Accounts Executive
What does an account executive do? (with skills and salary)
Account executives are intermediaries who handle the relationship between a vendor and a client. They work in different industries and perform various roles while maintaining positive relationships with clients. Understanding the answer to, 'What does an account executive do?' can help you decide if it's a suitable career path for you. In this article, we discuss what an account executive does, outline the skills they need for success, review how to become an account executive, identify how much professionals in this role make and highlight their typical work environment.
What does an account executive do?
You may be wondering, 'What does an account executive do?' The duties of an account executive intersect many roles. Here's an overview of an account executive's main duties:
Establishing new relationships
One of the main responsibilities of account executives is gaining new customers for an organisation and facilitating their onboarding. This includes creating their accounts, collecting payment information, negotiating long-term contracts and informing company executives about high-value clients. Depending on the organisation, account executives may be responsible for researching potential customers and contacting them. These professionals also provide potential customers with relevant information regarding the company and its products.
Account executives also play a marketing role, as they're responsible for pitching products to customers. They may propose new products to potential customers or recommend better offers to existing ones. As a result, account executives require extensive knowledge of the goods and services they're selling. Beyond encouraging customers to buy products, account executives also educate them on their usage. The account executive can also receive feedback from customers about their experience and communicate it to the relevant departments, making them a vital part of product development.
Maintaining customer relationships
Besides establishing new relationships, account executives are also responsible for maintaining existing ones. Usually, they have a specific number of accounts as their responsibility. They aim to provide excellent customer service and help ensure client satisfaction by being available to respond to client requests or complaints. Account executives also help clients facilitate their purchases and help create a better user experience. These professionals also communicate with clients frequently and may send them updates about special deals.
Related: 7 strategies for relationship building with customers
Providing reports
Account executives provide updates on the condition of each account they manage. This includes transaction history and growth rate. As a result, account executives often work closely with company executives and provide detailed presentations. They may also participate in business strategy meetings to suggest how companies can gain more clients. Account executives also provide account reports to clients upon their request regarding their transaction history or a particular shipment.
Related: A guide to performance reports: definition, uses and types
Collaborating with other departments
The duties of account executives often intersect with other departments due to their proximity to clients. As a result, they often collaborate with other professionals to reach company goals. For example, when they receive direct feedback from clients regarding products and other aspects of the user experience, they can direct their enquiries to trained customer service representatives. Account executives also may collaborate with the product development department to incorporate customer feedback into product modifications or version releases. Account executives can also provide great marketing insights due to their knowledge of client needs.
Managing customer accounts
Account executives are primarily responsible for managing their clients' accounts. This includes setting the account up, updating payment information and processing transactions. As a result, these professionals contact clients frequently to update their information. They're also responsible for resolving any transaction errors on behalf of their clients and may recommend account upgrades depending on their client's needs and their employer's policies.
Malton is a market town, civil parish and electoral ward in North Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, the town has a population measured for both the civil parish and the electoral ward at the 2011 Census as 4,888.[1][2]
The town is located to the north of the River Derwent, which forms the historic boundary between the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire.
Until 2023 the town was part of the Ryedale district and was the location of the headquarters of the district council.
Facing Malton on the other side of the Derwent is Norton. The Karro Food Group (formerly known as Malton Bacon Factory),[3] Malton bus station and Malton railway station are located in Norton-on-Derwent.
Malton is the local area's commercial and retail centre. In the town centre there are small traditional independent shops and high-street names.
Malton has been described as "the food capital of Yorkshire" and was voted one of the best places to live in Britain by The Sunday Times in both the 2017 and 2018 lists.[4]
Malton was named the dog-friendliest town in the UK at the annual Dog Friendly Awards, in association with the Kennel Club, in 2018/19. In 2020 Malton was named as one of the most dog-friendly staycation spots in the UK and the best in Yorkshire.[citation needed]