National Account Manager

The Sterling Choice; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sterling Choice is seeking an experienced National Account Manager in Manchester. In this hybrid role, you'll take full commercial responsibility for national retail accounts, emphasizing account growth and strategic planning. The ideal candidate has experience in FMCG and a strong grasp of P&L ownership. This position offers the opportunity to genuinely influence customer strategy and drive commercial growth across accounts. You will collaborate cross-functionally and lead strategic customer meetings.

Qualifications

• Experience managing national retail accounts within FMCG.
• Comfortable working in a margin-focused environment.
• Ability to build relationships internally and externally.

Responsibilities

• Owning national retail accounts with full commercial responsibility.
• Building and delivering Joint Business Plans.
• Managing pricing, contracts, and commercial negotiations.
• Leading customer meetings and strategic reviews.

Skills

Managing national retail accounts

Strong commercial awareness

Building relationships

P&L ownership

Job description

Manchester (Hybrid)

This isn’t a role where you inherit a quiet account base and spend your week “checking in” with customers.

You’ll be owning national retail accounts with full commercial responsibility — sales, margin, strategy, negotiations, the lot.

A proper NAM role with visibility and influence.

The role

It’s a mix of account growth, strategic planning, and making sure opportunities actually turn into revenue.

You’ll be:

• Building and delivering Joint Business Plans
• Managing pricing, contracts, margin and commercial negotiations
• Working cross-functionally with finance, operations, supply chain and category teams
• Leading customer meetings and strategic reviews
• Driving volume and margin growth across the accounts
• Monitoring sales performance and identifying opportunities for improvement

What they’re looking for:

• Experience managing national retail accounts within FMCG
• Private label experience helps, but not essential
• Strong commercial awareness and confidence around P&L ownership
• Comfortable working in a margin-focused environment
• Someone who can build relationships internally and externally without relying on job titles to do the work for them

If you want a role where you can genuinely influence customer strategy and commercial growth — rather than just maintain an account — it’s worth a conversation.