Key Account Manager

Distinct Consultancy; Basingstoke; Remote; GBP 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

OTE included (£15-20k)

Job summary

Distinct Consultancy Group is seeking a commercially driven Key Account Manager to develop a portfolio of regional and group accounts in the South East from a home-based base near Basingstoke. The role blends strategic account management with proactive new business development, targeting multi-site operators and buying groups to maximise sales and profitability.

The position offers 60% account management and 40% new business work, plus a generous package including an OTE of £15–20k, a £7,250 car

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a field-based sales, account management or business development role.
• Experience in foodservice, wholesale, FMCG or related B2B environments.
• Ability to manage large group accounts with multi-site complexity.
• Track record of winning new business and growing existing accounts.
• Strong commercial awareness: margins, pricing and profitability.
• Excellent negotiation, presentation and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to develop and deliver customer business plans.
• Strong communication skills and ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of regional and group accounts across the South East.
• Identify and secure new business opportunities, including accounts with high spend potential.
• Build relationships with key decision-makers across multi-site businesses and buying groups.
• Grow spend and increase product penetration and share of wallet.
• Collaborate with national account teams to implement group-wide plans.
• Deliver customer presentations, business reviews and product initiatives.
• Develop commercially viable proposals and negotiate contracts where needed.
• Coordinate with depot and telesales teams to maximise opportunities and service levels.
• Monitor performance and profitability through margin and cost-to-serve analysis.
• Foster long-term partnerships with customers and internal stakeholders.

Skills

Field-based sales

Account management

Business development

Negotiation

Presentation

Relationship building

Excel

PowerPoint

Remote work

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Key Account Manager + £(phone number removed)k + £15-20K OTE + £7,250 car allowance + 33 days holiday (inc BH)

Location: Home-based - Basingstoke / South East region

Are you a commercially driven sales professional with experience in foodservice, wholesale or FMCG? Do you enjoy developing major customer relationships, winning new business and finding opportunities to grow existing accounts?

We are recruiting a Key Account Manager to join one of the UK's leading foodservice wholesalers, managing and developing a portfolio of regional and group accounts across the South East.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys a combination of strategic account management and business development, working with established customer groups, buying consortia and multi-site operators to maximise sales, profitability and long-term commercial partnerships.

With an established customer base and significant opportunities for growth, this role offers the chance to make a real commercial impact.

The Key Account Manager role:

This is a varied, field-based position, with approximately 60% account management and 40% new business development.

You will be responsible for managing existing customer relationships, identifying opportunities to increase spend and winning significant new business, particularly with end-user accounts operating across multiple sites.

Working closely with National Account Managers, depot teams, telesales, product specialists and manufacturers, you will develop tailored commercial solutions that deliver value for customers and profitable growth for the business.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Managing and developing a portfolio of regional and group accounts, achieving agreed sales, margin and cash contribution targets.
• Identifying and securing new business opportunities, particularly accounts with an annual potential value of £50k+.
• Developing relationships with key decision-makers across multi-site businesses, buying groups and consortium accounts.
• Growing existing customer spend by identifying opportunities to increase product penetration and share of wallet.
• Working with national account teams on group-wide business plans and customer development strategies.
• Delivering customer presentations, business reviews, exhibitions and product or category development initiatives.
• Developing commercially viable proposals, managing pricing and negotiating contracts where appropriate.
• Working collaboratively with depot and telesales teams to maximise customer opportunities and service levels.
• Monitoring account performance, identifying growth opportunities and ensuring profitability through effective margin and cost-to-serve management.
• Building strong relationships with customers and internal stakeholders to deliver long-term commercial success.

About You

We are looking for an ambitious and commercially aware sales professional who understands how to develop customer relationships, identify opportunities and convert them into profitable business.

Ideally, you will have:

• Proven experience in a field-based sales, account management or business development position.
• Experience within foodservice, food wholesale, FMCG or a related B2B environment.
• The ability to manage and develop larger group accounts, ideally involving multiple sites.
• A successful track record of winning new business and growing existing customer accounts.
• Strong commercial awareness, including an understanding of margins, pricing and profitability.
• Excellent negotiation, presentation and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to develop and deliver effective customer business plans.
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to engage with stakeholders at all levels.
• Good IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• A self-motivated and organised approach, with the ability to manage your own workload while working remotely.