Account Manager

Want to manage the accounts of new and existing clients? Then a career as an Account Manager could be the job for you. Read all about what it takes to be an Account Manager and all the skills needed to be successful in this role.

Job Responsibilities

As an Account Manager you main priority will be your clients. Professional communicating with clients not only be good for business but it also allows for great client relationships. 

As the job title says you will be managing clients financial accounts. This mean you will be maintain and watch all things that are related to your clients accounts. 

By being an account manager you will have to work with all departments related to finance. This will help increase business and make for high productivity. The more people that work together the quicker work gets done. 

You might have an idea of how to do something differently or perhaps a new strategy to help your clients and company. These ideas will need to be presented to other team members. 

Reports are a big part of maintaining client reports. All reports are seen by higher personal or might even need to be presented to be audited.

What to Study

Business Management Office Admin Higher Certificate

If you want to learn how to manage a business, then studying our accredited ICB Higher Certificate Business Management Office Administration is your best bet.
View Courses

Business Management Financial Accounting Diploma

Pave the way for a successful career as a business professional with our ICB National Diploma: Financial Accounting in Business Management. Learn the tricks of the trade with us.
View Courses

Small Business Financial Management Certificate

Managing a business is no easy feat. But our accredited ICB Small Business Financial Management Course will equip you with the skills you need to start your own business.
View Courses

What is an Account Manager?

Account manager facing the big windows in the officeBeing an account manager is all about maintaining healthy relationships with your clients.This means ensuring that the relationship between clients and the company is supported, which will allow the clients to be satisfied with the company’s services. This also allows the company to be successful.

They also look for more clients with the help of the sales and the marketing department.

What Does an Account Manager do?

There are various duties account managers do on a daily basis. These duties includes being able to:

  • Communicate with clients
  • Manage client accounts
  • Work alongside marketing and sales department
  • Prepare for presentations, sales pitches and meeting
  • Manages accounts of clients
  • Negotiate contracts for increased profit
  • Maintain sales quota
  • Prepare reports on accounts

Benefits of Being an Account Manager

There are many advantages of being an account manager: Below are some of the benefits you can enjoy while working in this field.

Maintain Client Relationships

When the clients are happy, everyone is happy. Your business depends on the quality services you deliver to your customers. When they are satisfied, they will return which will allow you to build relationships with your clients. 

No day is the Same

Think your will have the same boring day to day activities? Think again. You have a variety of different duties everyday. This makes your job challenging yet exciting. With the variety of duties ranging from office, marketing and sales, you won’t be stuck doing the same thing over and over again. 

Endless Amount of Experience

As you work alongside so many departments, doing different tasks everyday, you will gain an endless amount of experience. Having a wide variety of knowledge will easily allow you to become a sought after account manager.

How to Become an Account Manager

Accounts managers in a meetingSkills Academy offers you the opportunity to learn all the skills needed to become a successful account manager. Our ICB Business Management Diploma courses will teach you how to effectively manage clients and business-related strategies. Our ICB Business Management Diploma courses are also accredited. 

This means it is nationally recognised. With this Diploma, you stand a better chance of becoming employed.

Skills Needed in This Career

Account managers need a wide variety of skills in order to be able to complete their daily tasks. Below are a few of the skills needed in this field.

Technical Skills

These include the skills acquired through working in this field.

  • Networking skills
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Good computer skills
  • Customer service skills
  • Ability to negotiate effectively

Soft Skills

These are the characteristics presented by an account manager. 

  • Interpersonal skills
  • Organisational skills
  • Ability to multitask
  • Time management skills
  • Leadership skills

Salary Expectancy

As an account manager, your salary depends on your experience. It also depends on the field in which you are working. Below are some of the average monthly salaries of account managers:

Account manager: R 21 778  

Junior account manager: R11 323

Senior account manager: R27 613 

Difference Between an Account Manager and Sales Manager

Sales and account managers often work together to meet company goals. In certain aspects, account managers fulfill the duties of a sales manager, making an account manager extremely versatile in the workplace. However, there is a key difference between the two jobs.

Sales managers get new clients by looking at various ways to fulfil the needs of the client. Account managers work with sales managers to maintain the accounts of existing and new clients. They come up with ideas to make sure that they keep the client happy with the best possible services.

Can’t Wait to Start your Career as an Account Manager?

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  • Call us for free on 0800 39 00 27.
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Author: Charnell Ward
Last Updated: May 07, 2020