What is an Account Manager? Everything you need to know to start your career
GREAT at organising? Get on with everyone? Then an Account Manager role could be just the job for you.
Account managers serve as the liaison between companies and their customers, making it a vital position in hundreds of different industries.
It’s your responsibility to address customers’ needs and concerns, to build the relationship with the client and to bring in new business from them too.
It’s an essential job which takes a special mix of skills, so it’s no surprise that it pays well too.
The average salary is £40,260 and it can be a solid stepping stone to senior management.
With around 38,000 vacancies nationally, now is a great time to make the move into account management.
Here are Sun Jobs top tips to get you started.
What does an Account Manager do?
As the first point of contact at a company for clients, you’ll be providing outstanding customer service and ensuring all their needs are met.
Duties will include producing proposals to suit their requirements, managing budgets and payments, keeping clients up to date on new products or services of interest to them and ensuring your company is providing the service or products they are paying for.
Depending on the size of you firm and what business you’re in, you may have a single client or multiple accounts.
How do I get an Account Manager job?
Most roles sit within the sales or marketing department of a firm.
There are two main routes in, either as a graduate role or by taking an entry-level position such as an assistant and working your way up.
What skills will I need?
Lots! First and foremost, you’ll need to be a deep listener to understand what the client really wants and have great admin skills to note it down correctly.
Then you’ll need organisational, admin and people skills to make it happen.
Diplomacy and empathy is valued too as occasionally you’ll need to manage expectations between the client and your business and even push back on what the client wants.
How I can I progress in an Account Management career?
Account Management is essentially a business diplomacy job – you are juggling what two opposing sets of people need and finding an outcome suitable for both.
This ability to build long-term relationships is highly prized and can take you straight to the boardroom.
To develop you career, work on over-delivering for your firm while staying within budget and move up to an account director role.
If you’re serious about climbing the career ladder, consider taking a professional business qualification.
Find out more at cim.co.uk/training/list-courses/key-account-management-kam-masterclass/
Ready to hold yourself to account? Here are the Sun Jobs pick of the week for the top account management positions.
Account Manager, Octagon, London
Put yourself in pole position for a fast-track career
The Job: Octagon is looking for an Account Manager to join its motorsports team, managing the client’s partnership within the world of Formula One.
What You’ll Do: As Account Manager, you’ll support the Account Director and collaborate with the wider team in the delivery of the client’s VIP hospitality motorsports programme and global stakeholder management.
As well as asset and partnership management, and supplier management, including the development of VIP guest programmes and onsite delivery as required throughout the motorsport season.
You’ll Need: A degree qualification or equivalent; solid agency experience working in a similar role.
Ideally with experience in the motorsports hospitality arena; and high-level Microsoft Office skills, with the ability to present, both internally and externally.
Fluency in a second language – German, French, Italian or Spanish – would be an advantage.
Apply Now: See further details of this Account Manager role, along with other opportunities at Octagon, here.
Key Account Manager, Global-e, London
Slick as sales? This exciting role in a global e-commerce firm will see you take on the world.
The Job: Global-e is recruiting a Key Account Manager to work on a hybrid remote basis – three days in-office and two days remote – to ensure the long-term success of Global-e’s clients in the UK.
What You’ll Do: As Key Account Manager, you’ll be responsible for developing long-term relationships with Global-e’s portfolio of assigned clients, connecting with key business executives and driving revenue by growing the existing business.
You’ll Need: The successful candidate will have at least three years’ experience in an account management or customer success manager role; prior B2B experience in a software, logistics or SaaS company; and the proven ability to manage multiple projects at once.
Apply Now: For more on this Key Account Manager role, and more vacancies at Global-e, click here.
Account Manager, Havas Group, London
Havas you got what it takes to join this exciting ad and pr agency?
The Job: Havas Group is searching for an Account Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day management of assigned accounts.
What You’ll Do: The Account Manager will manage and coordinate client projects, from the planning stages through to completion; serve as the daily contact between agency and client; effectively executive strategies, problem-solve and develop solid business relationships; and provide client service support.
You’ll Need: The ideal candidate will have previous experience in account management, ideally in a client servicing or media strategy role.
Apply Now: Fill out your application for this Account Manager role here, and check out further vacancies with Havas Group.
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