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What does a national accounts sales manager do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Bill Thorne
What does a national accounts sales manager do

A national accounts sales manager is responsible for maintaining healthy business relationships with clients by managing and monitoring the performance of their accounts. National accounts sales managers establish reasonable sales targets and develop techniques that would maximize sales staff productivity and efficiency. They conduct data and statistical analysis with the current market trends to identify business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and increase profitability. A national accounts sales manager negotiates contracts and agreements with clients and ensures their brand consistency in the market.

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National accounts sales manager responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real national accounts sales manager resumes:

  • Lead in the selection and implementation of CRM / CMS (client management system) software.
  • Streamline sales process and internal communications by implementing CRM software to track contacts, leads, opportunities and sales.
  • Collaborate with health care providers to utilize cutting-edge DNA technology and manage patients as individuals with specific metabolic processes.
  • Close sales for ten key healthcare centers worth in excess of $30MM in revenue.
  • Work closely with healthcare purchasing organizations to increase share of member facilities.
  • Market and promote a range of home-base physical, occupational and speech language pathology therapies primarily to Medicare patients.
  • Create and personalize carefully target promotional mailings/materials for payroll products.

National accounts sales manager skills and personality traits

We calculated that 13% of National Accounts Sales Managers are proficient in National Accounts, Healthcare, and Account Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Customer-service skills.

We break down the percentage of National Accounts Sales Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • National Accounts, 13%

    Consolidated National Accounts into Executive Accounts Program presenting strategic customers a single profile approach to corporate relationship management.

  • Healthcare, 9%

    Worked closely with healthcare purchasing organizations to increase share of member facilities.

  • Account Management, 7%

    Coordinated sales and account management activities of consumer electronics accessories product line to Wal-Mart account.

  • CRM, 6%

    Launched and implemented Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft SharePoint, OneSource business intelligence, Lexis Nexis Prospect Portfolio, and WebEx.

  • Product Development, 6%

    Analyze inventory and product performance to identify obsolete items and execute product development to produce update/modernized replacements.

  • Revenue Growth, 5%

    Facilitated new Consumer experience interactive merchandising programs on a National level resulting in substantial annual revenue growth.

"national accounts," "healthcare," and "account management" are among the most common skills that national accounts sales managers use at work. You can find even more national accounts sales manager responsibilities below, including:

Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a national accounts sales manager to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "sales managers must collect and interpret complex data to target the most promising geographic areas and demographic groups, and determine the most effective sales strategies." National accounts sales managers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "tracked and analyzed data and adjusted strategies as needed to achieve overall sales objectives. "

Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling national accounts sales manager duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "sales managers need to work with colleagues and customers, so they must be able to communicate clearly." According to a national accounts sales manager resume, here's how national accounts sales managers can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "worked with brokers and outside sales reps to help company achieve targets through effective communication and multiple events"

Customer-service skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of national accounts sales managers is customer-service skills. This skill is critical to many everyday national accounts sales manager duties, as "when helping to make a sale, sales managers must listen and respond to the customer’s needs." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "proposed and introduced new model to existing product line based upon customer and industry feedback. "

Leadership skills. national accounts sales manager responsibilities often require "leadership skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "sales managers must be able to evaluate how their sales staff performs and must develop strategies for meeting sales goals." This resume example shows what national accounts sales managers do with leadership skills on a typical day: "provided leadership and direction to achieve sales objectives for diversified team. "

All national accounts sales manager skills

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National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume
National Accounts Sales Manager Resume

Compare different national accounts sales managers

National accounts sales manager vs. Product manager/sales

A sales product manager is responsible for monitoring the sales performance of a specific product and ensuring that the marketing strategies adhere to market standards and client requirements. Sales product managers work closely with the marketing and public relations team to enhance the product's brand image on various market platforms to reach the target audience. They also conduct data and statistical analysis to identify business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profitability.

