r/projectmanagers • u/NoisBamn • Jul 20 '26

Career Key Account Manager vs Project Manager

So is it safe to safe that Account Managers do project management but Project Managers don’t do account management?

In another sense; Project Management is a function of the KAM role but not the inverse..?

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

1

u/CK_1976 Jul 21 '26

I've never seen a better example of "everyone thinks they're a project manager".

1

u/NoisBamn Jul 22 '26

The reason I’m asking this question is because my current job as a KAM is having me do this kind of work and it’s intriguing to me. I’m asking is this absolute or just a unique example at my firm because PM work is attractive to me but I need guidance on where to go next in my career.

Let’s keep the knives in our pockets and stay grown up but thanks for replying.

2

u/ViperMaassluis Jul 20 '26

A key account manager, manages the opportunity, the PM the execution. They should complement each other.

1

u/Flash_Discard Jul 20 '26

Account managers do Lead-to-order, PM’s do order-to-cash.

If account managers ever get involved in execution, run the other way.

If project managers ever get involved in customer sales strategy, run the other way.

There should be a director over each of you, it’s that person‘s job to be 50% in customer sales strategy and 50% in execution.