Sales Manager

IRIS; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

IRIS Software Group in Manchester is seeking a hands-on Sales Manager to lead our Inside Sales Accountancy team. You will coach and develop a high-performing group, drive revenue growth and deliver exceptional value to customers in a fast-paced, KPI-driven environment.

The role requires proven B2B sales leadership, strong coaching skills and a track record of achieving targets, with a focus on process improvements and a consultative selling approach.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing and developing a B2B sales team.
• Track record of delivering or exceeding revenue targets.
• Experience in a fast-paced, KPI-driven inside sales or telesales environment.
• Excellent coaching, mentoring and performance management skills.
• Strong commercial awareness, negotiation and sales leadership capabilities.
• Experience managing sales pipelines, forecasting and performance reporting.
• Confidence using CRM systems such as Salesforce.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of Inside Sales Account Development Executives.
• Create a positive, high-performance sales culture built on accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Deliver regular 1-to-1s, coaching sessions, call reviews and performance feedback.
• Identify development opportunities and support individual career progression.
• Manage underperformance, putting clear action plans in place to drive improvement.
• Take ownership of team revenue targets, KPIs and overall sales performance.
• Monitor sales activity, pipeline development, conversion rates and sales results.
• Identify opportunities to improve sales processes, productivity and commercial outcomes.
• Support your team with complex deals, objection handling and closing opportunities.
• Ensure consistent pipeline management and accurate forecasting.
• Develop and implement strategies to maximise sales opportunities within the accountancy software market.
• Use sales data and performance insights to make informed commercial decisions.
• Work closely with senior sales leaders to deliver against wider business objectives.
• Ensure the team takes a proactive, consultative approach to selling, focusing on customer needs and business value.
• Stay informed about market trends, competitor activity and developments within the accountancy software sector.
• Partner with Marketing, Customer Success and other internal teams to maximise sales opportunities.
• Share best practices and introduce initiatives to improve sales effectiveness.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and development of new team members.
• Champion IRIS values and create an inclusive, supportive team environment.

Skills

B2B sales leadership

Revenue targets

Coaching

Forecasting

CRM (Salesforce)

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

About IRIS

IRIS Software Group is one of the UK's largest privately held software companies, trusted by 100,000+ businesses, schools and accountancy firms to keep their operations running. Our software pays 1 in 6 UK's employees, supports over 12,000 schools, and is relied on by 91 of the top 100 UK accountancy firms.

We're a Great Place to Work® certified employer, recognised for our commitment to well-being, inclusion and development - and we're growing fast.

Ready to Lead a High-Performing Sales Team?

Are you a passionate, commercially driven Sales Manager who loves developing people, driving results and creating a winning team culture?

At IRIS Software Group, we're looking for an experienced Sales Manager to lead our Inside Sales Accountancy team in Manchester.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a hands-on sales leader who thrives in a fast-paced, target-driven environment and knows how to bring out the best in their team.

You'll be responsible for leading, coaching and developing a team of sales professionals, driving revenue growth and ensuring we're delivering exceptional results for our customers.

We're looking for someone who can balance strong commercial performance with genuine people leadership – someone who doesn't just manage targets but inspires their team to achieve them.

What You'll Be Doing

Leading & Developing Your Team

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of Inside Sales Account Development Executives.

• Create a positive, high-performance sales culture built on accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

• Deliver regular 1-to-1s, coaching sessions, call reviews and performance feedback.

• Identify development opportunities and support individual career progression.

• Manage underperformance constructively, putting clear action plans in place to drive improvement.

Driving Sales Performance

• Take ownership of team revenue targets, KPIs and overall sales performance.

• Monitor sales activity, pipeline development, conversion rates and sales results.

• Identify opportunities to improve sales processes, productivity and commercial outcomes.

• Support your team with complex deals, objection handling and closing opportunities.

• Ensure consistent pipeline management and accurate forecasting.

Commercial Leadership

• Develop and implement strategies to maximise sales opportunities within the accountancy software market.

• Use sales data and performance insights to make informed commercial decisions.

• Work closely with senior sales leaders to deliver against wider business objectives.

• Ensure the team takes a proactive, consultative approach to selling, focusing on customer needs and business value.

• Stay informed about market trends, competitor activity and developments within the accountancy software sector.

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Partner with Marketing, Customer Success and other internal teams to maximise sales opportunities.

• Share best practices and introduce initiatives to improve sales effectiveness.

• Support recruitment, onboarding and development of new team members.

• Champion IRIS values and create an inclusive, supportive team environment.

What We're Looking For

Essential Experience

• Proven experience managing and developing a B2B sales team.

• A strong track record of delivering or exceeding team revenue targets.

• Experience within a fast-paced, KPI-driven inside sales or telesales environment.

• Excellent coaching, mentoring and performance management skills.

• Strong commercial awareness, negotiation and sales leadership capabilities.

• Experience managing sales pipelines, forecasting and performance reporting.

• Confidence using CRM systems such as Salesforce.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

• A proactive, resilient and results-driven leadership style.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience within SaaS, software or technology sales.

• Knowledge of accountancy, finance or business management software.

• Experience leading teams responsible for new business acquisition.

• Experience driving sales process improvements and increasing conversion rates.

What Will Make You Successful?

You'll be someone who genuinely enjoys leading people and seeing them succeed.

You'll know how to motivate a team, coach individuals with different experience levels and create an environment where people feel supported, challenged and accountable.

You'll also be commercially sharp, confident interpreting sales data and comfortable making decisions that improve performance.

Most importantly, you'll be a hands-on leader who leads by example, celebrates success and isn't afraid to get involved when your team needs support.

Why Join IRIS Software Group?

At IRIS, we develop software solutions that help businesses simplify their processes, improve efficiency and focus on what matters most.

Our accountancy solutions support professionals and businesses with the tools they need to manage their day-to-day operations more effectively.

You'll have the opportunity to lead a sales team, influence commercial performance and play an important role in the continued growth of our accountancy business.

We're committed to making this opportunity accessible to everyone.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Impact: Your work will influence millions globally.

• Growth: Continuous learning and career development opportunities.

• Belonging: A culture that celebrates diversity and empowers every individual.