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- Tasks: Manage key accounts and drive growth in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join Ford & Stanley, a leading executive search and talent advisory firm.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work culture, and opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by managing high-value accounts and collaborating with top industry leaders.
- Qualifications: Experience in complex account management and ability to navigate political environments.
- Other info: Expect a direct, no-nonsense culture with excellent career growth potential.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Ford & Stanley Executive Search (Part of the Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group) are a leading Executive search and talent advisory firm specialising in the following sectors: Rail & Transportation, Civils & Construction, Manufacturing & Supply Chain, Technology & Cyber Security, Logistics & Intermodal Freight, Defence.
Our search directors, search consultants and in-house research team specialise in retained opportunities at the highest level of organisational leadership and management. Our success is based upon a blend of trust-driven relationships, robust market knowledge, and working practices that ensure the best possible alignment of organisational need with experience and personal ambition.
We have been exclusively appointed on a retained search for an Account Manager.
Key deliverables within the first 12 months:
- Demonstrate a tangible pipeline worth in excess of £1m annually.
- Develop a deep understanding of how the account operates, including stakeholders, procurement cycles, and decision-making structures.
- Position the account to grow into a £5–10 million annual account.
Main challenges that will be encountered in the 1st year:
- Navigate a highly political internal environment, where ‘tribal’ behaviours and budget ownership strongly influence decision-making in a complex multi-skilled, multi-layered stakeholder landscape.
- Recognising that other consultancies already hold many of the key stakeholder relationships, so breaking in requires strategy, patience, and credibility.
- Money is strategically released and as such it’s of paramount importance that the incoming Account Manager has a strong understanding of this landscape.
Essential Hard Skills (Skills & Experience):
- Ability to operate in politically sensitive environments, managing embedded incumbents, and overcoming internal tribal dynamics.
- Previous experience of going up against major companies that can be bigger than your current organisation.
- Demonstrate their ability to work closely with national infrastructure and able to influence conversations at the highest level.
- Complex account management experience - Ideally with a technical product, platform or service.
- Strong pipeline development and management, able to create, qualify and scale a high-value pipeline in year one across complex enterprise environments.
- Keen to be on site and visible, 3 days per week.
Essential Soft Skills (Attributes & Behaviours):
- You’ll need to get buy-in from the pre-sales team — Architects & Back-end teams.
- It’s a hands-on role, with full support from the marketing team and bid management. Collaboration is essential.
- Understanding the company structure — people are very frank and direct, but always in the best possible way.
- Able to demonstrate agile and almost disruptive thinking.
- Approachable, emotionally intelligent and accessible.
Good to know & Core Responsibilities:
The individual leading the aviation sector has previously secured a £15 million project, demonstrating the scale of opportunity. Two major pieces of work have already been secured:
- AirHeart — an operations digital tool (a platform, not a product, and therefore scalable).
- MSA Services — Statements of Work linked to platform configuration; the MSA extends beyond the platform itself and as such is highly scalable.
Culture is direct, frank, and no-nonsense — efficient communication is the norm. Expect a fast-paced, high-accountability environment where individuals own outcomes, not just tasks. Well-known for large-scale public-sector programmes and is now pushing further into the private sector. Employs over 8,000 people across 10 countries. Recently secured a £135 million digital transformation contract in the UK.
There are two main desirable outcomes of this role:
- Upsell and extend the sale of the existing platform.
- Take full advantage of the MSA to encourage further growth.
Ford & Stanley Executive Search Interview, Suitability & Matching Process:
- 1st Stage – Candidate Discovery: An open, conversational and consultative discussion where interested candidates are assessed on their suitability for the role in the context of the above and challenged on how the opportunity lines up with their career aspirations, motivations, financial expectations and personal circumstances.
- 2nd Stage – The ‘shortlist’: Candidates are asked to reflect on the candidate discovery discussion, take time to reflect on the opportunity and undertake subsequent research on the client business reporting back on their thoughts, questions and providing additional specific information on their suitability (if applicable).
F&S Executive Search – Delivery Team:
- Tom Norton – Head of Executive Search (Shortlisting, Offer Negotiations, Client Consulting).
- Sean Kerry - Senior Research Associate (Networking, Research, Search, Longlisting, Interviews, Data & Market Intel, Headhunting).
- Ralitsa Kuzeva – Executive Assistant (Diary Management, Coordination, Candidate Experience, NDA’s).
About Ford & Stanley Executive Search:
Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group are in the business of people and performance. Our mission is to create one million better workdays through facilitating great recruitment, leadership and occupational mental fitness. We support our clients in their most challenging business areas – recruiting, developing and retaining the best talent from shop floor to boardroom.
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Ford & Stanley Genius Performance – Performance is always accelerated when good people are coached, inspired, trained and focused in the right way.
Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an ongoing basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective of sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or political beliefs and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy.
Services advertised by Ford & Stanley are that of an employment consultancy business.
Account Manager employer: Ford & Stanley Executive Search
Contact Detail:
Ford & Stanley Executive Search Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Account Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts. You never know who might help you land that Account Manager role!
✨Tip Number 2
Do your homework on the company! Understand their culture, values, and recent projects. This will not only help you in interviews but also show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team. Plus, it’ll give you some great talking points!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role and how you can tackle the challenges mentioned in the job description. A confident and clear pitch can make all the difference in standing out from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and serious about the opportunity. Don’t miss out on making that first impression count!
We think you need these skills to ace Account Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Audience: Before you start writing, take a moment to understand who you're addressing. Tailor your application to resonate with the values and culture of Ford & Stanley. Show us that you get what we do and how you can fit into our mission.
Be Specific and Relevant: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that align with the role of Account Manager. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact, like how you’ve managed complex accounts or developed pipelines worth millions.
Show Your Personality: We love a bit of character! Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone approachable and emotionally intelligent, so give us a glimpse of who you are beyond your CV.
Apply Through Our Website: Make sure to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ford & Stanley Executive Search
✨Know Your Stakeholders
Before the interview, take time to research the key stakeholders within the company. Understanding their roles and how they influence decision-making will help you navigate the political landscape effectively. This knowledge will also allow you to tailor your responses to demonstrate how you can build trust-driven relationships.
✨Showcase Your Pipeline Development Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience in developing and managing high-value pipelines. Bring specific examples of how you've successfully created, qualified, and scaled a pipeline in previous roles. This will show that you have the practical skills needed to meet the £1m annual target right from the start.
✨Demonstrate Agile Thinking
In a fast-paced environment like this, showcasing your ability to think on your feet is crucial. Prepare examples of how you've adapted to challenges or changed strategies in response to new information. This will highlight your agility and readiness to tackle complex situations.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since collaboration is key in this role, be ready to discuss how you've worked with cross-functional teams in the past. Share stories that illustrate your approachability and emotional intelligence, as these traits are essential for getting buy-in from various teams, including pre-sales and marketing.