National Account Manager

Bell Recruitment; Belfast; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A premium brand-building business is seeking a National Account Manager (NI) to drive business growth in Belfast. The role involves developing customer business plans and maintaining strong relationships with key clients. Ideal candidates will have extensive sales experience, specifically within the FMCG sector, and demonstrate strong negotiation and analytical skills. This position offers opportunities for innovation and leadership in a collaborative environment, focusing on delivering revenue targets and managing accounts effectively.

Qualifications

• Extensive sales and customer management experience within retail or wholesale channels.
• Proven FMCG experience, especially in the food and drink sector.
• Strong commercial awareness with excellent negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute customer business plans to deliver revenue targets.
• Build and maintain relationships with key customers.
• Identify new growth opportunities within assigned accounts.

Skills

Sales and customer management experience

FMCG experience

Negotiation skills

Analytical and problem-solving capability

Stakeholder management skills

IT proficiency

Planning and organisational skills

Entrepreneurial approach

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

Job Title: National Account Manager (NI)

Reports To: Commercial Director / Head of Sales

Overview

We are a premium brand-building business operating across the Irish FMCG market, focused on developing and growing high-quality brands through strong customer partnerships and innovative commercial strategies. We are seeking a National Account Manager (NI) to accelerate business growth across a designated customer base by building strong commercial relationships and delivering customer-focused business plans across a portfolio of categories and brands.

This role works closely with Brand, Trade Marketing, Business Development, Supply Chain, and Commercial Finance teams to deliver sustainable, profitable growth.

Role Purpose

The National Account Manager will be responsible for developing and executing customer business plans, trade activation strategies, and promotional calendars to deliver volume, revenue, and contribution targets across key customers in Northern Ireland.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Performance & Growth

• Deliver annual volume, revenue, and contribution targets across assigned accounts.
• Build, develop, and maintain strong commercial relationships with key customers.
• Proactively identify and open new distribution and growth opportunities.
• Maintain accurate customer price files, including list pricing, promotions, retrospectives, and CPI delivery.
• Work closely with Commercial Finance to manage Joint Business Plans (JBPs) and promotional spend, ensuring optimal ROI.
• Regularly review and analyse promotional and trade spend to drive continuous improvement.

Range, NPD & Availability

• Ensure core and extended ranges are fully available across customers.
• Secure timely listings for all new product development launches.
• Work with Brand and Category teams to identify distribution and sales growth opportunities.

Forecasting, Planning & Supply Chain

• Complete accurate monthly sales forecasts by SKU and forecast centre to support demand planning.
• Collaborate regularly with Supply Chain to positively influence inventory management and service levels.

Internal Collaboration & Communication

• Ensure timely and effective communication with Field Sales teams on customer developments, including listings, promotions, availability, and range reviews.
• Work closely with Brand, Trade Marketing, Insights, and Business Development teams to execute customer plans at store level.

General Responsibilities

• Complete additional tasks and projects as required by management.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Extensive sales and customer management experience within retail or wholesale channels.
• Proven FMCG experience, with food and drink sector experience essential.
• Strong commercial awareness with excellent negotiation skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• High level of IT proficiency, particularly Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Creative and innovative mindset with the ability to think beyond conventional approaches.
• Strong planning, organisational, and leadership skills.
• Resilient, self-starting, and results-driven with an entrepreneurial approach.
• Passion for consumer trends and brand building within the Irish marketplace.