Account Manager – Internal Sales & Customer Development

Optential; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Optential in Cape Town is seeking an Account Manager – Internal Sales & Customer Development to own customer relationships, drive growth, and deliver exceptional service. You will manage accounts within an assigned portfolio, prepare quotations, and support cross-functional coordination across procurement, warehousing and administration to ensure customer satisfaction.

You will identify growth opportunities, develop account plans, and contribute to the long-term commercial success of the

Qualifications

• Own and grow customer accounts with strong relationship management.
• Prepare quotations and process orders with accuracy.
• Follow up on quotations, inquiries and sales opportunities.
• Develop customer-specific growth opportunities and account plans.

Responsibilities

• Account management within assigned team and geographic zone.
• Prepare quotations, follow up and support product recommendations.
• Ensure timely, accurate feedback and service delivery to customers.
• Drive business development and market intelligence within existing accounts.
• Coordinate with procurement, warehouse and administration teams.
• Possibly visit customers to support account development.

Skills

Account management

Customer relationship

Sales

Quotations

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Account Manager – Internal Sales & Customer Development

Our company is continually refining its sales structure, customer engagement model, account management processes and operational systems. As such, this role is intended to evolve alongside the business, and the successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate flexibility, adaptability and a willingness to grow as responsibilities and requirements develop over time.

We are seeking an individual who views themselves as an Account Manager responsible for customer ownership, relationship development, service excellence and commercial growth, rather than simply an order taker or traditional travelling sales representative. The focus of the role is to build meaningful customer relationships, grow accounts, deliver results and contribute to the long-term success of both the customer and company.

Key Objective
The primary objective of this role is not merely to process customer orders or respond to enquiries, but to take ownership of customer relationships, identify growth opportunities, deliver exceptional service and contribute to the Company's commercial success.
The successful candidate will be expected to actively manage customer accounts, support account growth, maintain strong customer relationships and ensure that all customer requirements are followed through to completion.

Role Scope & Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Account Management

• Managing and developing customer accounts within an assigned team and geographic zone.
• Taking ownership of customer relationships, opportunities, service delivery and account growth within the allocated portfolio.
• Building and maintaining strong long-term customer relationships.
• Developing customer-specific growth opportunities and account plans.
• Monitoring customer buying patterns and identifying opportunities to increase sales and gross profit.
• Assisting with the recovery and reactivation of dormant accounts.
• Supporting the implementation, maintenance and development of Companies Zonebook strategy.
• Conducting regular customer engagement and follow-up activities.

Internal Sales

• Preparing quotations and processing customer orders.
• Following up on quotations, enquiries and sales opportunities.
• Assisting customers with product recommendations and application-based solutions where appropriate.
• Supporting customer retention and account growth initiatives.
• Liaising with customers regarding pricing, stock availability and lead times.
• Coordinating customer requirements with procurement, warehouse and administration teams

Customer Service

• Ensuring customers receive accurate, timely and professional feedback.
• Managing customer expectations responsibly and effectively.
• Resolving customer queries and service-related matters.
• Ensuring customers experience a high level of service throughout all interactions with companies.
• Following through on commitments and maintaining strong customer relationships.

Business Development

• Identifying growth opportunities within existing customer accounts.
• Supporting new business development initiatives where opportunities arise.
• Promoting Agri-Tech's products, services and capabilities.
• Assisting with market intelligence and competitor awareness.
• Supporting management's efforts to maintain companies position as a competitive and market-leading supplier.

Operational Support

• Working closely with procurement, warehouse and management teams.
• Assisting in maintaining service levels and operational efficiency.
• Supporting stock-focused sales initiatives.
• Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives across the sales and operational functions.
• Assisting with administrative and reporting requirements associated with account management activities.

Customer Visits
Customer visits may be required from time to time where such visits contribute to account development, relationship management, opportunity identification, problem resolution or strategic account growth.
Customer visits are considered a tool to support effective account management and service delivery and are not intended to be the primary function of the role.

Team Structure & Customer Ownership
Agri-Tech operates a team-based sales and account management structure.
Customer accounts are allocated to specific teams and geographic zones to ensure accountability, relationship management and effective customer service. While employees will have primary responsibility for servicing and developing customers within their allocated portfolio, all employees are expected to work collaboratively in support of the Company's broader objectives.
The success of the business is dependent on teamwork, knowledge-sharing and a collective commitment to customer service. Accordingly, employees may be required to assist customers, colleagues and other teams where operationally necessary to ensure customer requirements are met and service levels are maintained.
The primary objective is not individual sales activity, but rather the successful management, growth and retention of customer accounts while contributing to the overall sales, profitability and strategic goals of the Company.

Performance Expectations
You will receive clearly defined Key Performance Areas and Key Performance Indicators against which your performance will be measured.
Performance measures may include:

• Customer account growth.
• Gross profit contribution.
• Customer retention.
• Customer engagement and relationship management.
• Follow-up discipline and task completion.
• Sales growth within assigned accounts.
• Quotation and order conversion rates.
• Service delivery and responsiveness.
• Opportunity management and pipeline development.
• Teamwork and collaboration.
• Adherence to Company policies and procedures.

A key requirement of this role is taking ownership of customer accounts and ensuring that enquiries, quotations, sourcing activities, opportunities and customer commitments are followed through to completion.

Role Development
As the company continues to refine and develop its sales, account management and customer engagement strategies, the responsibilities associated with this role may expand and evolve over time.
The successful candidate should therefore be comfortable operating within a dynamic environment and willing to embrace additional responsibilities, training opportunities and career development initiatives as the business continues to grow.

Training & Development
Our company is committed to investing in the development and long-term success of its employees.
The successful candidate will receive ongoing training, coaching and support to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies required to perform effectively within the role and to grow within the business.
Training and development may include, but is not limited to:

• Product knowledge and application training.
• Industry and market-specific knowledge.
• Sales processes and sales best practices.
• Account management and customer relationship development.
• Internal systems, procedures and operational workflows.
• Quoting, pricing and commercial decision-making processes.
• Supplier and product range familiarisation.
• Customer service and communication skills.
• Business development and opportunity management.
• Stock management awareness and product availability planning.
• Zonebook management and customer portfolio development.
• Leadership and personal development opportunities as appropriate

Desired Attributes
The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Ownership and accountability.
• Strong customer focus.
• Commercial awareness.
• Initiative and self-management.
• Professional communication skills.
• Team collaboration.
• Adaptability and willingness to learn.
• A commitment to continuous improvement.
• A long-term commitment to building a career within the company