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As sales professionals, key account managers support key customers and act as their permanent contact persons. In doing so, they make an important contribution to the development of new markets and help ensure their company’s success on a long-term basis.
Be it medium-sized mechanical engineering companies or large groups operating in the consumer goods sector – key account managers are needed by companies from almost every industry. They are experienced sales managers who organise and coordinate all communication processes between companies and customers. They are particularly in demand when it comes to the sale of complex products and services. IT companies, automotive suppliers and manufacturers of food and consumer goods currently offer excellent job prospects to key account managers. Pharmaceutical manufacturers, companies specialising in life sciences as well as financial service providers are looking for experienced key account managers, too.
Key account managers act as interfaces between their company and its major customers and thus hold a key position in the sales area. They work in close collaboration with other sales managers to develop an efficient customer strategy, taking into consideration the targets set by the management board with regard to the annual turnover to be generated via the key accounts.
To work as a key account manager, long-term professional experience in sales, e.g. as a sales manager, is generally required. Besides, specialist knowledge is needed in many industries: candidates wanting to work in the mechanical engineering or IT industry, for instance, must have extensive technical expertise. Most employers want their key account managers to have an academic degree in business administration or engineering.
In addition, key account managers need to have certain soft skills:
As key account managers need to be highly skilled, their annual starting salaries are correspondingly high, amounting to between EUR 70,000 and EUR 80,000. Depending on the company size and the importance of the supported customer, experienced key account managers may earn well over EUR 100,000 per year. Performance-based salary components are common in this profession.
Key account managers work in an exciting environment and have a very varied range of tasks involving a high level of responsibility.
We will be happy to assist you in finding an attractive position that perfectly matches your professional and personal skills. Click here to find out more about our current job offers for key account managers.
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