What does an Account Manager do?
Account Managers work in many industries, including marketing, advertising, software, financial services and event management. Regardless of their field, their focus is on meeting the major needs of clients. To do so, they must gain an understanding of the big-picture issues a client is facing and continue to track their needs over time. Once they have a clear picture of what the client’s goals are and what obstacles might stand in the way of achieving them, Account Managers work to find solutions that incorporate their company’s products and services.
In many cases, the Account Manager serves as the primary point of contact for clients. When clients’ requests fall outside the scope of their position, the Account Manager enlists the help of other departments and keeps tabs on the progress toward completing the tasks.
Account Manager skills and qualifications
A successful Account Manager should have various skills and qualifications that fulfill the prerequisites for your job opening, including:
- Satisfactory problem-solving skills to help resolve customer complaints or needs
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills to communicate product ideas to clients
- Up-to-date understanding of the industry’s consumer behavior
- Strong customer service and interpersonal skills for dealing with different types of customers and clients
- Exceptional analytical skills for interpreting client data
- Time management and multitasking skills to handle multiple tasks and clients at once
- Advanced negotiation skills to close contracts
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Account Manager salary expectations
The average salary for an Account Manager is $65,890 per year, according to Indeed. This salary may differ based on your company’s location and industry and the candidate’s education and experience.
Account Manager salary expectations
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Common salary:
74993.43 YEARLY -
Typical salaries range from
14000.00 -184000.00 YEARLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Account Manager education and training requirements
Educational requirements for Account Managers may vary from one job to another, and the degrees they should have may depend on your specific industry. In general, candidates should at least have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, sales or another similar field. Some employers prefer to hire applicants with a master’s degree and knowledge of client relations. Other companies may look for candidates who have certifications in their field, such as the Strategic Account Manager Certification offered by the Strategic Account Management Association.
Account Manager experience requirements
Most companies look for Account Managers who have plenty of experience in the industry. Some may prefer candidates who have previous experience as Account Managers or in similar leadership roles, while others may accept applicants who have many years of experience in lower-level positions in the same field. These candidates may have experience from internships or entry-level positions, such as Junior Account Executive, Assistant Account Manager or other similar roles in sales or marketing.
Job description samples for similar positions
If this Account Manager job description sample information doesn’t match your company’s specific employment needs, consider these job descriptions for similar positions:
• Account Officer
• Account Representative
• Account Clerk
Frequently asked questions about Account Managers
What qualities does a successful Account Manager have?
Although you’ll rarely see them listed on an Account Manager job description sample, certain personality traits and characteristics can contribute to the success of an Account Manager. Emotional resilience can help managers cope with interacting with customers who might be upset or irate on a regular basis. People who receive satisfaction from helping others often do well in the role because customer service is key to the job. Individuals who enjoy puzzles and problem-solving may also find working as an Account Manager to be rewarding.
What is the difference between an Account Manager and Account Executive?
An Account Manager usually works above the Account Executive to ensure they’re meeting the client’s needs and reaching goals. Account Executives usually work day-to-day with the client to identify goals and implement campaigns. Account Managers ensure this process runs smoothly and handle the big-picture problems a client may have. Not all companies have both positions. At organizations where there are no Account Executives, Account Managers may perform their job duties.
Who reports to the Account Manager?
Account Executives usually report to the Account Manager to report their status and progress on certain projects with clients. If Account Executives are facing certain challenges in meeting the goals laid out for them, they’ll meet with the Account Manager to communicate the issues. Account Managers also ensure the needs of the Account Executives are being met by handling any complaints the client may have about the employee or that the employee may have about the client. If the Account Executive is having trouble finding resources or retrieving work from certain departments, the Account Manager resolves the issue for their employees.
What makes for a good Account Manager job description?
A well-written Account Manager job description provides specific details about the position and describes duties and responsibilities in a clear and concise manner. Depending on your business needs, some of the Account Manager job description sample information described above may not be applicable, or the position may involve the regular completion of tasks not outlined above. Use this guide as a starting point for your customized, one-of-a-kind job description.
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
