Key Account Manager
On this page
- What's it like to be a Key Account Manager?
- How to become a Key Account Manager
- Latest Key Account Manager jobs
- Top skills and experience for Key Account Managers
- Key Account Manager role reviews
What's it like to be a Key Account Manager?
Key Account Managers handle relationships between an organisation and its key accounts, which are often the accounts which generate the most income. They act as a primary point of contact, manage and resolve issues on their clients’ behalf and look for opportunities to grow sales from existing and new accounts. Key Account Managers need good interpersonal skills and business acumen. They work for business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) organisations in many industries.
Tasks and duties
- Developing a trusting relationship between key clients and the organisation.
- Understanding the client’s needs.
- Anticipating client needs.
- Managing the internal communications between clients and the teams in the organisation.
- Managing the account team assigned to work for the client.
- Negotiating contracts with the client and establishing initiative timelines.
- Managing client budgets.
- Acting as the voice of the customer when liaising with internal teams to ensure initiatives meet requirements.
- Liaise with the sales team to ensure maximum upselling and cross-selling is achieved.
How to become a Key Account Manager
You can become a Key Account Manager without formal training, but sales experience is usually required.
Get experience in an entry-level sales role in an industry of your choice. You could start as a Sales Consultant.
Consider completing a qualification, such as a New Zealand Certificate in Sales (Level 3) or New Zealand Diploma in Business (Sales and Marketing) (Level 5).
Alternatively, consider completing a bachelor degree majoring in commerce, business or a related field. This usually takes three years of full-time study and may provide broader career options.
Develop experience across one or more account management roles.
