Account Manager - Photo in City of London

Purpose of role
The Leica Account Manager - Photo will serve as the primary contact for their designated accounts, fostering strong relationships and maintaining regular communication. They will develop strategies and account plans to achieve shared objectives and drive revenue growth. By monitoring key account metrics (KPIs), they will proactively address challenges and resolve issues. Regular visits to key accounts are essential, including leading data driven meetings.

The role involves close collaboration with the Head of Commercial, the Commercial Team and Marketing to achieve sales targets across Leica’s portfolio, including photography products, sport optics, smart projection and watches. This is a full-time position that involves travelling within the UK for four days a week, one office day for report preparation, frequent weekend work, and occasional international travel.

Key Responsibilities:

• Trading Relationships
  Establish and maintain win/win relationships at all levels within your designated accounts, including Buying/Trading, Merchandising, and Marketing, to ensure that the Leica brand is positioned to deliver more than its due share of voice, visibility, and exposure. Conduct successful commercial negotiations on terms, distribution, space and location, visibility, and support with Buying and Merchandising teams. Prepare business presentations for formal retailer quarterly reviews and book in regular on site visits in between to maintain relationships and ensure best practice. Identify new trading relationships and prepare business case scenarios for approval.
• Driving Performance
  Ensure a top-line and detailed understanding of retail context, category, and individual retailer performance to identify retail opportunities and strategic needs. Own all sales forecasting and profitability targets for defined retailers, meeting all financial deadlines and budget submissions, flagging risks and opportunities in a timely and quantified manner. Deliver bespoke dealer plans to drive brand visibility and growth. Ensure accurate sales forecasting and proactive inventory and assortment management, with close collaboration with Sales Operations and Finance. Drive Sell-in of new launches and analyse business performance on an ongoing basis proposing recommendations to improve sales.
• Cross-Functional Working
  Work closely with the Head of Commercial to create and deliver an annual plan for each retailer covering: activation of key launches and marketing moments, eventing, store/retailer animation, considering both customer acquisition and retention. Review implementation and performance vs expectations on a regular and appropriately frequent basis. For new markets or trading partners, onboard and build out bespoke launch plans appropriate to the market and retailer. Act as the key point of contact with the account, managing & addressing daily requests, working closely with internal cross-functional teams.
• Trade Marketing
  Developing & supporting with bespoke Trade Marketing Plans to support individual retailers. Tracking activity budget spend regularly.

Key Accountabilities
Delivering annual financial & gross profit objectives in full. Development and implementation of a collaborative Joint Business Plan (where applicable) – with focus on 100% implementation to maximise the return on investment to deliver the required brand and profit targets. Successful activation of commercial & brand building growth drivers based on analysis and core insight into customer strategy and consumer behaviours. Exceptional results for the retailer and Leica through a sustained commitment to priority outcomes delivered through effective cross-functional ways of working with multiple resources who all execute their specific role in building and supporting a great customer relationship.

Key Skills
Wholesale account manager experience is essential. A keen interest in photography is essential. A passion for sport optics and knowledge of watches would be highly advantageous. A confident negotiator and influencer who is extremely target driven. A real team player with a positive can-do attitude. Excellent presentation and communication with numeric and analytical skills. Ability and confidence to build and maintain professional relationships. Ability to work under pressure and towards deadlines. Excellent presentation skills. Ability to travel in the UK and overseas when required. Full clean driving licence.

Benefits
Competitive salary and opportunity to earn sales-based commission and bonus. Private Medical Insurance. Life Insurance. Staff discount. 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays. 2 days Volunteering Day per year. Cycle to Work Scheme. Pension. Access to Employee Assistance Programme. Social events. Training & Development.

Equal Opportunities Employer
Leica is committed to and promotes the principle of equal opportunities in employment. We aim to treat people fairly and ensure that discrimination does not occur at any stage of recruitment, selection or employment on any grounds including race, religious beliefs, gender reassignment, ethnic or national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity and trade union activities. It is the policy of Leica to ensure that all job applicants and colleagues are recruited, trained and promoted solely on the basis of their abilities.