Strategic Account Executive

We are seeking a strategic, commercially minded and client-focused professional to take ownership of key client accounts and build trusted, long-term partnerships. You’ll serve as a trusted advisor, coordinating internal teams to deliver consistent service, manage account performance, strengthen client retention and resolve issues proactively. The role requires strong account management, stakeholder engagement and commercial capabilities, with a focus on identifying needs-led cross-sell and up-sell opportunities within existing accounts while supporting contract renewals, account reviews, proposals, forecasts, pricing inputs and commercial recommendations.

What you'll do:

• Take ownership of assigned strategic client accounts and serve as the primary point of contact for key stakeholders.
• Build trusted, long-term relationships by developing a thorough understanding of each client’s business, priorities, operating environment and evolving needs.
• Develop, maintain and execute account plans covering stakeholder engagement, service objectives, retention priorities, risks and growth opportunities.
• Coordinate operational, project and service-delivery activities across internal teams to ensure commitments are met and clients receive a consistent experience.
• Monitor service performance, contractual commitments, client satisfaction, account health, revenue and profitability, and initiate corrective action where required.
• Lead regular client check-ins, service reviews and quarterly business reviews, ensuring actions, decisions and follow-ups are clearly documented and completed.
• Manage client queries, concerns and escalations proactively, coordinating timely resolution and clear communication with all stakeholders.
• Support contract management, renewals and commercial discussions in collaboration with relevant internal teams.
• Identify and qualify appropriate cross-sell and up-sell opportunities within existing accounts, based on demonstrated client needs and value.
• Coordinate solution input from platform, product, delivery and growth teams, and prepare proposals, presentations, pricing inputs and commercial recommendations where expansion opportunities arise.
• Maintain accurate account, stakeholder, activity, opportunity, risk and forecast information in CRM and account management systems.

Your Expertise:

• 10+ years’ experience in strategic or key account management, client relationship management, service delivery, operations or a related client-facing role.
• Demonstrated experience taking ownership of complex client portfolios and building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Strong capability in account planning, stakeholder mapping, service governance, client retention, account health management and risk mitigation.
• Experience coordinating operational, project and service-delivery activities across multiple business units and resolving client issues or escalations.
• Proven ability to lead client reviews, monitor service and commercial performance, and translate account insights into clear actions and recommendations.
• Commercial acumen, including experience with contracts, renewals, pricing inputs, forecasts and account profitability.
• Ability to identify and progress needs-led cross-sell and up-sell opportunities within existing accounts without compromising the trusted-advisor relationship.
• Experience preparing client proposals, presentations and commercial recommendations in collaboration with solution, product and delivery teams.
• Experience using CRM and account management systems to maintain accurate account, activity, risk, opportunity and forecast records.
• Experience in HR, payroll, SaaS, technology platforms, managed services, BPO or people solutions is preferred.

Qualifications:

• Qualification Essential
  • Grade 12
  • Relevant degree or diploma in Sales, Business Administration, Marketing, HR, Payroll, Information Systems or related field.
  • Computer literacy, including MS Office and CRM or account management tools,
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Postgraduate Degree in Business Management
  • Project management, solution selling, account management or commercial negotiation training.
  • Exposure to payroll, HRIS, managed services or SaaS/platform sales environments.

Other information applicable to the opportunity:

• Permanent position
• Location: Pretoria
• Work environment: Open plan
• Travel: Travel to office and clients when required. Applicants must have their own reliable vehicle and a valid South African Drivers licence

Why work for us?

Want to work for an organization that solves complex real-world problems with innovative software solutions? At iOCO, we believe anything is possible with modern technology, software, and development expertise. We are continuously pushing the boundaries of innovative solutions across multiple industries using an array of technologies.?

You will be part of a consultancy, working with some of the most knowledgeable minds in the industry on interesting solutions across different business domains.?

Our culture of continuous learning will ensure that you will have all the opportunities, tools, and support to hone and grow your craft.?

By joining IOCO you will have an open invitation to developer inspiring forums. A place where you will be able to connect and learn from and with your peers by sharing ideas, experiences, practices, and solutions.?

iOCO is an equal opportunity employer with an obligation to achieve its own unique EE objectives in the context of Employment Equity targets. Therefore, our employment strategy gives primary preference to previously disadvantaged individuals or groups.