Sales Account Manager

Berkmann Wine Cellars; Brighton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading wine importer and distributor in Brighton is seeking a Sales Account Manager to drive profitable growth in the sales sector. The role is ambassadorial, focusing on managing key accounts and promoting prestigious wine brands. Candidates should have proven sales experience and significant wine knowledge, along with strong interpersonal skills and a full UK driving licence. Competitive salary and benefits are offered in a collaborative team environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary and bonus

Company car

25 days annual leave

Company pension

Generous staff discount on wine

Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay

Qualifications

• Proven on trade sales experience is essential.
• Strong wine knowledge, with WSET Level 2 or higher required.
• Full UK driving licence is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Achieve and exceed sales targets.
• Identify and onboard new profitable accounts.
• Provide accurate market feedback for planning.

Skills

Proven on trade sales experience

Strong wine knowledge, WSET Level 2 minimum

Experience selling luxury or premium brands

Analytical, commercially astute

Creative thinker with strong negotiation skills

Proficient in Microsoft Office

Job description

Are you a passionate wine professional with a strong sales acumen and a flair for building lasting relationships? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment where your ideas and initiative matter? Come join us, the UK’s leading family-owned wine importer and distributor, and take your sales career to the next level.

About Us

Berkmann Wine Cellars is proud to represent one of the most respected and diverse portfolios in the UK wine trade, featuring iconic producers from across the globe — from family-owned estates in Italy, France, and Spain to pioneering New World wineries in Argentina, South Africa, and beyond. Our exclusive agency brands are widely admired in the on-trade sector for their quality, authenticity, and innovation.

The Role

We are seeking a dynamic and commercially minded Sales Account Manager to drive profitable growth across Brighton and surrounding areas. This is more than just a sales role – it is an ambassadorial position, representing the Berkmann portfolio and our prestigious agency brands in the South of England.

You will be responsible for winning and managing a designated account base, driving profitability, identifying new business opportunities, and bringing our brands to life through tastings, events, and strategic brand activities. You will also work closely with our Marketing, Logistics, and Finance teams to deliver an exceptional end-to-end customer experience.

Your Responsibilities (include but are not limited to)

• Achieve and exceed volume, value, and margin sales targets
• Identify and onboard profitable new accounts without compromising existing sectors
• Develop strong, trust-based relationships with key stakeholders in trade accounts
• Act as a confident brand ambassador, hosting tastings and supporting after-hours events
• Provide accurate forecasting and market feedback to support planning and logistics
• Manage pricing, promotional investment, and account-level profitability
• Use customer data to optimise sales strategies and stock management
• Champion collaboration between Berkmann, our producers, and customers
• Keep the business informed with timely competitor and market insights
• Support portfolio development based on customer and market trends

What We Are Looking For

• Proven on trade sales experience
• Strong wine knowledge, WSET Level 2 minimum
• Experience selling luxury or premium brands is highly advantageous
• Comfortable interpreting market data
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Experience working with brand owners and developing go-to-market strategies
• Analytical, commercially astute, and numerate – comfortable with pricing models and P&L interpretation
• A persuasive communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and confidence to influence at all levels
• Creative thinker with strong negotiation skills and a solutions-driven mindset
• Organised, proactive, and resilient – thrives in a results-driven team
• Full UK driving licence

Why Join Us?

At Berkmann Wine Cellars, we don’t just sell wine — we champion world-class producers. Our portfolio tells a story of provenance, passion, and partnership. We offer a collaborative, forward-thinking environment where your expertise and creativity will be valued. If you’re eager to represent some of the most distinctive and award-winning wine brands in the world, whilst growing your career with a market leader, this is the role for you.

Working Pattern

This is a full-time role, working 37.5 hours per week, typically Monday to Friday between 9 : 00am and 5 : 30pm. However, given the nature of our clients in the hospitality sector, flexibility is essential — evening and occasional weekend work will be required to support customer needs, events, and tastings. Some activities may also involve international travel, so a valid passport is necessary.

Location

This is a field based position in Brighton.

How to Apply

This is a key role within our business, therefore if you are interested please select the ‘Apply Now’ button.

Closing date

Please note that should any suitable CVs be received whilst the advert is live then individuals will be invited to interview.

Offer

• Competitive salary and bonus
• Company car
• 25 days annual leave rising to 26 days after 5 years’ service and 27 days after 10 years’ service, plus bank holidays
• Company pension
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
• Contribution to Dental Costs
• Generous staff discount on our wine
• A bottle of wine on your birthday and Berkmann anniversary
• £500 referral scheme

We cannot consider your application if you do not have the legal right to work in the UK. You must also satisfy the required knowledge and experience criteria detailed above.

Equal consideration will be given to all candidates, irrespective of their gender, race, disability, marital status, religion, age or sexuality.

No agencies please – We thank you for your interest in working with Berkmann Wine Cellars, however, we have our own internal HR and Recruitment team who support our recruiting needs. We will not pay fees or acknowledge any CV’s supplied to Berkmann Wine Cellars unless you have been briefed on the role by a member of our HR Team. Thank you for your understanding in advance.

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