Account Manager – Internal Sales & Customer Development

Optential Consulting; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Agri-Tech is seeking a customer-focused Account Manager to own relationships, drive growth and ensure delivery across a defined client portfolio. You will manage customer accounts, respond to enquiries, prepare quotations and coordinate with procurement and warehouse teams to fulfil orders.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, opportunity identification, and steady account development within the assigned zone to strengthen the company's market position.

Qualifications

• Must have proven track record in managing key accounts and growing revenue.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills are essential.
• Ability to develop account plans and growth opportunities.
• Experience in cross-functional collaboration with procurement, warehouse and admin.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop customer accounts within an assigned team and geographic zone.
• Identify growth opportunities and develop account plans.
• Prepare quotations and process orders.
• Engage with customers to ensure high service levels.
• Coordinate with procurement, warehouse and admin.
• Support business development and market intelligence.

Skills

Account management

Customer relationship

Sales

Communication

Negotiation

Tools

CRM software

Job description

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