At a Glance
- Tasks: Build strong relationships with key customers and drive growth opportunities.
- Company: Join Thatcham Research, a leader in the automotive sector with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, health plans, and performance bonuses.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for travel and career advancement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by nurturing long-term partnerships and driving strategic growth.
- Qualifications: Experience in account management and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 58500 ÂŁ per year.
We're looking for an experienced Key Account Manager to join our Commercial team and play a pivotal role in nurturing and growing long‑term customer partnerships. In this role you will work closely with some of our most strategic customers, deeply understand their needs and ensure they gain maximum value from working with Thatcham Research. You will act as a trusted partner, balancing strong relationship management with commercial ownership, and collaborating closely with internal teams to deliver meaningful outcomes for our customers and the business.
Responsibilities
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with key customer stakeholders, including senior decision‑makers.
- Develop and deliver strategic account plans aligned to customer objectives and organisational goals.
- Identify and drive growth opportunities within existing accounts, including renewals, upsell and cross‑sell.
- Act as the primary point of contact for your accounts, managing escalations and ensuring an excellent customer experience.
- Lead commercial conversations including forecasting, pricing discussions, contract negotiations and renewals.
- Own opportunities end‑to‑end, working closely with delivery, operations, product, finance and marketing teams.
- Track and report on account performance, pipeline, KPIs and customer health metrics.
- Capture all customer interactions, opportunities and account details accurately within the CRM.
- Share customer insight and feedback internally to support continuous improvement and product development.
Qualifications
- Proven experience in key account management, client relationship management or a similar commercial role.
- Strong commercial acumen, with confidence managing complex accounts, contracts and financial metrics.
- Excellent negotiation and influencing skills, able to balance customer value with commercial outcomes.
- Experience in account planning, forecasting and strategic growth planning.
- Ability to build credibility and rapport with senior stakeholders, including C‑suite level.
- Confident communicator with strong stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills.
- Analytical and data‑driven, with the ability to translate insight into action.
- Comfortable working autonomously while collaborating with cross‑functional teams.
- High attention to detail and a structured approach to managing opportunities and accounts.
- Experience using CRM systems such as Salesforce or Microsoft Dynamics.
- Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed (desirable).
- Industry experience within automotive or repair sectors is beneficial but not essential.
- Ability to speak Chinese is an advantage but not required.
Compensation & Benefits
- Circa £45k base salary plus up to 30% performance‑based OTE, dependent on skills & experience.
- 10% non‑contributory pension.
- 29 days holiday (inclusive of Christmas shutdown) + public holidays.
- Group Life Assurance (equal to 4 Ă— basic salary).
- Group Income Protection (after 6 months' service).
- Salary Sacrifice schemes (cycle to work, home & tech scheme).
- Enhanced and competitive parental leave for all parents, regardless of gender or family structure.
- Moneyhealth's Financial Coaching & Wellbeing Platform.
- Health Cash Plan (cash back on eligible medical treatments).
- Benenden Health Care (opt‑in benefit).
- Reward & Recognition Programme.
- Discounted gym membership.
- Sports & Social club.
- Payroll charitable giving.
- Sub‑sidised on‑site restaurant.
- Free on‑site parking.
All applicants must have Right to Work in the UK. For any questions, please contact careers@thatcham.org.
Account Manager in Cold Ash employer: Thatcham Research
Contact Detail:
Thatcham Research Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Account Manager in Cold Ash
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can’t.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its key accounts. Understand their needs and think about how you can add value. This will help you stand out as a candidate who’s genuinely interested in their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews with a personalised thank-you note. Mention something specific from your conversation to show you were engaged and are keen on the role. It’s a small touch that can make a big difference!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team!
We think you need these skills to ace Account Manager in Cold Ash
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Account Manager role. Highlight your experience in key account management and how it aligns with our needs at StudySmarter. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific achievements that demonstrate your skills in relationship management and commercial ownership. Use numbers and examples to illustrate how you've driven growth in previous roles.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who can build strong relationships, so show us your communication style and how you connect with others. Authenticity goes a long way!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come in through our own platform!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thatcham Research
✨Know Your Accounts Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the accounts you'll be managing. Understand their history, current challenges, and future goals. This will not only show your commitment but also help you discuss how you can add value to their business.
✨Master the Art of Relationship Building
Since this role is all about nurturing relationships, think of examples from your past where you've successfully built rapport with clients. Be ready to share specific stories that highlight your relationship management skills and how they led to successful outcomes.
✨Prepare for Commercial Conversations
Brush up on your negotiation skills and be prepared to discuss pricing strategies and contract negotiations. Think about how you can balance customer needs with commercial objectives, and come armed with examples of how you've navigated similar discussions in the past.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
This role requires a data-driven approach, so be ready to talk about how you've used analytics to drive account performance. Prepare to discuss specific metrics you've tracked and how you've translated insights into actionable strategies for growth.