Enterprise Account Executive

Enterprise Account Executive Jobs

Enterprise Account Executives work for businesses across various sectors, including some of the biggest manufacturers, telecommunications corporations, software companies, and retail chains worldwide. Because the position carries a significant amount of responsibility and can be a sometimes high-pressure environment, Enterprise Account Executives have the potential to earn considerable money. Selling to enterprise accounts requires more than charm and clever closing tricks. Customers at all levels are becoming better informed, more receptive to your rivals’ pitches, and are continuously looking to avoid “being sold to.” As a result, the connection between the customer and seller has changed somewhat. To meet customers where they are in this new buying environment, a business needs a well-prepared, dedicated, and capable Enterprise Account Executive to help nurture and maintain a healthy sales relationship with enterprise accounts.

What is an Enterprise Account?

It’s natural to assume that enterprise accounts refer to those customers who bring in the largest amounts of revenue. While that definition isn’t necessarily incorrect, it is incomplete.

A significant sale to a single customer may bring in considerable revenue, but they might also be a one-time customer. That would not be considered an enterprise account. Instead, an enterprise account would include a revenue-generating customer that is reliable, repeating, and well-established in their industry. Enterprise accounts can provide significant revenue over time for little additional work once the initial business relationship is established.

On top of that, an enterprise account has some additional characteristics. For example, they’re usually influential entities in their industry, have a complex internal organization, and possess a budget to readily adopt enhanced features and services.

Landing such accounts is not always easy. When a business manages to land such an account, the enterprise account must be given special care and attention by a qualified Enterprise Account Executive armed with excellent management skills.

What Does an Enterprise Account Executive Do?

As the job title suggests, an Enterprise Account Executive prospects and manages the sales process with the select enterprise accounts.

While Account Executives are salespeople who work to close business with new and existing customers, Enterprise Account Executives typically have significantly more responsibilities, such as selling to a company’s largest and most key accounts.

Duties often include meeting with prospective clients offering support and solutions, making presentations, arranging training where applicable, assisting with advertising and PR campaigns, and interacting with the client’s various departments such as finance, management, production, and sales.

An effective Enterprise Account Executive must be skilled at planning and organizing, have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and possess experience and polish that gives them the attention of some of the largest companies in the world.

Those are the essentials. Individual businesses will have varying expectations. For instance:

• Business #1 expects its Enterprise Account Executives to generate new leads, establish and manage relationships with company executives and clients, help build sales process management procedures, take on marketing responsibilities, and develop and present sales strategies and proposals.
• Business #2 wants its Enterprise Account Executives to develop territory plans for enhancing sales, maintain sales pipelines, and manage contract negotiations. They’re also expected to be able to build long-term, strategic relationships with the business’s key accounts.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Account Executives play a significant role in achieving a business’s sales targets and objectives. Here are some of the most critical responsibilities that need to be performed by them:

• Attract and cultivate new Enterprise customers to enhance sales.
• Increase sales by developing innovative strategies.
• Assist in generating new leads by effectively managing current connections and networking with contacts.
• Negotiate prices in sales-related contracts.
• Maintain robust relationships with existing clients.
• Develop and present product or service presentations to potential new accounts.
• Maintain accurate sales records, reports, and other relevant customer information
• Have an intimate understanding of their business’s products and services. Keep current with the latest industry trends and news.
• Attend sales meetings and training programs.

Essential Skills For an Enterprise Account Executive

Because Enterprise Account Executives are primarily involved in sales and maintaining customer relations, strong communication skills are a must. Skills in creating and presenting product or service presentations are also essential.

A good Enterprise Account Executive should possess excellent analytical skills and be able to think creatively. This will help them innovate strategies to improve the sales figures. These same skills, along with a good dose of empathy, will assist an Enterprise Account Executive in identifying and attracting new clients and understanding their needs.

In addition, an Enterprise Account Executive should possess the following qualities:

1. Have a strong background in closing new business
2. Be experienced in sales and contract negotiation, especially with deals over $100k
3. Be self-motivated
4. Be able to handle high-pressure situations
5. Be able to work in a target-oriented environment

Prerequisites For Enterprise Account Executives

While not much is said about degrees of higher learning being necessary for general sales positions, it’s highly recommended in the case of Enterprise Account Executives.

Although there are different educational requirements for Enterprise Account Executives, most openings call for at least a bachelor’s degree in business, communications, or marketing. A master’s degree isn’t often necessary, but it can help make you stand out among others.

In addition, candidates should have experience in:

• Customer service
• B2B selling
• Complex sales cycles
• Computer networking

They should also already possess:

• Superb analytical skills
• Technical aptitude
• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills

The most effective Enterprise Account Executives are self-driven and have an entrepreneurial mindset. They must feel at ease when working in sometimes hectic settings. Sales positions typically involve a lot of pressure, mainly when dealing with large clients or territories. The best strategy for acquiring an Enterprise Account Executive position is to first build experience as a standard Account Executive with an excellent track record for success.

Experience is probably the most essential thing to have. No one starts their sales career at the enterprise level.

How Much Do Enterprise Account Executives Earn?

On average, in the US, Enterprise Account Executives earn a yearly base salary of approximately $110,000. The range itself can be anywhere from $74,000 to $160,000 annually. Factors determining where you might fall in this range include experience, effectiveness, and the individual business. Additional earnings could come from commissions, bonuses, and profit sharing. On average, extra earnings for this position come to about $100,000 per year.

Are There Positions Available for Enterprise Account Executives?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Enterprise Account Executive positions are expected to grow by about 5% over the next few years. This is considered average. It is believed that by 2028, the number of available Enterprise Account Executive opportunities in the US will be about 20,600.

That’s a good number, but you must keep the competition in mind. More people are seeking those positions than are available.

As with many desirable jobs that feature significant amounts of responsibility, becoming an Enterprise Account Executive requires effort and determination. Sometimes, while pursuing the position, individuals decide they want to fine-tune their ambitions to better match their skill sets and temperament. Or, they may wish to obtain some further advanced experience before tackling something as substantial as an Enterprise Account Executive position.

Possible alternate career tracks could include sales positions such as territory sales representatives, senior sales representatives, and area sales representatives.

If you’ve decided that becoming an Enterprise Account Executive is the goal you aspire to, you may wish to consider the following cities as places where Enterprise Account Executives tend to earn the most.

• San Francisco, CA
• Arlington, VA
• Chicago, IL
• New York City, NY
• Santa Cruz, CA
• Santa Rosa, CA
• Sunnyvale, CA

Taking On a Top Sales Position

Taking on the position of Enterprise Account Executive means taking on relationships with some of the country's biggest, most influential companies—maybe in the world. It’s a position that presents many challenges, but it can deliver substantial financial and personal rewards for the right candidate.

If you have the right skills, experience, and attitude, you can become a significant player in your industry, help major companies find solutions and spur growth, and celebrate being at the top of the sales game.

If you are an employer looking for Enterprise Account Executives to join your company, or if you are currently seeking new career opportunities, reach out to Rainmakers!