Account Manager

Account Manager - Established UK Ironmongery Supplier

Location: Birmingham - office-based, Monday to Friday

Type: Full-time, permanent

The Opportunity

Most account management roles in building products are order desks with a job title attached. This one isn't. It sits inside a 73-year-old business in the middle of a genuine revamp, and it's built for someone who wants to turn well-serviced accounts into well-developed ones.

Our client is looking for an Account Manager to take ownership of a busy ironmongery patch in Birmingham. Many of the accounts average around £50,000 a year, and the current area revenue of around £500,000 is something the business wants to grow well beyond. You'll split your time evenly between new and existing business, with plenty of autonomy to decide where your effort goes.

This is a role for an instinctive seller with a working knowledge of ironmongery or hardware, who is curious, commercially minded and ready to grow into the role and the business. It will suit someone ambitious who wants to step up, and who would value a route that could lead into management as the company expands.

About the Company

Our client is a 73-year-old ironmongery business supplying repair, replacement and project work to universities, healthcare providers, facilities management companies, subcontractors and estates departments.

The business is growing, developing and modernising. As longstanding colleagues approach retirement, the company is future-proofing by bringing in new people to grow with it, and new departments and positions are being created as part of that shift.

The culture is relaxed, friendly and free of politics. The team is a mix of experienced long-servers and younger colleagues, and the younger members are pushing for more social activities such as barbecues and group outings. There is plenty of support within the business, and plenty of people to learn from.

The Role

As Account Manager, you'll take ownership of a busy ironmongery patch, building relationships, spotting opportunity and growing revenue rather than simply processing what comes in. This is a new role created by an upcoming retirement.

You'll be office-based in Birmingham, working with customers across universities, healthcare, FM companies, subcontractors and estates departments. The work is currently mainly repair and replacement. The role is highly autonomous and KPI driven on activity and revenue.

What you'll be doing:

• Developing and maximising your existing accounts, moving beyond servicing them to uncover further spend and upsell opportunities
• Winning new customers across universities, healthcare, FM companies, subcontractors and estates departments
• Growing outbound calling to around 30% of your activity, from a base that is currently mostly call-backs
• Building strong, lasting relationships so the business becomes your customers' first call for ironmongery
• Handling enquiries received by call, email or photograph, entering orders into Business Central and seeing them through to despatch
• Prioritising your time on commercially worthwhile accounts rather than small orders or consumer enquiries
• Offering sound technical guidance on ironmongery and hardware, including access control, and drawing on colleagues' expertise where needed
• Delivering against activity and revenue targets and helping to increase the area's revenue beyond its current level

About You

• Experience in ironmongery or hardware, with general technical competence - you don't need to know everything
• An instinctive salesperson who upsells and closes deals
• Commercially aware, able to judge where the value lies and prioritise your time accordingly
• Inquisitive, with real curiosity about customers and their needs
• A proven ability to build rapport and keep customers loyal
• Confident making outbound calls to win new business
• Ambitious, with a desire to grow into the role and the business
• Access control knowledge is desirable
• A GAI qualification is beneficial but not a prerequisite
• Experience of the target routes to market is not essential

What's On Offer

• Competitive Salary
• 25 days' annual leave
• 3% pension
• A bonus is not currently part of the package, though the business is open to introducing one in the future
• An established 73-year-old business that is modernising, with plenty of experienced colleagues to learn from
• Progression that isn't rigid but is available for the right person, with new departments and positions being created and a potential route into management
• A relaxed, friendly, politics-free culture with a growing social scene

How to Apply

If you're an ambitious, commercially minded seller with ironmongery or hardware knowledge, a natural instinct to upsell and close, and the curiosity to grow an established patch in Birmingham, we'd like to hear from you. Apply through Rommbic with your CV, or get in touch with us for a confidential conversation about the role.