Y Combinator External Account Manager: Commercial
Job Purpose
The External Account Manager is a key driver of business growth by within Pinnacle's Commercial Sales Division,
specifically in the KwaZulu-Natal region. This role is responsible for building and maintaining strong, long-term relationships with customers, ensuring their needs are met, and expectations are exceeded. By serving as the primary point of contact for clients, the External Account Manager will foster trust and loyalty, while also identifying new business opportunities to expand Pinnacle’s customer base.
With a focus on driving revenue growth, this position requires a deep understanding of the company’s products and services, along with a keen awareness of market trends and competitor activities. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in sales or account management, excellent communication and negotiation skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, target-driven environment. Success in this role will contribute significantly to the overall growth and success of the company.
Key Responsibilities
- Achieve
monthly sales targets
- Achieve
Quarter on Quarter and Year on Year growth
- Establish
and grow new client base within the Commercial clients
- Maintain
new and existing client relationships by regular visits and interaction
- Develop
sales plans in line with specific accounts
- Respond
to tenders and facilitate the tender administration process
- Manage
the sales process
- Maintain
current client database and forecasts
- Develop
sales plan per account
- Deliver
product presentations and entertain clients
- Generate
sales leads and do follow ups on deals in your pipeline
- Identify
sales opportunities and go to market strategies
- Compile
all quotations
- Follow
up on quotes and converting to orders
- Attend
product training and events
- Process
and administration of relevant sales documentation
- Update
back orders and orders received on a daily basis
Requirements
Experience and Knowledge
- Minimum
of 3 years account management experience with Commercial clients
- A minimum of three (3) years of external account
management and sales experience
- Experience in distribution is advantageous
- Proven experience in a customer service environment
- Skilled in preparing and presenting quotations
- Experience in developing sales plans and successfully
closing deals
- Strong knowledge of enterprise products is essential
Skills and Education
- Matric is essential
- A tertiary qualification in Sales, Business Management, or IT is advantageous
- Proven sales skills with a strong ability to close deals
- Excellent verbal and written business communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build lasting relationships
- Attention to detail with a focus on accuracy
- Well-developed negotiation skills for closing sales and securing deals
- Good time management and organizational abilities; deadline-driven and capable of managing a high workload
- Technology-driven with a passion for leveraging tech solutions
Personal Attributes and Qualities
- Mature and outgoing individual
- Well-groomed and highly presentable
- Well organized individual
- High attention to detail
- Positive individual
- High level of energy
- Self-driven and willing to go the extra mile
- A high level of perseverance
- Be patient, tolerant and diplomatic
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Analytical thinker
- Problem Solver
Compliance Competencies
- Perform all duties with integrity, to the highest ethical standards, and in compliance with all relevant legal, contractual and other requirements as mandated by the Company Code of Conduct.
- Keep up to date with changes in applicable compliance obligations, controls and measures relevant to the role.