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What is a major accounts sales manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Bill Thorne

As the job title suggests, the role of a major accounts sales manager is to oversee all the activities of the major accounts in an organization. That said, their role holds a huge bearing in the growth and success of a company, particularly its relationships with its biggest clients.

The job duties of a major accounts sales manager depend on their line of business, but in general, they are responsible for determining client needs, communicating specifications to relevant teams, participating in the sales strategy development, and maintaining an open line of communication with major clients. They also supervise subordinate staff, train new hires, and serve as a mentor for all employees.

If you want to pursue the role of a major accounts sales manager, you would need to have at least a bachelor's degree in business, marketing, communication, or other business or sales-related field. Furthermore, you would need to possess outstanding skills in sales, communication, leadership, and client relations, all of which can be built through job experience.

What general advice would you give to a major accounts sales manager?

Bill ThorneBill Thorne LinkedIn profile

Executive Director of the NRF Foundation and Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs of NRF, National Retail Federation

Retail is the largest private-sector employer in the country, directly employing 32 million people and supporting 52 million jobs overall - roughly one-quarter of the U.S. workforce. While COVID-19 has presented new and unexpected challenges, retailers have continued to showcase the industry's resilience and adaptability time and again. The safety and security of customers and employees remains our greatest priority. It is no doubt that the professional environment has changed this year, but retail continues to offer a plethora of career opportunities for graduates and seasoned veterans alike.
ScoreMajor Accounts Sales ManagerUS Average
Salary
6.1

Avg. Salary $78,086

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.4

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%

Asian 4.07%

Black or African American 3.24%

Hispanic or Latino 9.82%

Unknown 4.41%

White 78.23%

Gender

female 21.81%

male 78.19%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress level
6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Major accounts sales manager career paths

Key steps to become a major accounts sales manager

  1. Explore major accounts sales manager education requirements

    Most common major accounts sales manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    81.3 %

    Master's

    9.0 %

    Associate

    6.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific major accounts sales manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Cloud20.79%
    HR14.47%
    Sales Training13.87%
    ADP10.01%
    C-Level8.02%
  3. Complete relevant major accounts sales manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New major accounts sales managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a major accounts sales manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real major accounts sales manager resumes.
  4. Research major accounts sales manager duties and responsibilities

    • Cloud, and manage services.
    • Utilize company CRM and system to identify and manage any sales employee's performance gaps.
    • Manage customer security requirements for voice, data, and IP backbone networks, including physical and intelligent applications.
    • Maintain current and accurate contact, opportunity and account information for assign accounts using SFDC as CRM.
  5. Apply for major accounts sales manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a major accounts sales manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first major accounts sales manager job

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Average major accounts sales manager salary

The average major accounts sales manager salary in the United States is $78,086 per year or $38 per hour. Major accounts sales manager salaries range between $53,000 and $114,000 per year.

Average major accounts sales manager salary
$78,086 Yearly
$37.54 hourly

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How do major accounts sales managers rate their job?

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Major accounts sales manager reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Pros

Motivating people and helping to create success in each person's day. Honor God serve people in rich people's lives, pursue excellence in service.

Cons

Not enough time in each day to get everything accomplished.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

The Strategic approach used to uncover new sales opportunities excites me the most working as an Enterprise Account Executive.

Cons

This is a great career.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

Coming in contact with people, motivating staff, making the numbers, profitability for everyone

Cons

I like everything


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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