Channel Manager - National Accounts

CheckFire Ltd; Bedwas; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + Christmas shutdown

Profit sharing

Pension scheme

Employee assistance program

Digital GP access

Free parking

Modern onsite facilities

Job summary

CheckFire Ltd in the United Kingdom seeks a commercially astute National Accounts leader to own and grow the National Accounts channel across three core sectors, including Private Equity-backed buy & build businesses, trade and omnichannel customers.

Reporting to the Group Sales Director, you will lead the commercial team and manage a portfolio of strategic accounts, delivering revenue, margin improvements and strong customer relationships. Salary up to £70,000 p.a. plus car and bonus.

Qualifications

• You will ideally have a proven background in National Account Management.
• Experience managing Trade, B2B, Retail, Ecommerce, Pure Player or Omnichannel customers.
• Strong new business development and account growth experience.
• Experience leading National Account Managers and Key Account Managers.
• Excellent stakeholder management and data‑driven decision making.
• Experience delivering forecasts, business plans and budget performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the National Account Channel across three defined sales verticals.
• Develop and implement channel strategy to grow sales and margins.
• Manage the external and internal National Account Channel commercial team.
• Foster relationships with PE-backed and acquisition-led customers.
• Produce reporting and maintain commercial policy across accounts.
• Recruit, coach and develop team members to build capability.

Skills

National Account Management

New business development

Account growth

Stakeholder management

Data‑driven decision making

Negotiation

Relationship building

CRM systems

E-commerce / omnichannel

Forecasting & budgeting

Tools

HubSpot

Job description

Salary: up to £70,000 per annum + Car + Bonus

About us

CheckFire – serving the fire trade since 1975. With 50 years’ experience in the Fire Safety, nobody knows the trade better. We have established a proven track record of excellence and have earned the respect of our customers by delivering quality products and dependable service. As the market leader in the Fire Trade, we offer an unparalleled level of capability and reliability. Our stocks are enormous, our service is personal, and our promises are genuine.

About the role

Reporting to the Group Sales Director, you will take ownership of our National Accounts channel, leading a talented commercial team while managing a portfolio of strategic accounts across three core sectors:

• National Fire & Security (Private Equity-backed "Buy & Build" businesses)
• National Fire & Security and Trade Accounts
• Retail, Pure Player and Omnichannel Accounts

You will be responsible for developing and executing the channel strategy, strengthening existing customer relationships, identifying opportunities for growth, and delivering sustainable revenue and margin improvements.

Given the importance of our PE-backed and acquisition-led customer base, you will also directly manage a selection of key strategic accounts.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the National Account Channel across the three defined sales verticals.
• Work with the Group Sales Director and wider business stakeholders to identify opportunities for increased sales and/or margins e.g., by broadening the range of products & services supplied to customers.
• Manage the external and internal National Account Channel commercial team.
• Proven understanding of Pure Player customers, with the agility to optimize commercial return.
• Consolidate strategic partnership status in selected accounts.
• Business planning : define the business plan in place for the National Account Channel, collate appropriate information to present a plan & performance data to achieve budgeted sales, and ensure plan is maintained for regular QBR forums.
• Financial & demand forecasting – S&OP.
• Attainment of agreed budgeted targets based across a mix of new business, existing business and additional revenue streams.
• Conduct customer GAP analysis to identify further opportunities within customer base.
• Manage own journey planning and appointment setting, with journey plan in place to support the National Account team, and customer visits as required.
• Foster, develop and deliver excellent customer relationships,
• particularly within the PE/"Buy & Build" landscape.
• Promote all AFD products & services, eg Recycling, Supply Chain Solutions, Showroom, and Training Academy.
• Produce accurate, meaningful and timely reporting for the Group Sales Director.
• Own & implement and maintain effective commercial policy across all accounts.
• Recruit, coach, develop and support colleagues in the teams to ensure they have the skills and competences required.

We're looking for a commercially astute leader who can combine strategic thinking with hands‑on account management expertise.

You will ideally have:

• A proven background in National Account Management.
• Experience managing Trade, B2B, Retail, Ecommerce, Pure Player or Omnichannel customers.
• Strong new business development and account growth experience.
• Experience leading National Account Managers and Key Account Managers.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence at all levels.
• Strong commercial awareness with a data‑driven approach to decision making.
• Experience delivering sales forecasts, business plans and budget performance.
• The ability to analyse performance data and identify growth opportunities.
• Excellent negotiation and relationship‑building skills.
• Experience working within fast‑paced, evolving commercial environments.
• Fire protection, life safety, security or technical product sector experience.
• Exposure to Private Equity-backed organisations and "Buy & Build" customer structures.
• Experience working with CRM platforms such as HubSpot.
• Understanding of ecommerce trading, online sales performance, pricing and promotional strategies.

In return we offer the following benefits:

• 25 days holiday + up to 4 days for Christmas Shutdown + Bank Holidays
• Profit Sharing - Receive a percentage of your salary based on the company achieving EBITDA results
• Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme with Royal London
• EAP Provider with TELUS Health
• Access to Digital GP Appointments and medical professionals
• Free parking including electric charge points
• Excellent and modern onsite facilities including free tea, coffee and fruit