifs - Itasca, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Remote - Itasca, IL

5,001-10,000 employees

Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers

About the position

The Senior Deal Desk Specialist at IFS plays a crucial role in supporting the Sales organization throughout the Quote to Close process cycle. This position is responsible for managing and optimizing sales transactions from the initial pricing of a quote to the final contract signature. As a trusted advisor and business partner to the Sales team, the Senior Deal Desk Specialist ensures that all requirements within the Quote to Close process are met efficiently and effectively. This role involves a deep understanding of financial, legal, and technical aspects related to IFS Software Licensing and IFS Cloud Hosting Services. In this position, the Senior Deal Desk Specialist will manage, prioritize, and proactively track assigned business opportunities, ensuring timely submissions and active engagement in deal strategy and negotiations. Compliance with company policies, procedures, and relevant regulations is paramount, and the Specialist will oversee the approval process for sales transactions within the IFS Approval Request system. Additionally, the role includes assisting Sales with product configurations and pricing proposals, drafting and reviewing necessary documentation, and acting as the first line of support for revenue recognition and contractual matters. The Specialist will interact with various internal business partners, including Finance, Legal, and Product Management, to facilitate the execution and closure of sales transactions. They may also engage with external clients and vendors on contract-related matters. The role requires a fiduciary responsibility to IFS and may involve other duties and projects related to the Deal Desk team as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Manage, prioritize, and proactively track assigned business opportunities for the current quarter and future quarters to ensure timely submissions and active engagement on deal strategy and negotiations.
• Ensure compliance of sales deals with any relevant company policies, procedures and processes or other requirements (e.g. Government specifications). Manage the approval process for sales transactions in the IFS Approval Request system.
• Assist and advise Sales with product configurations and pricing proposals.
• Draft, review and administer any documentation required for sales transactions and their approval.
• Act as first line support to the sales team on revenue recognition or contractual matters relating to sales transactions, act as liaison to Finance and Legal Departments on those transactions.
• Provide interpretation and analysis of existing customer contractual documents where required.
• Interact with all internal business partners required in the execution and closure of sales transactions. E.g. Finance, Presales, Legal, Technology Alliances, Partner Managers, Product Managers, Corporate and Global functions.
• Interact with external clients and vendors at various levels on contract and business-related matters, if required.
• Ensure fiduciary responsibility to IFS.
• Other duties and projects as may be assigned in relation to the Deal Desk team.

Requirements

• Experience and understanding of software licensing and contracting, including perpetual, subscription, hosting services and SaaS models.
• Experience and understanding of Software & Maintenance revenue recognition criteria and regulations (ASC606 and IFRS15).
• Good knowledge of ERP software portfolio and solutions, IFS products or related ERP software vendors, preferred but not required.
• 5+ years' experience in a Sales Operations, Contract Management or Deal Desk environment.
• Strong PC skills with Microsoft Office products, especially MS Word and MS Excel.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Agile mindset with a proven ability to multi-task and work under pressure, meet deadlines and able to work independently.
• Good presentation skills and ability and confidence to interact with both internal and external customers.
• Ability to act with tact and discretion and a sense of humor.
• Must be responsible and able to handle confidential information.
• University Degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business preferable, equivalent training or previous experience.
• Team Work, Commercial Awareness, Communication, Influencing Others, Customer Orientation, Thoroughness, Self-Confidence, Flexibility.
• Ability to see business use cases from strategic through to operational levels.
• Ability to prepare materials with a high degree of accuracy.
• Demonstrated ability to variable day to day activities and manage multiple and competing priorities.
• Curious, eager to learn, and willing to roll your sleeves up and dig into a dynamic growth culture.