Job Title
Client Relationship Manager - Japanese Clients
Department
Client Facing-International-UK
Overview of Department
Baillie Gifford's business depends on providing our clients with excellent long term investment performance and first class client service. The Clients Department is responsible for liaising with our existing clients and developing relationships to attract potential new clients. Specifically, our Client Contacts seek to build excellent relationships by understanding their clients' specific needs. In order to do this, Client Contacts need to develop detailed investment and portfolio knowledge and be proactive and responsive, which allows our investors to focus on investing. The Clients Department functions as a number of small teams working together to provide our clients with the highest possible level of customer service.
Purpose of Role
We are looking for a highly effective native Japanese speaker to join the existing Japan Team. This role will help the team service institutional clients and retail distributors in the region and support business development activity conducted through Baillie Gifford's authorised Japanese partners. You will stay abreast of the local market, investment trends and ideas, maintaining a detailed understanding of our investment strategies and building the knowledge and credibility to represent them confidently in client discussions within the agreed Japan operating and regulatory model. The role will be based primarily in Baillie Gifford's Edinburgh head office.
Japan is a growing, dynamic market. We distribute our products through our partnership with one of the largest financial groups in Japan, and there remains strong future growth potential from existing clients and partner-led new business activity.
This position has been deemed a Certified role within the FCA's Senior Manager and Certification Regime. As a result, the occupant's details will be displayed on the FCA register and both initial and annual fitness and propriety assessments must be completed.
Responsibilities
- Proactively building and maintaining strong relationships with a portfolio of clients and distributors, ensuring they understand Baillie Gifford's investment approach and keeping them up to date with the firm's views
- Presenting at and participating in client, distributor and prospect meetings, presentations and due diligence sessions, and supporting partner-led pitches within agreed regulatory parameters, while ensuring high standards of communication, regular reporting and management of client tasks
- Supporting the development of our Japan business by understanding different market segments, identifying new opportunities, preparing materials for partner-led business development activity, and supporting the relevant authorised Japanese partners in client take-on processes in accordance with the agreed operating and regulatory model
- Working closely and effectively with investment specialists, building and maintaining a detailed knowledge of Baillie Gifford's investment strategies and, where appropriate, representing those strategies in client discussions within agreed regulatory parameters when an investment specialist is not present
- Developing a detailed understanding of relevant investment strategies, portfolios, investment pipelines and teams through close engagement with investment teams, investment specialists, operations colleagues and independent research, building the knowledge and credibility required to represent them confidently with clients and prospects
- Responding accurately and in a timely manner to enquiries from internal stakeholders and existing clients, and supporting responses to prospect enquiries through the relevant authorised Japanese partner, while contributing to a high standard of client service through written communications, reporting and meeting support
- Maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of client and prospect activity, including relationship status, opportunity assessments and next steps, within the firm's CRM systems
- Ensuring all client, distributor and prospect engagement complies with the applicable regulatory requirements in each jurisdiction and with Baillie Gifford's approved Japan operating model
- Ensuring effective internal communication with colleagues managing clients with similar needs and interests
Qualifications
- Investment Management Certificate, or a willingness to work towards this
Your knowledge and experience
- A native Japanese speaker, with developed written and verbal communication skills in both English and Japanese, conveying information accurately, with candour and empathy. Just as important is the ability to actively listen, seek to understand client concerns and tailor responses accordingly.
- Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish credibility, understand client needs and foster long-term partnerships.
- Experience as an investor, investment professional, portfolio manager, analyst or product specialist or in another client facing investment role would be advantageous, particularly where this has involved representing equity investment strategies to clients, presenting investment ideas and contributing to regular investment reporting. We also welcome applications from candidates with other relevant backgrounds.
- Strong investment knowledge, together with a genuine interest in financial markets, and the confidence to discuss investment ideas and represent investment strategies with clients within agreed regulatory parameters.
- Inquisitive about our place in the industry and how our approach differs from norms. Ability to articulate this and its relevance to clients.
- Proactive and self-driven at work and in your personal development
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage time effectively, multitask and work to deadlines.
- Flexibility and enthusiasm to participate as part of a small team to achieve a common goal. Can work well with colleagues across the department and wider firm.
The type of candidate that we're looking for:
We are looking for an experienced relationship manager or investment professional who can demonstrate an enthusiasm and desire to work with a varied group of clients, including our Japanese business partner, institutional clients and retail distributors. To be successful in the role you will bring strong relationship-building skills, sound investment knowledge and the ability to quickly establish credibility with clients and represent Baillie Gifford’s investment strategies with confidence. You will be commercially aware, able to adapt easily to changing requirements and communicate complex investment ideas clearly and effectively. With a strong sense of proactivity and responsibility, you will work effectively as part of a small team, taking ownership of outcomes and paying close attention to detail. You will be keen to develop your knowledge of the Japanese market and, above all, put clients at the heart of everything you do.
Critical skills:
- Team Working
- Adaptability
- Nurture relationships
This position is subject to regulatory requirements on knowledge and competence. As a result, the successful candidate’s qualification(s) and/or experience will be assessed against our knowledge and competency framework.
Closing Date
August 26, 2026
Should you choose to use AI tools to support your application, we ask that you do this thoughtfully. We encourage you to ensure your application reflects your own voice, experience, and motivations. We value authenticity and want to understand your individual strengths and perspectives.
At Baillie Gifford, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful culture in which each of our colleagues can thrive and develop. We believe that our clients are best served by a diverse workforce with the experiences, ideas and perspectives that this brings.
If you are currently working at Baillie Gifford as an employee or contractor please apply to this job from the firm's Workday internal career site.
