Head of Direct Sales and Account Management

Location: Milton Keynes Office, Full Time Role

Are you ready to step into a high‑impact player manager role for viva.com a highly innovative digital payments firm, where you stay close to the action, directly influencing Internal, Field Sales and Account Management team success; driving measurable growth across the UK?  You’ll have the opportunity to shape outcomes, unblock challenges, and make a visible difference by working hands‑on to execute a sales strategy and lead / develop a sales team to achieve sales growth goals.

Why viva.com

Viva.com is Europe’s first acquirer powering merchant payments acceptance across 24 countries and over 1,215 devices. In the UK, Viva.com operates as an E-Money Institution authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), offering an omnichannel payments platform that empowers businesses of all sizes to accept and manage payments — in-store, online, or on the go. 

Viva.com leads in Tap on Any Device technology, offers a high-conversion Smart Checkout for online payments, and provides a robust marketplace solution, enabling flexible, scalable, and future-proof payment journeys tailored to every business model. All technology is built in-house on Microsoft Azure, ensuring speed, security, and innovation at scale. 

Through its direct connections to local payment schemes and alternative payment methods, Viva.com supports 40+ payment options. Key features include Real-Time Settlement, Offline Payments, acceptance fees as low as 0% with the use of Viva.com’s business debit card, and Merchant Advance. 

With a growing ecosystem of 450+ tech partner-innovators, Viva.com is leading the shift to All-in-One business solutions, empowering merchants to adopt cutting-edge technology seamlessly and scale their business with ease. 

Learn more at viva.com 

About the Role

This is a high-impact, hands-on role where you will lead from the front. While you will be accountable for the strategy, your primary focus is execution: actively supporting the Field Sales, Inside Sales, and Account Management teams to close deals, solve complex problems, and drive self-generated growth across the UK. You won't just track the numbers; you will help make them happen.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead from the Front: Take full accountability for the performance of the Direct Sales function (Field, Inside, and Account Management). You will work alongside these teams to drive self-generated sales and ensure individual and departmental targets are met and exceeded.
• Active Pipeline Management: Go beyond simple reporting. Constantly review and understand sales pipelines and opportunities. You will be expected to dive into the details, redirecting focus where necessary and actively helping the team unblock stalled deals.
• Execution Over Theory: Execute the company’s sales growth strategy with a relentless focus on customer acquisition and satisfaction. Your job is to translate strategy into daily action.
• Operational Support & Deal Closing: Actively support the Direct Sales team in identifying potential candidates and meeting sales targets. You will join meetings, support negotiations, and help get deals over the line.
• Customer & Market Intelligence:  You will keep your finger on the pulse of the market to ensure we remain competitive.
• Escalation & Resolution: Personally step in to successfully handle complex customer issues or critical escalations, demonstrating to the team how to turn challenges into long-term loyalty.
• Coaching & Development: Develop the wider field sales team through active coaching, mentoring, and performance management. You will be responsible for optimizing performance levels and ensuring employee retention by helping your team succeed.
• Recruitment & Growth: Assume a lead role in the recruitment of new Direct Sales associates. You will build your bench strength by identifying and attracting top-tier sales talent.
• Relationship Building: Ensure that long-term relationships are established and maintained with new and existing customers, acting as a senior point of contact when required.
• Feedback Loop: Ensure the Direct Sales teams are proactive in providing trustworthy feedback and after-sales support, bridging the gap between customer needs and internal delivery.

Requirements

• A "Player-Coach" Mentality: You have extensive experience in sales leadership but have never lost the itch to sell. You enjoy coaching a rep through a call just as much as presenting to a board.
• Proven B2B Sales Experience: A track record of driving growth in Field and Inside sales environments within the UK market.
• Action-Oriented Leadership: You prefer quick decision-making and problem-solving over lengthy strategy meetings.
• Resilience & Adaptability: You can pivot quickly based on pipeline needs and market feedback.
• Talent Developer: Proven ability to hire, train, and retain high-performing sales professionals.

Benefits

• Monthly paid bonus scheme

• Private medical health insurance
• Pension
• 25 days holiday
• Office gym (Milton Keynes office only)
• Free fruit bowls, Beverages,
• Free Breakfast Cereals (London office only)
• We work in an open, transparent working environment that actively promotes ingenuity and team work
• You will be fully trained and continuously supported
• Working in an international fin-tech company with a large cultural diversity
• A fast paced and high energy environment
• Collaborating with motivated and dynamic colleagues
• Work with the latest in payments acquiring technology
• Opportunity to grow progressively in your domain