What Does an Account Executive Do?

<h3 id="section---CareerOverview">Career Overview</h3> <p>Account executives can be found working in every type of industry, from advertising and marketing to technology and fashion.They're responsible for looking after the company's clients and keeping the company-client relationship in good standing. This can involve working with one or more clients while simultaneously trying to increase the amount of business a company does with those clients. </p> <p>An account executive must therefore be familiar with all the company's services and products and have the ability to sell them. Generally, an account executive has a selling quota that must be met or exceeded within a certain period, which can require significant time communicating with clients. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutAccountExecutives">Important Facts About Account Executives</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Similar Occupations</b> </td><td> Advertising sales agents, market research analysts, buyers</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Work Environment</b> </td><td> Office setting</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Key Skills</b> </td><td> Analytical skills, communication ability, customer service aptitude, leadership skills</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>On-the-Job Training</b> </td><td> Formal sales training programs are common</td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---DutiesAndResponsibilities">Duties and Responsibilities</h3> <p>In addition to working on existing accounts, account executives may also be responsible for finding and obtaining new customers and clients, typically within an assigned territory. Expanding business can involve cold-calling or prospecting, as well as attending seminars, conventions, and trade shows or making in-person presentations to potential customers. </p> <p>Not only can these activities lead to signing up additional clients but they can result in learning new skills that may benefit the company as a whole. Account executives may also examine financial information and trends, study competitors' business strategies and practices, track sales, develop operating procedures, and train new team members. </p> <h3 id="section---PreferredSkillsAndQualifications">Preferred Skills and Qualifications</h3> <p>Many employers require applicants for account executive positions to have at least a bachelor's degree in business or marketing and some level of experience. Some employers also give preference to those with additional abilities, such as strong computer skills and experience with social networking. A number of companies look for candidates who: </p> <ul><li>Work well under pressure </li><li>Are well organized </li><li>Are self-motivated </li><li>Communicate skillfully </li><li>Work adeptly with others </li></ul><h3 id="section---SalaryInfoAndJobOutlook">Salary Info and Job Outlook</h3> <p>According to <i>PayScale.com</i>, the majority of account executives earn between $40,000 and $98,000 per year as of 2023. Although the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not provide information specific to the field of account management, the BLS did project that the employment of sales representatives will likely grow by about 4% between 2021 and 2031, a rate as fast as the average predicted for all occupations.</p>