At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and grow client accounts in the maritime and commodities sector.
- Company: Join Signal Ocean, a leader in AI-driven shipping intelligence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, health insurance, hybrid work, and personal development budget.
- Other info: Collaborative team environment with structured career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of an exciting integration and make a real impact in the industry.
- Qualifications: 4-7 years in B2B account management, preferably in maritime or commodities.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
About Signal Ocean × AXSMarine
Signal Ocean is the technology arm of the Signal Group, providing market-leading advanced machine learning and AI-driven intelligence to shipping and commodities professionals worldwide. Our platform delivers tailored, exclusive insights through web, mobile, and API interfaces, enabling clients to make faster, better-informed commercial decisions. Signal Ocean has recently acquired AXSMarine, a business with over 25 years of experience in the freight and commodities space - and is actively integrating the two companies. The combined business now offers the most comprehensive suite of freight market intelligence available, and we are actively building the team to realise the full potential of the integration.
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced Sales Account Manager to join our Northern Europe team, based in London. This is a relationship-first role: your primary mandate is to own, protect, and grow a defined portfolio of established Signal Ocean and AXSMarine accounts, with a focus on the Northern Europe region.
You will be joining a high-performing, London-based team at an exciting inflection point - the integration of two leading maritime data businesses creates a unique opportunity to deepen client relationships across a combined product suite that no competitor can match. You will not be starting from a cold pipeline. You will be assigned a portfolio of named accounts with existing client relationships, and your success will be measured on how well you retain, develop, and expand that book over time. The specific portfolio will be confirmed at the point of hire.
Who You Will Work With:
You will report directly to the Commercial Director for Northern Europe and work alongside a team of Sales Account Managers covering DACH/Nordics, Switzerland/France/Benelux, and the UK. The team is predominantly London-based, which means you will have immediate access to senior colleagues for support, guidance, and joint client engagement. The Northern Europe team represents one of the most significant regional revenue contributions across the Signal Ocean × AXSMarine group, with clients including some of the world’s leading shipbrokers, commodity trading houses, ship owners, and financial institutions.
What You Will Do
- Account ownership and retention
- Own a defined portfolio of Signal Ocean and AXSMarine accounts, serving as the primary point of contact for day-to-day relationship management.
- Lead renewal conversations commercially and independently, negotiating contract terms with confidence.
- Conduct regular account reviews, business reviews, and check-ins to ensure clients are deriving full value from the platform.
- Monitor account health, flag risks early, and develop mitigation plans before renewals are at risk.
- Portfolio growth and expansion
- Identify and pursue expansion opportunities within the existing account base - new users, additional products, broader platform adoption.
- Introduce clients to the combined Signal Ocean and AXSMarine product suite, helping them understand the value of the integrated offering.
- Track engagement metrics and usage patterns to identify accounts with untapped potential.
- Team and collaboration
- Work closely with the Commercial Director and broader Northern Europe team, which is predominantly London-based, giving you immediate senior support and mentorship.
- Collaborate with the Client Success and Product teams to ensure client feedback informs the product roadmap.
- Represent Signal Ocean and AXSMarine at industry events, client meetings, and maritime conferences.
Experience
- 4–7 years of B2B account management or commercial experience, with a demonstrable track record of owning and growing a client portfolio.
- Experience in the maritime, freight, or commodities data sector is strongly preferred; direct exposure to shipbroking, chartering, or commodity trading is a significant asset.
- Proven ability to manage renewal conversations and negotiate contract terms independently.
- Familiarity with data and analytics products; experience selling or managing API, data feed, or SaaS products is an advantage.
Skills and attributes
- Strong relationship builder - able to establish trust quickly with senior counterparts at shipbrokers, commodity trading houses, and ship owners.
- Commercially astute with a clear understanding of how to identify and develop expansion opportunities within an existing account.
- Organised and self-directed - comfortable managing a portfolio of accounts simultaneously without losing attention to detail on any individual client.
- Analytical mindset - able to use engagement data and usage metrics to prioritise where to spend time.
- Clear, confident communicator in both written and verbal English; additional European languages are a plus.
- Willingness to travel across Europe for client meetings, industry events, and team collaboration.
Competitive base salary with a performance-based variable component, structured to reward both retention and portfolio growth. A defined portfolio of active accounts from day one - you will not be building a pipeline from scratch. An experienced, collaborative London-based team with deep product and market knowledge, committed to your onboarding and development. Hybrid working with a minimum of 9 days per month in the London office. 2–4 weeks of structured onboarding, including deep dives into our products and the shipping and commodities markets we serve. Structured career development reviews every 4 months with a clear path to senior AM or commercial leadership roles. Personal learning and development budget (up to £2,000 annually). Company health insurance and regular team events.
Sales Account Manager employer: Signal
Signal Ocean is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in London where innovation meets collaboration. As part of a high-performing team, you will benefit from structured career development, a personal learning budget, and the opportunity to engage with industry leaders while managing a defined portfolio of established accounts. With a strong focus on employee growth and a supportive culture, Signal Ocean empowers its employees to thrive in their roles and make meaningful contributions to the maritime data sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sales Account Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks at events or online. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Be ready to showcase your skills in real-time. Prepare for potential role-play scenarios or case studies during interviews to demonstrate how you’d handle client situations.
✨Tip Number 3
Research the company inside out. Knowing the ins and outs of Signal Ocean and AXSMarine will help you tailor your conversations and show you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! A quick thank-you email after interviews can keep you top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate your fit!
We think you need these skills to ace Sales Account Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Sales Account Manager role. Highlight your experience in B2B account management and any relevant knowledge of the maritime or commodities sector. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Relationship Skills:Since this is a relationship-first role, emphasise your ability to build and maintain strong client relationships. Share examples of how you've successfully managed accounts and grown portfolios in the past. We love seeing those success stories!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon unless it's industry-specific. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the heart of your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you're keen on joining our team at Signal Ocean × AXSMarine!
How to prepare for a job interview at Signal
✨Know Your Accounts
Before the interview, take some time to research the specific accounts you'll be managing. Understand their business models, challenges, and how Signal Ocean and AXSMarine can add value. This will show your potential employer that you're proactive and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Relationship-Building Skills
Since this role is all about relationships, prepare examples of how you've successfully built and maintained client relationships in the past. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you used to retain and grow accounts, as well as any challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Mindset
Highlight your ability to use data and analytics to drive decisions. Prepare to discuss how you've previously tracked engagement metrics or usage patterns to identify opportunities for account growth. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and your understanding of the importance of data in sales.
✨Be Ready to Negotiate
Since you'll be leading renewal conversations and negotiating contract terms, practice articulating your negotiation strategies. Think of scenarios where you've successfully negotiated terms in the past and be prepared to share those experiences. Confidence in this area will be key to impressing your interviewers.
