Business Development and Account Manager (sofco Limited)

Location: Remote (UK-based, with travel required)

Reports to: Sales Director / Commercial Manager

Employment type: Full-time, permanent

About the Role

Sofco are looking for a driven, commercially-minded Account Manager / Business Development Manager to join our team in a remote capacity. This is a dual-focus role, split between:

• Winning new business — proactively identifying, targeting, and converting new customers through outbound activity, networking, and industry events.
• Growing and protecting our existing client base — deepening relationships, identifying upsell and cross-sell opportunities, and ensuring high levels of retention and satisfaction.

You'll be comfortable managing a portfolio of accounts day-to-day while also picking up the phone to open doors with prospects who've never heard of us. This is a role for someone who is equally motivated by nurturing relationships and by the thrill of the chase.

Key Objectives

1. New Business Development — Build a healthy pipeline of new prospects and convert them into long-term customers, contributing to agreed new business revenue targets.
2. Existing Account Growth — Maximise revenue and value from the current account base through proactive account management, regular contact, and identification of new opportunities within accounts.

Key Responsibilities

New Business Development

• Generate new business leads through outbound prospecting, including cold calling, email outreach, and LinkedIn/social selling.
• Research and identify target companies and decision-makers within defined verticals/territories.
• Arrange and conduct new business meetings (virtual and face-to-face) with prospective clients.
• Develop and deliver compelling sales presentations and proposals tailored to prospect needs.
• Manage the end-to-end sales process from first contact through to close, including negotiation and contract sign-off.
• Build and maintain a robust, accurately-forecasted new business pipeline in the CRM.

Account Management

• Own and manage a portfolio of existing client accounts, acting as the primary point of contact.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with key stakeholders at each account.
• Proactively identify opportunities for upselling, cross-selling, and expanding share of wallet within existing accounts.
• Conduct regular account reviews (virtual and in-person) to understand client needs and satisfaction.

• Monitor account health and address any risk of churn early, working cross-functionally to resolve issues.
• Maintain accurate account plans and revenue forecasts.

Events, Networking & Market Presence

• Represent the company at trade shows, exhibitions, and industry events, both as an attendee and where required on a stand.
• Proactively arrange meetings with prospects and existing clients around event attendance to maximise ROI on travel and time.
• Stay current on industry trends, competitor activity, and market developments to inform account and prospecting strategy.
• Build a personal network within the industry to support long-term business development.

Reporting & Administration

• Maintain up-to-date, accurate records of all account and prospect activity in the CRM.
• Provide regular pipeline, forecast, and account performance updates to management.
• Contribute to sales and marketing planning, sharing market and client feedback.

What We're Looking For

Essential

• Proven experience in a combined account management and business development / sales role, ideally B2B.
• Demonstrable track record of hitting or exceeding new business and account growth targets.
• Confident and resilient with cold calling and proactive outbound prospecting — genuinely enjoys initiating new conversations.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to manage stakeholders at multiple levels, including senior decision-makers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; confident presenting to clients and prospects.
• Highly organised and self-motivated — able to manage a varied workload independently in a remote-working environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly for client meetings and trade shows/events (including occasional overnight stays).
• Full, clean UK driving licence.

Desirable

• Experience within sofco's specific industry — e.g. Supply Chain within Food & Beverage & Retail supply
• CRM proficiency (HubSpot).
• Existing network of contacts within relevant target verticals.
• Experience exhibiting at or organising attendance for trade shows.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary + commission/bonus structure tied to new business and account growth.
• Fully remote working with flexibility, supported by regular team check-ins.
• Travel and expenses covered for client visits and events.
• Pension, healthcare, holiday entitlement, laptop/phone, other standard benefits
• Genuine autonomy and ownership over your territory/account base.
• Support from a collaborative marketing and sales team to help generate leads and content for prospecting.