Head: Key Account Manager (Cape Town) – AEHKAM

Armstrong Appointments; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Armstrong Appointments is seeking a Head of Key Accounts Manager in Cape Town to lead the Off Premise Key Account team. You will devise a long-term strategy with a medium-term horizon based on customer insights, channel trends and opportunities, with clear expectations and bullish goals.

This senior, hands-on leadership role requires driving execution, tracking performance, managing budgets, and building high‑impact commercial plans.

Qualifications

• University degree, preferably Economics/Business Administration.
• 5–10 years in Key Account/Commercial Management, ideally FMCG/beverage.
• Experience and a proven track record in managing and developing successful commercial teams.
• Cross-functional experience in Trade Marketing/Consumer Marketing/Field Sales Management is a plus.
• Excellent network of existing contacts and trade relationships is vital.
• Proven success in tactical planning / strategic ability – develop specific, valuable, innovative strategies but also grasp the bigger picture.
• Commercial acumen – strong understanding of sales processes and financial systems; SAP/BI to plan and track sales results.
• Analytical skills – strong planning and negotiation skills with a sound understanding of financial bottom-line implications.

Responsibilities

• Develop long-term strategy with a medium-term vision based on customer insights and channel trends.
• Lead and develop commercial teams with a hands-on leadership style.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with Trade Marketing and Field Sales.
• Monitor budgets and investments with a focus on ROI across key accounts.

Skills

Key account management

Commercial leadership

Negotiation

Financial acumen

SAP/BI experience

Cross-functional teamwork

Presentation skills

Analytical skills

Strategic planning

Education

Economics/Business degree

Tools

SAP/BI

Job description

The Head of Key Accounts Manager is a senior sales leadership role responsible for managing the Off Premise Key Account team. The Head of Key Account Manager needs to be able to devise a long-term strategy with medium term vision, based on thorough understanding of customers, channel trends and opportunities, with attention to detail. This senior role requires a ‘hands-on’ leader, who sets bullish goals, with clear expectations, ultimately delivering on key initiatives.

Main job function

Strategy

Analysis & Planning

Execution

Tracking

Collaboration

Leadership

Qualifications | Experience/Criteria

• University Degree, preferably Economics/Business Administration.
• A proven track record of 5-10 years professional experience in Key Account/Commercial Management, ideally with FMCG/beverage background.
• Experience and a proven track record in managing and developing successful commercial teams.
• Cross-functional experience in Trade Marketing/Consumer Marketing/Field Sales Management is a plus (not mandatory).
• Excellent network of existing contacts and trade relationships is vital.
• Proving success in managing value chains, controlling budgets, including investment and optimizing investment buckets.
• Proven success in tactical planning / strategic ability – develop specific, valuable, innovative and commercially focused strategies but also grasp the ‘bigger picture’.
• Commercial acumen – strong understanding of sales processes and financial systems. Strategic and innovative commercial awareness. Ideally can work with SAP/BI to plan and track sales results.
• Analytical skills – strong planning and negotiation skills with a sound understanding of financial bottom-line implications of sales and marketing decisions. Able to analyse sales and customer data, take the best conclusion, develop initiatives with the highest value for the shopper, customer and Client.
• Negotiation experience successful front line retail negotiation experience and problem-solving skills.
• Presentation skills – demonstrate great presentation skills that provide highly relevant and commercially viable strategies/processes in a clear, concise and empowering way.
• Fluency in English (verbal & written),Other languages are an advantage

Salary

R800 – R1.6 Million CTC pa (Neg)