Key Account Manager (Automotive)

Abantu Staffing Solutions (Pty) Ltd; Oos-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

Abantu Staffing Solutions (Pty) Ltd in South Africa is seeking an Account Manager to grow and manage key customer accounts.

You will lead sales proposals, participate in pricing negotiations, and coordinate with internal teams to deliver solutions and drive account growth.

The role requires Grade 12, a Bachelor’s degree, and 3+ years’ experience in account management with a proven track record and excellent communication skills.

Qualifications

• Grade 12/Matric completed.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or related field.
• 3+ years’ experience in account management, sales, or related role.
• Proven track record of growing customer accounts.
• Strong sales principles and customer service practices.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with key customers.

Responsibilities

• Prepare proposals and customer offers for new and existing business, including cost breakdowns.
• Participate in price negotiations based on volume, raw material costs and exchange rates.
• Build a network across the customer’s purchasing, quality, logistics and R&D teams to gather essential information and facilitate problem-solving.
• Coordinate activities within internal working groups on innovation, RFQs, projects and productivity improvements to secure customer approval.
• Build and sustain strong, long-term customer relationships.
• Serve as the primary contact for assigned accounts, addressing customer needs and expectations.
• Identify new business opportunities within accounts and drive growth.
• Prepare and deliver presentations, proposals and reports to customers.
• Coordinate with internal teams to deliver solutions that meet customer objectives.
• Monitor and analyse account performance, providing regular updates to customers and management.
• Respond to client enquiries and resolve issues promptly and effectively.

Skills

Account management

Sales

Customer relationships

Negotiation

Communication

Presentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/marketing or related field

Job description

Minimum Requirements:

• Grade 12/Matric
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related field
• 3 + years’ experience in account management, sales, or a related role
• Proven track record of managing and growing customer accounts
• Strong understanding of sales principles and customer service practices
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with key customers

Main Responsibilities:

Sales proposals:

• Prepare proposals and customer offers for new and existing business, including cost breakdowns

Pricing negotiations:

• Participate in customer negotiations on price adjustments based on changes in volume, raw material costs and exchange rates

Customer collaboration:

• Build a network across the customer’s purchasing, quality, logistics and R&D teams to gather essential information and facilitate problem-solving

Internal coordination:

• Coordinate activities within internal working groups on innovation, requests for quotation (RFQs), projects and productivity improvements to secure customer approval

Customer relationships:

• Build and sustain strong, long-term customer relationships

Account support:

• Serve as the primary contact for assigned accounts, addressing customer needs and expectations

Account growth:

• Identify new business opportunities within accounts and drive growth

Customer communications:

• Prepare and deliver presentations, proposals and reports to customers

Solution delivery:

• Coordinate with internal teams to deliver solutions that meet customer objectives

Account reporting:

• Monitor and analyse account performance, providing regular updates to customers and management

Issue resolution:

• Respond to client enquiries and resolve issues promptly and effectively

Key Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills
• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities
• Analytical skills to interpret sales data and market trends
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities
• High level of professionalism and client-oriented approach
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team