- Your challenge!Reporting to the General Sales Manager or the Key Account Manager, the Sales Coordinator’s mission is to support the Sales team in coordination and analysis, ensuring that all necessary data and support documents are available to facilitate customer approach, prospecting and development. You play a key role in the governance and updating of sales master data as well as the coordination and preparation of account planning activities. You actYour challenge!Reporting to the General Sales Manager or the Key Account Manager, the Sales Coordinator’s mission is to support the Sales team in coordination and analysis, ensuring that all necessary data and support documents are available to facilitate customer approach, prospecting and development. You play a key role in the governance and updating of sales master data as well as the coordination and preparation of account planning activities. You act
all about key account manager jobs
Key accounts managers play a vital role. They take on the organization’s top client accounts and it is their role to grow these relationships, provide customer support, and maximize the effectiveness of the relationships now and for the long term. Your ability to manage these key accounts will have a big impact on the company’s bottom line.
You must be a strong relationship builder, have great communications and interpersonal skills, and be able to fully understand clients’ needs and find unique solutions to help them overcome their business issues. Great success in this role will open doors to more senior level sales and marketing positions. Careers in this area look good for the foreseeable future.
what key account manager jobs entail
Key account managers tend to work in a standard office environment full-time. Depending on your employer, you may work remotely or from home from time to time. Work hours may vary based on the type of clients you are managing. Offsite meetings and some travel may be part of the job. In most cases, you will answer to a regional account manager or senior sales executive.
average key account manager salaries
The average annual salary for key accounts managers who work in the sales and marketing industry in Canada is just under $70,000 per year. Due to the flexibility within the role of key accounts manager and the variance in roles and responsibilities, you could make anywhere from $45,000 to $110,000 per year. Having specialized skills or knowledge in a particular area can help increase earning potential. Performance bonuses and employee benefits may also be part of your compensation package.
your day to day tasks
While key account manager roles can vary based on the company or industry you work within, there are a number of common responsibilities that make up the position. Here are some of the tasks that will be expected of you as a key accounts manager:
- build relationships with clients
- work on retention strategies to keep current accounts
- perform detailed research about your clients and their current business needs
- solve customers’ issues
- liaise and network with current and prospective customers
- act as the go-between for the customer and internal sales
- ensure products, services and solutions are delivered
- prepare sales forecasts/reports
- negotiate new contracts
where you can work
Key accounts managers can work for any company and within any industry that is reliant on B2C relationships for business success. While these roles exist across the country, more opportunities exist in large cities such as Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary and other regions with a large business sector.what you bring to the table
While proven experience as a key account manager is an asset, it may not be required by all hiring companies. Some of the key skills you will need to be successful in this role include the following:
- sales management experience
- experience with CRM software
- sales or marketing background
- excellent communication skill
- strong interpersonal and relationship building abilities
- problem solving skills
- ability to think outside the box
- the ability to understand the customer perspective
- negotiation skills
training and certifications
Most hiring companies require candidates to have a university degree in business administration, economics, sales, marketing, or other related fields. A post graduate diploma or certificate, and business or sales certifications are an asset. Sales management experience is preferred. Additional training may be provided if you are hired for the role.
where your career is headed
As a key accounts manager in sales and marketing, you have a variety of career options if you choose to make a move. Many key accounts managers stay within the sales and marketing industry, but move onto roles such as regional sales manager, national sales manager, business development manager, and eventually into senior leadership, VP, and director roles. With experience, many account managers also move into consulting and work independently.