What does a Strategic Account Executive do?

Strategic account executives are sales professionals who typically focus on an organization’s high-value corporate accounts or priority partners. They identify key influencers and stakeholders, establish new relationships with target connections in that category, and nurture existing relationships with the goal of generating more revenue from current accounts. They deliver sales pitches, proposals, and presentations that emphasize solutions for the customer’s challenges and pain points. They recommend expanded services and enhanced solutions to existing customers to grow those successful accounts.

Strategic account executives typically have a bachelor’s degree in a business field, although equivalent professional experience may be acceptable. They have a strong background in sales, including roles that focus on building strategic partnerships. These roles require excellent customer relations skills, and the ability to tailor solutions that meet customers’ personalized needs.

What responsibilities are common for Strategic Account Executive jobs?
  • Work with commercial, marketing, and communications teams to create compelling value propositions and messaging.
  • Lead and/or engage with teams develop innovations for new products, services, business models, or development capabilities.
  • Develop and execute sales plans to meet or exceed corporate targets, including prospecting at the senior executive level and establish new client and customer relationships.
  • Develop actionable strategy roadmap with recommendations for issues and finding innovation opportunities where possible.
  • Anticipate changes in client, patient or other drivers of demand in the marketplace.
  • Analyze customer requirements, develop solutions to complex problems, and communicate and inspire a vision for the business to customers and prospects.
  • Understand customer business objectives and ensure strategic partners get help to meet their goals.
  • Collaborate with the marketing team to develop and deliver on build brand awareness and targeted lead generation.
  • Partner with analytics teams to guide prospects through savings and ROI analyses.
  • Partner with internal and external stakeholders to support client contract, including and development of pricing, tailoring solution engagement model to each client, and coordination of prospect security reviews.
  • Forecast and manage sales pipeline to track and drive progress towards growth objectives.
  • Implement structured and consistent communication framework to ensure internal stakeholders and senior management have up-to-date visibility into the account status and opportunities to identify and implement corrective actions early in the process.
  • Negotiate contractual and financial terms and ensure ongoing customer satisfaction during presales and post sales engagements.
  • Communicate effectively and coordinate cross functional teams to ensure customer success.
  • Maintain and update knowledge on all new technology in business and participate in various professional meetings for same.
  • Maintain contact with customers to ensure long-term relationships and build trust.
What are the typical qualifications for Strategic Account Executive jobs?
  • Bachelor's Degree in business or computer science.
  • Strong leadership and critical thinking skills.
  • Persistence, organization, and discipline in setting targets and manage associated pipeline activities to stay on track and modify the plan as needed.
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Collaboration and negotiation skills.
Education--
Work/Life Balance
3.9 ★
Total Pay--
Career Opportunity
3.8 ★
Avg. Experience5-7 years

How much does a Strategic Account Executive make near United States?

Confident
$191,591 /yr
Total Pay
$100,946
 /yr

Base Pay

+
$90,644
 /yr

Additional Pay

$191,591

 / yr
$116K$328K
Most Likely Range
Possible Range
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Strategic Account Executive Career Path

Learn how to become a Strategic Account Executive, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.

Strategic Account Executive

Years of Experience Distribution

0 - 1
1%
2 - 4
16%
5 - 7
54%
8+
29%
Not including years spent in education and/or training

Strategic Account Executive Insights

Read what Strategic Account Executive professionals have to say about their job experiences and view top companies for this career.
TikTokTikTok
Strategic Sales Specialist
Apr 21, 2023

“Good work life balance if you don't get involved in too many projects outside of your core.”

SamsaraSamsara
Strategic Account Executive - AE3
Dec 3, 2021

“You have to manage your work life balance since there is seemingly always something to do.”

CareerBuilderCareerBuilder
Major Account Executive
Jul 20, 2021

“I progressed in my career and learned alot that would make me good at my job.”

Harvard Business PublishingHarvard Business Publishing
Strategic Account Executive
Mar 20, 2022

“Brand recognition was both a plus and a negative in the market I served”

Impact NetworkingImpact Networking
Major Account Executive
Nov 28, 2021

“Money can be really good and they reward excellence.”

DatabricksDatabricks
Senior Strategic Account Executive
Apr 11, 2023

“Great comp/benefits/culture/leaders are top notch.”

CelonisCelonis
Strategic Account Executive
May 3, 2023

“Great and many customer references.”

MorningstarMorningstar
Strategic Account Executive
Jul 12, 2023

“Our mission is simple and our folks live it daily.”

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Strategic Account Executive Interviews

Frequently asked questions about the roles and responsibilities of a Strategic Account Executive

The most similar professions to Strategic Account Executive are:
  • Regional Account Executive
  • Enterprise Account Executive
  • Account Executive
  • National Account Executive

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