If we compare the average national accounts sales manager annual salary with that of a product manager/sales, we find that product managers/sales typically earn a $16,610 higher salary than national accounts sales managers make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both national accounts sales manager and product manager/sales positions are skilled in account management, crm, and product development.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a national accounts sales manager are more likely to require skills like "national accounts," "healthcare," "sales quota," and "business relationships." On the other hand, a job as a product manager/sales requires skills like "customer service," "product sales," "pos," and "product management." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Product managers/sales earn the highest salaries when working in the education industry, with an average yearly salary of $108,541. On the other hand, national accounts sales managers are paid more in the education industry with an average salary of $103,530.On average, product managers/sales reach similar levels of education than national accounts sales managers. Product managers/sales are 1.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

National accounts sales manager vs. Manager, account executive

An account executive manager is responsible for handling client accounts and leading the account management procedures to promote the client's brand image in the market and maintain the highest satisfaction. Account executive managers work with the marketing and sales team to identify sales and promotional strategies that would increase revenues and product profits. They also review the current market trends to develop business opportunities according to client needs and public demands. An account executive manager coordinates with the clients for regular updates and informs them of business plan adjustments as needed.

On average, managers, account executive earn a $24,607 lower salary than national accounts sales managers a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both national accounts sales managers and managers, account executive have skills such as "healthcare," "account management," and "product development. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real national accounts sales manager resumes. While national accounts sales manager responsibilities can utilize skills like "national accounts," "crm," "customer satisfaction," and "r," managers, account executive use skills like "customer service," "virtualization," "post sales," and "sales territory."

Managers, account executive earn a lower average salary than national accounts sales managers. But managers, account executive earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $87,422. Additionally, national accounts sales managers earn the highest salaries in the education with average pay of $103,530 annually.managers, account executive earn similar levels of education than national accounts sales managers in general. They're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for national accounts sales managers in the next 3-5 years?

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

COVID-19 has accelerated the trends we've seen over the past few years as retailers reimagine the customer experience, blending online and offline channels. Mobile apps provide in-store wayfinding and augmented reality to allow customers to quickly search products and identify their exact locations in the store. Additionally, many retailers offer Buy Online, Pick-up In-Store (BOPIS), or curbside pickup options so that customers can pay and checkout with minimal or no contact. We expect retailers will continue to use a variety of tools to help shoppers find the items they need and want.

National accounts sales manager vs. Regional sales and marketing manager

A regional sales and marketing manager's role is to oversee a company's marketing operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include performing research and analysis to identify new business opportunities, gathering and analyzing data to determine the strengths and weaknesses of current programs and procedures, setting goals and budgets, assessing the performance of the workforce, and monitoring the progress of the different company branches within the region. Furthermore, as a regional sales and marketing manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the employees to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

An average regional sales and marketing manager eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of national accounts sales managers. The difference in salaries amounts to regional sales and marketing managers earning a $9,623 lower average salary than national accounts sales managers.national accounts sales managers and regional sales and marketing managers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "account management," "crm," and "product development," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, national accounts sales managers are more likely to have skills like "national accounts," "healthcare," "distributors," and "sales quota." But a regional sales and marketing manager is more likely to have skills like "digital marketing," "regional sales," "market research," and "distribution network."

Regional sales and marketing managers earn the highest salary when working in the automotive industry, where they receive an average salary of $100,223. Comparatively, national accounts sales managers have the highest earning potential in the education industry, with an average salary of $103,530.Most regional sales and marketing managers achieve a similar degree level compared to national accounts sales managers. For example, they're 3.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

National accounts sales manager vs. Inside sales manager

An inside sales manager is the one who leads the sales team to meet the organization's sales targets. The sales managers recruit, handle, and train the professional development of the sales team. It is their duty to set the goals of the company, provide sales reports, set departmental budgets, and track sales. They collaborate with the marketing department to make sure that the sales staff receives quality leads. Also, they address and resolve complaints from customers.

Inside sales managers average a lower salary than the annual salary of national accounts sales managers. The difference is about $13,457 per year.While both national accounts sales managers and inside sales managers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like account management, crm, and revenue growth, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "national accounts," "healthcare," "product development," and "r" are skills that commonly show up on national accounts sales manager resumes. On the other hand, inside sales managers use skills like customer service, salesforce, excellent interpersonal, and work ethic on their resumes.inside sales managers enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $81,903. For comparison, national accounts sales managers earn the highest salary in the education industry.The average resume of inside sales managers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to national accounts sales managers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Types of national accounts sales manager

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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