26+ Sample Account Executive Job Description

What Is an Account Executive Job Description?

An account executive job description is essentially a comprehensive overview of the tasks and functions of an account executive position. It is typically the task of Human Resources to come up with a detailed job description outlining the roles and responsibilities of the person or candidate in the said position.  

According to an article published by Indeed.com, the most typical educational backgrounds of a lot of account executives are in the fields of marketing, sales, business administration and communications. Most account executive jobs require potential candidates and applicants to have at least an undergraduate degree in any of these fields.  

Ideal Traits And Characteristics Of an Account Executive

Obviously different jobs require different sets of skills or specific knowledge. But apart from the hard skills many jobs often demand, there are universally ideal traits that can help a person succeed in the workplace. The following values and traits are especially important for any account executive or even an aspiring account executive.  

Communication. Being able to communicate effectively is critical to any job but more so for an account executive who is tasked to deal with all kinds of clients and meet with all types of people. The ability to get your message across clearly and effectively is important in establishing and retaining good working relationships with clients. And it takes more than just getting your message and plans across, communication entails active listening and even negotiation skills. You need to be able to understand the needs of the client, their goals and plans to be able to maintain a healthy working partnership. Dependability. Being reliable is a bare minimum when it comes to handling client accounts. Especially in the often cutthroat world of advertising and sales, competition is fierce wherein clients look for the most dependable partners with a track record of delivering sustainable results. Thus, an account executive or manager who is tasked to oversee a client’s needs ought to be diligent and conscientious enough to follow through on tasks and deliver what is expected. From the very word ‘executive’, the job entails the capacity to execute and implement plans and strategies. Organization. Another important trait that an account executive should possess is good organization skills. Being responsible for clients does not only require effective communication and interpersonal skills, but a keen sense for detail as well. Most of the tasks and functions performed by an account executive will require a significant amount of planning and strategizing in delivering solutions to problems. Creating budgets and coming up with action plan roadmaps are just some examples of tasks that involve planning. Poor organizational skills may result in decreased customer satisfaction or subpar management of accounts. Coordination. Since an account executive typically serves as a liaison between the company and the client, excellent coordination skills is a requirement in order to effectively deliver on promises and expectations on both ends. Coordination demands other key traits including organization and reliability. It essentially means being responsible for keeping things moving and following through from start to finish. And lastly, it entails effective time management as well. The ability to resolve problems quickly and responsibly often requires a high level of coordination skills. Relationship Management. Since an account executive’s role is to handle client business, a certain degree of interpersonal skills is required. An ideal account executive is able to relate well with all kinds of people and is flexible enough to deal with the client’s needs or demands. Overseeing a business account is not easy because of the amount of time and investment given to forming and maintaining a good working relationship with various clients. Relationship management also refers to the ability to handle disagreements and misunderstanding effectively and professionally.

Key Responsibilities Of an Account Executive 

Depending on the industry, the role of an account executive can vary but there are some basic functions expected of one. The following examples listed below are just some primary responsibilities of an account executive in the most general sense. 

Deals with clients. An essential function of an account executive is handling and overseeing the account of a client or customer. In sales and marketing, there can be multiple accounts under one executive. And he or she may be assigned to a big client or a relatively smaller client or firm. For example, an account manager could offer an important account to an executive with the focus being solely on the needs and demands of that particular client. It is then the responsibility of the account executive to handle queries, transactions and resolve issues of the client. Coordinates to accomplish deliverables. When dealing with clients, there is always some form and degree of coordination. If, for example, a client requires certain specifications it is the role of the account manager to address the need. Doing this often requires dealing with external parties, suppliers or other businesses in order to meet the client’s specifications. It is important to note that coordination is not merely about managing information and giving instructions; but also entails accuracy, efficiency and timely deliverables. Documents and handles paperwork. Another important aspect of maintaining a healthy working relationship with a client is ensuring the proper documentation. When the account executive or manager enters into a partnership with a client on behalf of the company, contract agreements are always involved. And from there, any official business transaction with the client ought to be properly documented and filed. From transmittals, plans to contracts, paperwork may be painstaking but it is a basic requirement in most occupations, including that of an account executive. Sources for new opportunities. Most businesses seek to expand in order to gain more profit. One way of doing this is getting more clients and growing the customer base. Account executives may be appointed various clients and accounts but it is also possible that they be tasked to find more opportunities by sourcing for prospective clients. Especially if an account is not necessarily a big or established one, account executives would need to broaden their field and take on as many clients as they can handle. Not only does this serve as another opportunity for profit, but it is also a chance to expand one’s professional network.

How to Create an Account Executive Job Description

For any HR practitioner, a Newly Hired Employee should always get his or or her job description before officially taking on his or her assigned duties. Like in any occupation, a job description is required for account executives as well. To create a basic account executive job description, simply follow the steps below to get started:

  • Step 1: Create a Job Overview

    Start by writing a paragraph or two outlining the main description of the job. It can be a general overview of the position and yet may also include specific details about the job. Depending on the particular industry, this section can be as general or detailed as needed. Although you do not need to go too much into detail because you would eventually need to enumerate the specifics in the other sections of the job description. The job overview essentially serves as the introduction to the job or simply offers a basic description of the position.

  • Step 2: List Down the Required Qualifications

    The next section is where you list down the qualifications needed for the position. Examples of qualifications may include attributes like educational attainment, targeted Work Experience, licenses, certifications, required exams and the like. But it may refer to specific characteristics and skills such as being passionate and driven or possessing excellent presentation skills, good communication skills, time management skills and a keen sense of detail.

  • Step 3: Enumerate the Tasks And Functions

    An integral part of any Job Description is the enumeration of tasks and responsibilities. It is crucial for the candidate or employee to know his or her role in the company and the functions they are expected to perform. An account executive would need to be aware of the scope of his work and who he is expected to report to. Specific details may be included in this section to promote more clarity and accountability. For a simpler and more direct format, you can enumerate the various tasks and functions in bullet points.

  • Step 4: Include the Benefits, Reminders and Other Information

    This section is sometimes omitted but can be relevant nonetheless. Other details including company benefits, work hours, and other important reminders and information may be integrated in the job description as well. Many Advertising Agencies and marketing firms like to include the perks and benefits of working for their company. Anything from type of employment, 14th month pay, performance bonus, car plan eligibility to free flowing coffee can be listed down in this particular section.

FAQs

What is the role of an account executive?

The role of an account executive is essentially to look after the needs and welfare of a business client and to ensure that the necessary deliverables are met. An account executive may handle just one or multiple accounts at the same time, depending on their experience or the size of the company. The various roles and responsibilities of an account executive are identified and enumerated in detail above.

Is an account executive position a good job?

An account executive position may be quite fulfilling for some people. The job requires constantly getting out of your comfort zone and identifying possible solutions to problems in addition to meticulous planning and strategizing. On the other hand, the job can be quite stressful for some, especially if one cannot meet or keep up with the demands of the client.

Is being an account executive a stressful job?

Being an account executive does have its perks. But like most things, there are pros and cons. And depending on the industry, the job may vary in degrees of stress. There are times when the account executives have to juggle the needs and demands of the client against practicality. Some executives may find themselves caught in the middle and have restrictions placed on them. For instance, items like budget or resources may be a limitation that prevents the executive from fully maximizing their job.

Whether you are a seasoned account manager, junior account executive or an aspiring account executive, the position’s roles and responsibilities should always be clearly defined from the very start. A job description does not only help you get a clear picture of what you will be doing, but it can help you identify certain areas where you can actively work on and improve. Browse the sample account executive job description templates above to get a head start now!