Strategic Account Manager

Cr2 Uk Ltd; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fintech solutions provider based in Cape Town is seeking a Strategic Account Manager responsible for building and managing relationships with key accounts. This role requires a deep understanding of the fintech landscape and experience in account management, particularly within the MEA markets. Candidates should possess strong negotiation skills and a strategic mindset, along with fluency in English. The position offers opportunities for significant customer interaction and impact on business growth.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience as a Key Account Manager or in a similar strategic role.
• Deep understanding of the Banking, Fintech, and Payments space.
• Proven experience in managing complex accounts and delivering solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive account plan for customers.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Provide expert advice to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Skills

Customer Relationship Management

Solution Selling & Advisory

Strategic Thinking

Negotiation & Influence

Product Knowledge & Market Insight

Collaboration & Teamwork

Communication

Education

Master's degree in Business, Finance, Technology, or a related field

Job description

Overview

The Strategic Account Manager is responsible for building, managing, retaining and growing strategic relationships with our customers.

This role owns the customer relationship, executes a comprehensive account plan to ensure growth and customer satisfaction.

The individual will be a key advisor, helping customers implement their business strategies, matching their needs with CR2 solutions.

The Strategic Account Manager will also be an expert on CR2's products, have a deep understanding of the payments and fintech landscape, and each customer's organisation and procurement processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Account Management & Strategy Execution : Develop and execute a comprehensive account plan for CR2 customers, aligning CR2's products and solutions with the customer's business needs.
• Owns the relationship between CR2 and its customers, acting as the central coordination point for internal and external stakeholders.
• Customer Advisory & Solution Development : Develop a deep understanding of our customers and identify opportunities within the customer base where CR2 can deliver meaningful value.
• Be a trusted advisor to customers, providing insights, guidance, and recommendations to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Market Intelligence & Solution Expertise : Continuously research and understand the drivers of the markets CR2 serves, staying updated on market trends, customer needs, and competitive landscapes.
• Act as a solution expert for CR2's product suite by staying up to date on new offerings, future developments, and competitive landscape.
• Present and demonstrate CR2's product features and benefits, utilizing internal resources to showcase our solutions effectively.
• Relationship Building & Stakeholder Management : Build and maintain strong, long-lasting relationships with C-level and senior stakeholders within key accounts.
• Ensure all customer interactions are conducted compliantly and timely, maintaining high standards of professionalism.
• Support customers throughout their journey, providing expert advice and facilitating smooth engagement with CR2's products.
• Collaboration and Cross-Functional Engagement : Collaborate closely with internal teams, including Product and Professional Services, to ensure customer needs are met and solutions are delivered seamlessly.
• Drive and support internal initiatives (e.g., change request management) to ensure the best customer experience and successful adoption of CR2 solutions.

Critical Competencies

• Customer Relationship Management : Proven ability to establish, nurture, and manage relationships at executive and stakeholder level.
• Solution Selling & Advisory : Expertise in creating and articulating compelling value propositions, with a focus on delivering customer-centric solutions in the payments and fintech space.
• Strategic Thinking : Skilled at identifying customer needs and market trends, analysing the customer base to address these needs and drive both customer success and business growth.
• Negotiation & Influence : Strong negotiation skills with a focus on mutually beneficial outcomes, capable of influencing decision‑makers and driving business results.
• Product Knowledge & Market Insight : Deep knowledge of CR2's products, the payments landscape, and financial inclusion initiatives.
• Collaboration & Teamwork : Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across various teams to meet customer and organizational goals.
• Communication : Demonstrated ability to actively listen and understand customer needs, paired with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven capacity to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels, including C‑suite executives.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education : A Master's degree in Business, Finance, Technology, or a related field is highly regarded.
• Experience : Substantial experience (5+ years) as a Key Account Manager or in a similar strategic role, preferably within the MEA markets.
• A deep understanding of the Banking, Fintech, and Payments space, with knowledge of customer procurement and vendor processes.
• Proven experience in managing complex accounts and delivering solutions for digital transformation, financial inclusion, and agency banking.
• Language Proficiency : Fluent in English (spoken and written) is required.
• Proficiency in Arabic or French would be a significant advantage.

Success Metrics

• Customer Retention & Satisfaction : High levels of customer satisfaction, demonstrated through positive feedback, cross sell and upsell and long‑term account retention.
• Order Intake : Consistently achieve order intake targets and drive account growth through strategic upselling and cross‑selling of CR2 solutions.
• Effective Relationship Building : Strong, enduring relationships with key stakeholders, particularly C‑level executives, within strategic accounts.
• Successful Solution Adoption : Demonstrated success in facilitating the adoption and integration of CR2's products in customer environments.
• Market & Product Expertise : Recognised as a subject‑matter expert on CR2 products and the broader fintech and payments landscape, influencing customer decisions and solutions.

Equal Opportunity Statement : CR2 HPS Group is an equal opportunity employer.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.