What does an Account Executive do?
Account Executives are typically employed in the advertising, IT, fashion, marketing or other related industries to learn the client’s expectations for a project and exceed these expectations. They’re responsible for enhancing a company’s performance by building strategies to implement projects and submit them by their deadlines. Account Executives often serve in a leadership role for their company by communicating deadlines, requirements and other client goals to other employees. They collaborate closely with clients to help them fully understand the services they offer and the work the client needs completed.
Account Executive skills and qualifications
Account Executives rely on people skills and communicate with clients in both business-to-business and business-to-customer capacities. Other important skills and qualifications for Account Executives include:
- Written and verbal communication skills
- Organization skills
- Time management skills
- Teamwork skills
- Multitasking skills
- Budget management
- Sales skills
- Account management
Account Executive salary expectations
The average salary for an Account Executive is $69,605 per year. Experience is one of the biggest factors determining what an Account Executive can make. Salary may also depend on the applicant’s level of education and geographical location. Some Account Executives can expect additional income on top of their salary, averaging $15,000 per year in cash bonuses and $22,500 per year in commissions.
Account Executive education and training requirements
Account Executives usually obtain a bachelor’s degree. However, it is possible to become an Account Executive with only a high school diploma or GED with sufficient experience. Account Executives typically come from education backgrounds in areas such as marketing, business or risk management.
Account Executive experience requirements
Many companies offer entry-level opportunities for employees with no prior experience. However, as this is a leadership role, Account Executives typically possess a few years of professional experience.
Account Executive Job Description Template
We are looking for a competent Account Executive to find business opportunities and manage customer relationships. You’ll be directly responsible for preserving and expanding our customer base. The ideal candidate will have talent in sales and experience in customer service. We expect you to be a reliable professional able to achieve a balance between customer orientation and a results-driven approach. The goal is to find opportunities and turn them into profitable long-term relationships based on trust and mutual satisfaction.
Responsibilities
- Create detailed business plans to facilitate the attainment of goals and quotas
- Manage the entire sales cycle from finding a client to securing a deal
- Unearth new sales opportunities through networking and turn them into long-term partnerships
- Present products to prospective clients
- Provide professional after-sales support to enhance the customers’ dedication
- Remain in frequent contact with the clients in your responsibility to understand their needs
- Respond to complaints and resolve issues aiming to customer contentment and the preservation of the company’s reputation
- Negotiate agreements and keep records of sales and data
Requirements
- Proven experience as an Account Executive or in other sales/customer service role
- Knowledge of market research, sales and negotiating principles
- Outstanding knowledge of MS Office; knowledge of CRM software (e.g. Salesforce) is a plus
- Excellent communication/presentation skills and ability to build relationships
- Organizational and time-management skills
- A business acumen
- Enthusiastic and passionate
Job description samples for similar positions
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