Thales is a global technology leader trusted by governments, institutions, and enterprises to tackle their most demanding challenges. From quantum applications and artificial intelligence to cybersecurity and 6G innovation, our solutions empower critical decisions rooted in human intelligence. Operating at the forefront of aerospace and space, cybersecurity and digital identity, we’re driven by a mission to build a future we can all trust.
Since 1983, Thales has been present in the Republic of Korea and have been supporting the country’s ambitions and local industry in the defence, civil aviation, and digital identity and space sectors. Headquartered in Seoul, Thales engages in providing solutions that help customers make critical decisions for domains such as air traffic management, in-flight entertainment, space and digital security. With a strategy of strong collaboration with key industrial players, Thales is helping to build local expertise in Korea by engaging in transfer of knowledge, technology and production.Description:
The Account Manager is responsible for PAY business line in Korea for Thales CDI Global Business Unit (GBU). This role involves taking full ownership of client relationship management, driving business growth and delivering results in line with agreed targets. The Account Manager plays a critical role in ensuring customer satisfaction, retention and strong business performance.
Key business focus areas include developing and executing strategies to drive profitable growth in our payment card manufacturing and personalization business and defining and delivering on account plans to grow our digital services footprint.
To succeed in this role, the Account Manager will build strong exposure to the payments industry while continuously develop market insight. They will drive results by influencing and aligning cross-functional teams across both the customer and Thales organization. Success in this position requires an entrepreneurial mindset-bringing initiative, curiosity, and a high degree of autonomy. The ideal candidate is a natural team and strong communicator, capable of fostering collaboration across teams and demonstrating the ability to persuade, influence and negotiate effectively, both internally and with customers
Context:
Individual contributor
Strong interpersonal skill to work with matrix team structure in multiple geographical areas such as France, China and Singapore
Missions and responsibilities:
Account Planning: Develop and maintain an account plan for each assigned account, outlining the strategy to grow in revenue and market share and aligning it with both internal teams and customer stakeholders. The plan should broadly include:
Identifying and defining strategic initiative in collaboration with the customer to generate growth beyond business as usual and to build a long-term partnership
Gaining a deep understanding of the customer’s priorities, expectations, and long-term vision – and aligning Thales’ offerings to support their business goals.
Monitoring competitor activity within the account and sharing relevant insights with internal stakeholders.
Collaborating with Field Marketing to support execution of the plan, including identifying growth opportunities, defining “must-win” initiatives, shaping the engagement plan, co-creating value-based pricing strategies, and developing relevant segment proposition
Lead commercial and contractual negotiations aligning with the objectives of the company and long-term relationship with the customer
Orchestration & Stakeholder Alignment: coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and execution of the account strategy by:
Sharing timely and relevant information on the customer (e.g., strategy, organizational structure, needs, budget cycles), and serving as the voice of the customer internally.
Orchestrating and managing the extended account team across various activities (e.g., RFPs, project execution, product and service portfolio alignment, customer experience, contract management) and supporting all actions required to close order intake.
Providing regular and accurate forecasts of customer needs to ensure delivery readiness and internal alignment.
Monitoring and reporting on customer satisfaction issues and contributing to the improvement of customer satisfaction scores.
Customer Representation & Relationship Management: Serve as the key representative of Thales to the customer by:
Maximizing customer satisfaction through proactive engagement and follow-through.
Establishing trust and loyalty by driving joint actions and long-term collaboration with the customer
Ensuring performance against revenue targets and growth objectives in the short and medium term by maintaining strong customer intimacy
Leading and securing the execution of strategic initiatives as defined in the Account Plan
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance or Scient & Technology with a minimum of 10-12+ years of relevant work experience or Master’s degree in field with 8+ years of relevant work experience
8+ years of work experience in account management or sales, preferably within the payments, fintech, or financial services industry
Proven track record of managing enterprise accounts, with demonstrated success in driving account growth and improving client retention
Strong understanding of payment cards, card networks, payment processors, gateways, and digital payment trends
Familiarity with technology, regulatory and compliance requirements in the payment industry (eg., PCI-DSS, EMV etc)
Strong relationship building and client management skills
Proven experience in navigating complex commercial and legal negotiations
Analytical and data-driven mindset with the ability to interpret metrics and identify business opportunities and execute against ambitious growth objectives
Solid understanding of Software-as-a-Services (SaaS) business models and solutions.
Ability to get into the details, identify areas of maximum impact to invest time and resources
Comfortable with technical solutions and the ability to deep dive into discussion with technology teams
Demonstrated ability to lead and close sales opportunities from discovery through validate, negotiation and deal closure, while effectively leveraging internal resources
Highly autonomous wit a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset to drive business growth
Proficiency in CRM platforms (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics) and tools such as Microsoft Office or equivalent
At Thales, we’re committed to fostering a workplace where respect, trust, collaboration, and passion drive everything we do. Here, you’ll feel empowered to bring your best self, thrive in a supportive culture, and love the work you do. Join us, and be part of a team reimagining technology to create solutions that truly make a difference – for a safer, greener, and more inclusive world.