A senior account manager is ultimately responsible for increasing sales, despite the fact that he or she is a company representative who provides excellent customer service to top clients. He or she must spend time analyzing each client’s needs communicating with his or her contact person in order to grow the company’s most profitable accounts. Senior account managers cultivate client relationships while also securing new business. They must also coordinate top customer accounts keeping track of orders, back orders, and shipping information using a computer database system.
A senior account manager’s job entails keeping track of the activity on key customer accounts. By learning what a specific company orders and when it orders it, he or she can better serve that account recommending additional products that can help the company save time or money. Because the senior, or key, account manager is typically in charge of a larger client workload than the other representatives, an accurate tracking system is required. Account managers can also keep adequate amounts of client information on hand with such computer software systems, making account follow-up easier.
A senior account manager must follow up on client orders on a regular basis. This entails evaluating customer satisfaction with both the delivery service and the products. Senior account managers frequently travel to meet with the company’s top clients, both locally and nationally, or even internationally. These face-to-face interactions can help to strengthen client relationships as well as introduce new products or services. Senior account managers are frequently required to give client presentations.
Senior account managers are frequently involved in price negotiations with clients. To do so effectively, they must first check competitors’ prices on similar products, then negotiate with clients for a lower price based on increased order quantities or other criteria. A senior account manager may work out a standing order with a client, which is a set amount of products delivered on a regular basis.
Senior account managers are usually required to attend department meetings on a regular basis. A sales manager may be his or her boss. A senior account manager’s job may include attending sales seminars or luncheons. Senior account managers may be required to grow key accounts a certain percentage each month or over a specific time period. Because account managers frequently earn bonuses, they must usually first meet quotas before receiving a bonus for increasing client sales.