Account Manager Job Description

An account manager, who has an important role in the customer communication and management of the companies, acts as a link between the customers and the company. Taking an active role in the correct management of the existing customers of the company, the account manager also has an important place in establishing new business partnerships.

An account manager is responsible for making sure that existing customers get the necessary assistance in every area they need and has an endless job description. This profession, which is a bridge between the company and the customer with its duties varying between sectors; has a key role in business, communication, and project management.

The account manager’s job description is that it enables established partnerships to turn into long-term companies. It also acts as an official representing the company at the stage of establishing new partnerships.

The account manager, who plays the role of the company’s representative in the field of management, is commonly a senior personnel in the company in terms of authority and responsibility.

WHAT DOES AN ACCOUNT MANAGER DO IN A COMPANY?

An account manager, who can operate in various sectors, assumes the key communication role of the company. He/she is the person responsible for the projects carried out by the company, the services it offers to the customers, and the business planning can be counted as an important point between management and communication.

The account manager is in a position that determines the profit and sales share of the company and carries out the project management of existing customers. At the same time, it determines the targets and strategies of the customers and ensures the smooth progress of existing projects.

In this way, it plays an important role in delivering the projects to the determined target audiences. The account manager, who indirectly contributes to the profit share of the customers, is responsible for the project and process that the customer carries out with the company. An account manager is also responsible for customer segmentation in the company and is in a position to follow up the ongoing projects, is the person who has to help the customers whenever and wherever they need them and stay in touch with the company.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BECOME AN ACCOUNT MANAGER?

The account manager is a position that is needed in all kinds of sectors, especially companies such as software, trade, sales and marketing. The account manager, which is responsible for the processes that are completely based on communication and crisis management, ensures that the customers are aware of all project and management processes, and also reports to the customers any developments in the project. The account manager, who has is the representative of the company, is generally the only person with whom customers directly contact.

Account Management is a profession that enables large and comprehensive project processes to be managed from a single arm. It is based on keeping good communication. In this way, it aims to provide maximum return to the customer in minimum time. In a way, it is an important role that determines the satisfaction levels of customers within the company.

Skills required for an account manager are as follows:

● Professional communication skills

● To be able to manage their time in an efficient way

● Ability to manage multiple customers at once

● Having detailed information about projects and customers

● Ability to communicate in accordance with various customer profiles

● Excellent process and crisis management

● Being able to record every step in the process

● Ability to regularly report recorded developments to the customer

● Explaining the problems experienced in the process to teammates

● Ability to rearrange the revisions received in the project according to the request.

● Ability to deliver the project on the promised delivery date

● Ensure the satisfaction of existing customers

● Seeking to bring in new customers and projects to the company

Account managers working in companies usually work with the technical team responsible for the service provided to the customer. Account managers, who have all kinds of responsibilities from the motivation of the team to the job follow-up, do their best to ensure that the project processes are not disrupted and the service offered to the customer is at maximum performance. For this reason, assertive people who have high communication skills and have the capacity to work in harmony with the team are chosen for this position.

WHAT DEPARTMENT YOU SHOULD BE GRADUATED FROM IN A COLLEGE TO BECOME AN ACCOUNT MANAGER?

Although there is no clear graduate and university department information for the account manager position, companies usually look for relevant experience and qualifications in account manager candidates. Generally, graduates from the following departments are invited to interview:

● Marketing

● Brand communication

● Business

● Public relations and advertising

● Foreign trade

● Economy

● International relations

In addition, you need to have good communication skills to take part in account manager positions. A second or third language is always a plus. Your experience in various industries will make you stand out from other candidates.

Account managers, employed in agencies, companies dealing with foreign trade, or software companies, enable multiple sector customers to be managed at once. Experience and knowledge like this can make you stand out among account manager candidates. At the same time, your interest in business such as economy and finance makes you an important position in the eyes of your company.

HOW MUCH DOES AN ACCOUNT MANAGER MAKE ON AVERAGE? WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SALARY OF AN ACCOUNT MANAGER?

Account manager salaries may vary according to the position, company and seniority. To give a general figure, a fresh-out-of-college account manager earns between 55-60K USD annually in the US.

This amount varies between the entry-level account manager and the general account manager. For example, account managers who only deal with company sales and profits earn 55k USD per year, while the salary of general account managers who deal with all project processes and service quality can reach 100K USD per year.

Courses Recommended For Account Managers (also you’ll have more insights on account manager job description with these resources)

Here are some courses we recommend that are accessible online. If you want to be a competent account manager, make sure check these out:

• EdX, Account Management Courses
• Coursera, Account Management and Salesforce Design (starts on 21st of July but keep an eye on it they re-start it periodically)
• Udemy, Account Management for Beginners

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR YOUR ACCOUNT MANAGER JOB INTERVIEW:

For a successful interview, first of all, examine the account manager job description given in the job post, as it provides the necessary information that the company is mainly looking for. The recruiters simply give the job description, role, or position summary and try to find which applicant best fits the account manager job. Analyzing thoroughly what is required in the role will take you one step closer to get an offer. 

Furthermore, underline your strengths, skills and the qualifications mentioned in the job description. Telling about your past experience related to this specific role and what you learned about that (a kind of self-assessment) is always impressive for the recruiters. So, showing off your communication and reconciliation skills is a wise idea. 

For sure, knowing about the company well and highlighting your enthusiasm for the role are also important. As a general rule, being on time, being kind and polite, bringing your CV, cover letter, and references to indicate organizational skills are critical on an account manager job interview as in other types of job interviews. 

If we wrap up, you can find the definitions and guidelines (skills, requirements, education, training and certification etc.) for an account manager above. We hope it helps to give you an overview and shows which path suits you more.