Account Manager - Software - Hybrid Working - Shares + Bens + Car REF 685

Interface Recruitment UK; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job description

Account Manager – Software – Hybrid Working – Shares + Bens + Car REF 685

Job title: Account Management Consultant

Location: Luton / Sheffield / Warrington HQs - Hybrid / Home Working / 3-2

Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 (NEG - possibly a little room for improvement on this)

Bonus: NA

Industry: Software Vendor - Asset Management into Public Sector

Work Hours: Standard 37 Hours with flexibility for client facing activity

Holidays: 25 + Stats

Insurance: NA

Other Benefits: Car / Allowance / Company Shares Awarded on joining / Annual Share Bonus / Divs if Shares converted

Parking: Free

Working practice: Hybrid - 2 days in the office per week after intro period

Education Requirements: Degree Calibre

Experience Requirements: Background in Software ideally from an Account Management / Consulting / Projects / Analysis / Commercial role - Essentially a functional IT background

Qualifications: Prince2 Training Provided

This role sits within a well-established computer software company, specialising in the development and supply of works / maintenance and asset management systems to local government and related services sectors. The Company has an unrivalled reputation for delivery of quality products and services, and a 30+ year history of ethical business practices and consistent profitability.

The company became an employee owned company a number of years ago. The controlling majority shareholder of the business is a trust in which all employees have an equal share. This means that every employee of the company becomes a co-owner of the company with certain ownership benefits and responsibilities.

The Company offers very good working conditions and competitive salaries, plus benefits including an excellent pension scheme and share option scheme.

Because this Account Management Consultant role requires occasional visits to customer sites, a company car is provided as part of the package. The Consultancy department is expanding and they have many opportunities for career progression within the department.

Responsibilities:

1. Account Management – Establish and Develop key stakeholder client relationships (existing portfolio and relationships)
2. Project Management – Software Implementations, New Systems and Upgrades
3. Pre-sales Activities – Conduit between technical and non-technical user teams.
4. Attendance at seminars and User Group meetings, which might require a presentation.
5. Product Consultancy – Developing SME (subject matter expert) status on a specific part of the system for others to consult you to their clients.
6. Quality Assurance – Software Test prior to new releases
7. Training – Ensuring clients get maximum ROI (return on investment)
8. Customer Support / Support Escalation – Where ongoing support issues are not resolved dealing with them to a successful conclusion
9. Documentation Production – Assisting in productions of training manuals and documentation to support clients
10. Commercial / Sales – Non-targeted, mutual benefit, opportunity spotting.

Skills

The successful candidate will have the ability to contribute within a number of the above activity areas, together with the enthusiasm and commitment to extend their skills base throughout the team functions. A capability to work both individually and as part of a team is required. First class communication skills, written and oral, are essential. Above all, care and attention to detail and an aspiration for perfection are required.

Experience Requirements

Previous software applications experience of large-scale commercial systems is essential, whilst Local Government, Civil Engineering or construction experience would be advantageous.

The Role

An Account Manager must be very familiar with all the options available so that they can knowledgeably discuss business process improvements with their customers. The prime purpose of the Account Manager role is to maintain and develop the best possible relationship with customers and ensure that they have the right products configured in the optimum way. The role requires good understanding of specific industry legislation, standards, and principles applicable to both Local Authorities and Utilities working in the Highways sector.

The business has built a reputation for integrity and honesty in the marketplace and this role is crucial in maintaining that reputation. A good Account Manager is a ‘trusted friend’ who will provide advice, guidance, and an honest appraisal.

The role requires meetings with customers both at their offices and via remote tools, with the Account Manager expected to have a broad understanding of all the activity areas in which their products are used - from highway maintenance and street lighting, through to parks and flood defence.

The position involves a mature working model (Hybrid) with a mix of being in the office, homework and client engagement. There is a need for occasional travel which will sometimes include an overnight stay and/or travel but this is not regular and is managed by you to ensure you are capable of delivering the customers requirements.

Responsibilities

1. Customer Relationship Management

• Develop relationships with the customer from system user through to director level.
• You are the principal route of strategic communication between customer and company.
• You are the escalation point for the customer and all internal company departments.
• You take responsibility for arranging the best positive outcome for all parties.
• Where a positive outcome is not possible, it is the Account Managers responsibility to ensure that the customer is given clear, honest, and open guidance.
• Undertake contract negotiations when needed.
• Facilitate /deliver Account Meetings with formal Agendas, Minutes and Action plans.

Customer Information Maintenance

• Maintain and update customer information held within the CRM system.
• Develop and upkeep individual customer roadmaps, including action plans, targets, future plans, projects, business risks, and threats.
• Document and understand your customers specific configurations and quirks.
• Identify opportunities for customers to extend and develop their use of our products.
• Supplying detailed quotations to precisely match customers' requirements, not just providing a priced set of products that the customer can choose to purchase.
• Achieve 100% accuracy in requirements gathering and sales quotations.
• Ensure contract renewals are managed and delivered.
• Manage the full lifecycle of sales, from quotations to delivery and invoicing
• Deliver presentations and interact with customers at Company conferences and seminars.
• Provide aid with sales proposals, tender responses, demonstrations of our software.

Consultancy Services

• It is essential you develop a good general understanding of all areas of our software so that you are able to illustrate key features of function with an overview or demonstration.
• Advise on, and implement, new application areas, providing informal handholding or direction where highly specialist knowledge is not required.
• Work closely with our subject matter experts to supply specialist consultancy when required.

Project Management

• Monitoring activities undertaken by the customer and internally throughout large projects.
• Manage smaller projects directly to make sure services are organised and delivered on time.

Key Skills

• Ability to analyse complex business processes and capture any special/unusual requirements.
• Understanding of standard computing principles, such as web applications, REST interfaces.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Excellent Time Management skills, Team working and People skills.
• Excellent listening, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Proven experience in Key Account Management.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Attention to detail and adherence to deadlines.