William J.
Senior Business Development Specialist
Open to offersNew to PlatformAbout
William J. is a seasoned Business Development Specialist with over 20 years of experience in financial systems, business strategy, and stakeholder engagement, predominantly in South Africa. He has co-founded an agricultural startup and excelled in corporate partnership development, thriving in environments focused on CSI/SED program positioning and proposal management. Currently, he holds a key role at The Olive Exchange, where he identifies and secures impactful corporate partnerships, aligning them with community-driven initiatives and B-BBEE compliance. Previously, as Finance Manager at MaxiMicrogreens, William secured funding and established revenue streams, building strong relations with investors such as the Women's Peace & Development Initiative. His background includes substantial experience in finance systems, having been a Business Analyst at Ackermans. His technical proficiency encompasses tools like SAP, JIRA, SharePoint, and Microsoft 365. William continues to leverage his skills in financial planning, investor relations, and market analysis to drive business success and community growth.
Experience
Business Development Specialist
The Olive Exchange · 2026 — PresentIdentified, engaged, and secured corporate partnerships that support community impact initiatives with a CSI/SED focus. Developed strategic proposals for enterprise decision-makers and managed the full partnership sales cycle from stakeholder identification to negotiation and signature. Aligned the social mission of The Olive Exchange with corporate CSI strategies and B-BBEE requirements while building relationships with C-suite directors and finance teams. Conducted market analysis to uncover corporate partnership opportunities and refined proposals based on stakeholder feedback, ensuring compliance with corporate standards.Co-Founder & Finance Manager
MaxiMicrogreens (Pty) Ltd. · 2023 — 2025Led efforts in business development to enhance market reach and establish sustainable revenue streams. Engaged with investors from the Women's Peace & Development Initiative for funding and maintained ongoing relations. Developed financial strategies and budgets to secure investor commitments while negotiating supplier agreements and forming partnerships with local markets and restaurants. Implemented financial controls to align with agricultural and financial regulations and spearheaded initiatives for profitability and sustainability.Business Analyst – Finance Systems
Ackermans (Division of Pepkor Pty Ltd.) · 2021 — 2023Managed business process change requests, including risk assessments and stakeholder impact analyses. Led the JIRA Self-Service Project implementation, enhancing system accessibility. Conducted sessions to engage stakeholders and align business needs with IT solutions, facilitated system integration, and cared for user acceptance testing (UAT) alongside post-implementation optimization. Developed specifications and process documentation for system enhancements while providing change management support and user training.Overhead Creditors Clerk
Ackermans · 2018 — 2021Processed and reconciled invoices, ensuring accurate VAT calculations and supplier verification. Managed cash flow allocations and scheduled supplier payments while maintaining financial control documentation through general ledger reconciliations. Ensured financial accuracy and compliance within a high-volume transactional environment.
Skills & Expertise
Education
- DiplomaChartered Institute of Business Management · — — 2001
- MatricSt. Columba's High School
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