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Client partner vs strategic accounts manager

The differences between client partners and strategic accounts managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a client partner and a strategic accounts manager. Additionally, a client partner has an average salary of $136,496, which is higher than the $83,574 average annual salary of a strategic accounts manager.

The top three skills for a client partner include portfolio, cloud and CRM. The most important skills for a strategic accounts manager are account management, healthcare, and customer service.

Client partner vs strategic accounts manager overview

Client PartnerStrategic Accounts Manager
Yearly salary$136,496$83,574
Hourly rate$65.62$40.18
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs89,838141,224
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

What does a client partner do?

A client partner specializes in assisting and building positive relationships with customers, ensuring satisfaction that will translate to sales. They are primarily responsible for reaching out to customers through calls and correspondence, arranging appointments and meetings, discussing the extent of opportunities with customers, resolving issues and concerns, and reporting progress to managers and supervisors. Moreover, a client partner may create specific programs and payment plans for clients, provide consultations, negotiate contracts, and assess risks, all while adhering to the policies and standards of the company.

What does a strategic accounts manager do?

A strategic accounts manager is an individual who is responsible for establishing and maintaining productive relationships with new and existing large clients. Strategic accounts managers assign staff members to provide help and support with client accounts and how they can be of service to the clients. They are required to create an appropriate sales strategy for each of their clients and identify needs. Strategic accounts manager must also create comprehensive reports on client sales and strategy to their upper management.

Client partner vs strategic accounts manager salary

Client partners and strategic accounts managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Client PartnerStrategic Accounts Manager
Average salary$136,496$83,574
Salary rangeBetween $87,000 And $212,000Between $51,000 And $135,000
Highest paying CityHarrisburg, PASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying statePennsylvaniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyDechertVMware
Best paying industryProfessionalTechnology

Differences between client partner and strategic accounts manager education

There are a few differences between a client partner and a strategic accounts manager in terms of educational background:

Client PartnerStrategic Accounts Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Client partner vs strategic accounts manager demographics

Here are the differences between client partners' and strategic accounts managers' demographics:

Client PartnerStrategic Accounts Manager
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 69.0% Female, 31.0%Male, 68.2% Female, 31.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between client partner and strategic accounts manager duties and responsibilities

Client partner example responsibilities.

  • Manage partner relationship with EMC and develop go-to-market strategies.
  • Require strong communication skills, sensitivity, compassion and ability to interpret and analyze insurance laws and scientific journals.
  • Lead and mentor UX, design, architects, developer and QA resources.
  • Manage partner relationship with EMC and develop go-to-market strategies.

Strategic accounts manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage a daily, weekly, and monthly sales funnels and pipelines to track accounts from initial call to close.
  • Employ sales processes using SalesForce CRM tool.
  • Maintain client schedules and records within SalesForce to keep campaigns on track.
  • Increase ACR revenues by cross-selling products and services and ensuring client retention.
  • Provide web demonstrations (GoToMeeting, WebEx) of on demand SaaS printing-marketplace solution.
  • Support infrastructure and sales teams to meet technical, administration, and special support requirements.
  • Show more

Client partner vs strategic accounts manager skills

Common client partner skills
  • Portfolio, 11%
  • Cloud, 10%
  • CRM, 8%
  • Analytics, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Project Management, 5%
Common strategic accounts manager skills
  • Account Management, 9%
  • Healthcare, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Salesforce, 5%
  • CRM, 5%
  • Digital Marketing, 5%

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