Account Manager

British Council · Beijing

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Transformation has resulted in changes in skills requirements, roles, and numbers of roles required in the new operating model. The roles in the new operating model will be restricted to employees in the selection pool in the first instance. Selection for any jobs that remain unfilled following the agreed selection process will be conducted in line with the Global Recruitment policy.

Pay Band: 6/G
Location: Beijing, China
Contract Type: Indefinite
Right to work: As we cannot sponsor work passes, applicants must already have the right to live and work in China.

Closing Date: Thursday, 15 October 2026- 23:59 China Time (GMT +8)

Role purpose 
The purpose of this role is to manage a pipeline of qualified opportunities to win new business and a portfolio of existing accounts to retain and grow income and ensure we are delivering on customer goals. This role will work with stakeholders across our Examinations business to sell solutions covering our Examinations products and work closely with different stakeholder groups during solution design, proposal/bud development and through delivery. They will be the key point of contact for the B2B Accounts they manage, internally and externally.

Role context
The British Council’s vision for English & Examinations is to be the world authority in high-quality English language teaching, learning and assessment, as well as the international distributor of choice for UK professional and school qualifications. 
 
The British Council’s English Business includes a large business client base and a significant number of individuals who take English language training and exams with the British Council do so as part of an agreement with our partnerships with education institutions, governments and corporate partners. It is part of our commercial strategy to grow this Business to Business (B2B) area of activity, create alignment and efficiency across our English and Examinations businesses and be a trusted, long-term partner to the organisations we work with.  

The British Council offers a wide range of solutions to meet these requirements. These include

• English language and communication skills training – delivered online or in-person via our global network of teaching centres
• English language assessments
• Exams distribution for secondary, higher and professional education.

Alongside our portfolio of products and services we are investing in developing and enabling our global sales teams and B2B marketing efforts to ensure sustainable growth in these areas and deliver value for our customers. 

Main accountabilities 
Strategy and/or planning

• Contribute to the development and implementation of B2B sales strategy within an assigned territory.
• Contribute to business planning and setting of income targets across business units.
• Implements sales strategy within the assigned territory, including market, industry, channel and product selection.
• Informs regional strategy and income targets through data-driven insight.

Business Development

• Identifies and acts on new opportunities, leveraging internal and external networks, monitoring tender sources in particular
• Contributes to a prospecting plan with Business Pursuit roles to identify and pursue key stakeholders in target organisations.
• Manages a pipeline of new business opportunities including contact with the customer - pitching, negotiating and closing.
• Establishes B2B customer requirements and works across internal teams to develop solutions, bids and quotes that deliver on these and help win business
• Works with country and regional marketing teams to develop an annual marketing plan that helps achieve B2B sales targets.

Achieving Sales Targets

• Takes responsibility for ensuring regular action is taken to achieve sales targets, including working with stakeholders across business units to ensure operational readiness and support.
• Ensure customer experience excellence by managing their own performance and those of others in the value chain.
• Manages the solution design process for the client by project managing across internal stakeholder groups, business units and geographies.
• Negotiates commercial contracts, within agreed margins where required.
• Makes recommendations on procedural improvements, resource requirements and other operational initiatives to drive sales effectiveness, delivery, service quality and efficiency

Relationship and Stakeholder management

• Acts as the main point of contact between the organisation and the British Council
• Customer Success
• Brings internal stakeholders from across different teams together as Account teams to provide support across the B2B customer journey (e.g. solution design, pricing, onboarding, delivery etc)
• Develops account plans for key accounts to maximise retention, growth and value creation and record the actions being taken to deliver this.
• Takes active steps to maintain ongoing relationships with corporate clients, including post-delivery evaluation, progress and renewal meetings, to identify areas of improvement and future opportunities.
• Identifies opportunities for cross-selling other British Council products and non-paid services that support the relationship.

Analysis and reporting

• Captures and manages client data in CRM and other business systems.
• Drives continuous improvement of of B2B business by providing regular, data-driven insight on sales, delivery and retention.
• Manages CRM workflows that have been assigned.

Managing self and others

• Tasks and coordinates others (e.g. internal colleagues or external contractors/suppliers) to complete time-limited, straightforward activities, within established procedures, in order to ensure efficient delivery of services.
• Monitors task completion to agreed quality and time standards
• Shares intelligence and ideas across teams and encourages cross-team working to win and deliver B2B business

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Sales experience to include some experience of B2B sales
• Familiarity with Salesforce or use of similar CRM
• Proficiency in Microsoft office programs

Desirable 
•    Solution-sales experience in large sectors (e.g financial services, media, pharmaceuticals tourism, government sector etc)

Languages 
Essential
•    Local language (e.g. Chinese) at C2 level for speaking and writing. English level at C2 speaking and writing

Certification and Professional Qualifications 
•    Sales or Marketing qualifications

Education 
•    University degree or equivalent in a relevant subject or discipline

Benefits:

• 22 days of Annual Leave
• 13th Month Salary
• Non-consolidated bonus
• Comprehensive health and insurance package – includes accidental insurance, life insurance, and supplementary medical coverage
• Social insurance & housing fund - Coverage under national social insurance and housing fund
• Professional development - Ongoing learning and career growth opportunities to support your development.

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