Commercial Account Manager - 12-month FTC

Artifex; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Artifex is seeking a Business Manager for a 12-month FTC in Birmingham. This role involves constructing customer quotations, leading financial negotiations with clients, and supporting commercial initiatives. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in the automotive industry and strong Excel skills.

You will collaborate with teams to ensure project success and meet customer expectations, presenting financial statuses to senior management regularly.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in the automotive industry.
• Working knowledge of new commercial methodologies.
• Strong communication skills at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Construct customer quotations as per business standards.
• Lead financial negotiations and maintain financial status.
• Identify improvement opportunities in costing processes.

Skills

Commercial/Account Management experience

Advanced skills in Excel

Ability to communicate effectively

Adaptability and flexibility

Curiosity in new commercial methodologies

Education

Engineering background

Job description

Artifex Interior Systems is pleased to confirm the below opportunity within our business:

Business Manager – 12-month FTC

Main purpose of the job

• Construct Customer quotations in-line with business standard metrics and documentation for all design changes, both Customer and Company driven.
• Generation and maintenance of the Company Cost & Price System (spreadsheet based) for all changes post nomination/business award level.
• Working with the Programme Development Team (PDT) through the programme introduction life-cycle to ensure Customer expectations are met and managed.
• Attends and leads regular and frequent program meetings with the Customer(s), both on and off‑site.
• Reports the financial position of programmes within the Company's product portfolio.
• Maintains the Company's operating systems relevant to owned actions.
• Supports the commercial aspects of development and implementation of VA/VE ideas to support Artifex's requirements.
• Supports the sales / programme management on the response to new business acquisition RFQ's and programme related RFQ packages.
• Engenders a philosophy of ‘managed' change control through all aspects of the organisation associated with (project and) programme management.

Main missions and results

• Primary cross‑functional interface for the customer(s) and the Company's PDT(s) for financial negotiations in order to define the full scope of the programme(s). Actively foster collaborative working across commercial, programme, finance and engineering teams, ensuring shared understanding and empowerment to deliver programme outcomes.
• Negotiation with the Customer to surpass Company's metrics whilst achieving Customer's pricing expectations.
• Is directly accountable to the Lead Business Manager / Commercial Manager / Business Management Director for the related customer(s) at a core functional level for the successful financial status of all relevant programmes ensuring all agreed Company standard metrics are achieved.
• Support the development of commercial capability within the programme team
• Utilising standard company formats and costing data, responsible for the development of pricing estimates, including part piece price; tooling and capex, whilst maintaining Company metrics.
• Presentation and support of financial status to senior management and/or customer representatives will be routine.
• Apply structured problem‑solving methods to assess cost/price gaps and resolve commercial issues quickly.
• Supports all necessary regular cross‑functional meetings to ensure a sufficiently detailed level of cost communication is maintained.
• Manages, maintains and communicates the programme(s) financial status reporting within company frameworks such as:
• Attendance of the regular programme status PDT meetings.
• Monthly Programme reviews with the appropriate management teams.
• GDLS Phase Management Gateway Review Fresh Eyes reviews.
• GDLS Phase Management Gateway Review Sign Off.
• Monthly Operating Report (MOR).
• Financial Reporting.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve costing/quotation processes and enhance commercial insights

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Substantial experience in the automotive industry in a Commercial/Account Management/Costing role within a regional or global organisation, (preferably with JLR experience).
• An Engineering background would be considered an advantage.
• Demonstrable experience in working with, or curiosity to, new commercial methodologies, data tools and market trends
• Able to work independently as well as within the Team to achieve Department and Business goals.
• Advanced skills in Excel required.
• Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of the Customer and within the Company.
• Adaptability in the location of work including business travel.
• Flexibility to change priorities in response to changing programme / project / management demands.

Note: this is not an exhaustive list. All employees are expected to show flexibility and continued self-development to meet the ever‑changing needs of the business. All job descriptions / vacancy notices will be subject to continual development.

Artifex Interior Systems Limited is an equal opportunities employer committed to eliminating discrimination and fostering an inclusive culture for all. Our aim is that our employees will be truly representative of all sections of society, that they feel respected and able to perform at their best. We are committed to creating an environment in which individual differences and the contributions of all our colleagues is recognised.