Client managers take customer service to the highest level. They build relationships with major clients on behalf of financial and software companies and act as their guide and advocate in every interaction with the business. Client managers educate a client about what their business offers, sell their products and services and manage the work that the organization provides for a client.

Responsibilities

A client manager serves as the main point of contact between a company and a major customer. A recent job posting for a senior client manager at BBVA Compass in Houston, Texas explained that “Primary responsibilities are to generate new business and grow existing business across Compass' markets, customer base and product sets. Incumbents serve as the lead person in relationships with the bank's most important clients.”

Tasks

According to a job posting by JP Morgan Chase in Greenwich, Connecticut, the Hedge Fund Services Client Managers is responsible for “Co-ordination of services across multiple products and/or locations.” They also work with clients to fund launches, resolve delivery issues, and co-ordinate strategic communication with clients.

Qualifications

Most client management positions require a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, computer science or a field that is related to the products that the company offers. Client managers often have three to five years of experience in financial services or software development. A senior client management positions requires eight to 10 years of experience.

Other Considerations

Client managers have excellent skills in communication and negotiation. They are able to build strong relationships at all levels of their organization to ensure that others complete the work that their client has requested. They manage their time and prioritize multiple projects. They understand the products and services of their organization and are able to solve their clients’ major business issues with the services that their organization offers. For example, the Client Manager at Nielson works with clients “to solve business issues in areas of Pricing, Product Assortment, Segmentation, and other key business areas.”

Expert Insight

Many organizations require client managers to travel to visit clients on a regular basis.

Salary and Job Outlook

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics groups the data on client managers with data on sales agents in financial services. People in these occupations made an average of $32.18 per hour or $66,930 per year in 2009. These positions are expected to grow between seven and 13 percent by 2018, which is an average rate of growth.