Account Specialist Job Description
Overview
The Account Specialist contacts potential customers in order to close sales, and handles the needs of existing customers. Their role is to provide support for the specific region to which they are assigned, contact customers, create price quotes, and accept and process new orders. Their responsibilities are to serve customers by completing enrollments and conversion mailings, respond to requests, resolve complaints, process account payable checks on a regular schedule, input credit and debit payments, create and maintain accounts payable files, write and generate regular reports, troubleshoot accounting problems, establish contact with new customers, and help set up new accounts.
Steps to take to start your career as an Account Specialist and other jobs like it
- If you're considering a career in sales, focus on developing strong communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills. For roles like advertising sales, gaining experience in digital marketing, social media platforms, and data analytics can be particularly valuable, as the field increasingly emphasizes online and digital channels.
- While having a degree in marketing, business, or communications can be an advantage, it’s not a strict requirement for a sales position. A degree provides a solid foundation with courses in advertising, public relations, and media studies. However, if you don’t have a degree, you can still excel by developing strong communication and interpersonal skills, being persuasive, understanding the sales process, and being adaptable to clients' needs. Networking, persistence, and hands-on experience can be just as valuable in building a successful sales career.
- Begin your sales career by working in general sales positions, such as retail or inside sales, to learn prospecting, pitching, and closing deals. Pursue internships or junior roles at advertising agencies or media companies to gain industry insight. Apply for entry-level positions like Sales Assistant, Sales Associate, or Business Development Representative, and use these opportunities to build foundational skills in customer relationships and sales processes.
- Create a portfolio showcasing successful sales or marketing campaigns you've worked on, detailing your role and the results you achieved. Highlight your impact on driving sales or boosting brand awareness. As you gain experience, aim to move into more advanced roles like Sales Manager, Media Planner/Buyer, or Account Executive, and work your way toward leadership positions such as Sales Director.
Advertising Sales
There's kind of a ladder. You start as a sales assistant, then a sales planner if you're taking the direct sales route. Another way is working on the agency or client side of things and then moving over to the sales side.
Sales Requirements
It really requires a personality where you're interacting a lot with clients, so you have to be social. You have to be able to entertain your clients and understand them on a personal level so that they want to do business with you regularly.
What It’s Like in Sales
An average day for an account executive in ad sales involves going through your list and looking ahead to the next quarter. For example, if I sell TV and I’m targeting a kid-focused channel or movie, I’d aim at clients with kid products. Then you work with your marketing team internally to create a custom package. For instance, offering a promotion for a new show for a budget, like a hundred thousand dollars. You present that to the client and their representing agency.
You have a territory you work with, which sometimes involves traveling to meet clients. Some days you’re in the office working on proposals and pitches. Every day is different, which makes the job exciting and not mundane. Sometimes you’re entertaining clients, like taking them to dinner or a baseball game, to keep relationships and conversations ongoing for future campaigns.
Advertising Sales Account Executive Salary
The salary for an account executive in advertising varies depending on the medium. Starting salaries can range from $100K to $150K, with commission potentially adding another 50%, bringing the total up to $300K.
Pros and Cons of Sales
The job's pros, especially early in your career, include experiencing entertainment and networking. The industry is flexible, offering various career paths if you decide to pivot.
A key part of sales is meeting your quota. Missing your sales goal can affect your job status and commission. However, the connections you make are invaluable. There’s a strong community of people you work and grow with in the industry.
Getting Started in Sales
To get into the industry, it’s essential to understand that you can’t just jump into an account executive role. It’s rare. Be prepared to start lower and work hard, being open to different paths, whether agency or client side.
- key account specialist - northern c...endo pharmaceuticalssan franciscounited statesPosted: Dec 21, 2024
- key account specialist - oh - mi - ...endo pharmaceuticalscolumbus, oh, united statesPosted: Dec 21, 2024
- key account specialist - north cent...endo pharmaceuticalsminneapolis, mn, united statesPosted: Dec 21, 2024
- key account specialist - northwestendo pharmaceuticalsseattle, wa, united statesPosted: Dec 21, 2024
- key account specialist - southwestendo pharmaceuticalsdenver, co, united statesPosted: Dec 21, 2024
- international account specialist jo...arkemaking of prussia, pa, united statesPosted: Dec 20, 2024
- account specialistfastenalmulberry, fl, united statesPosted: Dec 20, 2024
- customer account specialistc.h. robinson worldwide, inc.eden prairie, mn, united statesPosted: Dec 20, 2024
- account specialist - schoolshutterfly, inc.okemos, mi, united statesPosted: Dec 20, 2024
- account specialist - schoolshutterfly, inc.indianapolis, in, united statesPosted: Dec 20, 2024
- account specialistalera groupseattle, wa, united statesPosted: Dec 20, 2024
- clinical account specialist - gaine...johnson & johnsongainesville, fl, united statesPosted: Dec 20, 2024
- customer account specialistnextera energy, incjuno beach, fl, united statesPosted: Dec 20, 2024
- customer account specialistc.h. robinson worldwide, inc.minneapolis, mn, united statesPosted: Dec 20, 2024
- account specialist - schoolshutterfly, inc.apex, nc, united statesPosted: Dec 20, 2024
- See More
Education you need to become an Account Specialist
These are the most common degrees or certificates earned by Jobtrees users prior to becoming an Account Specialist
There may be other required degrees or certifications needed for this job. The below info shows you the most commonly desired education level from employers when hiring for this job.
- Bachelor of Business Administration (b.b.a.) in Marketing
- Bachelor Degree in Business Administration
- Bachelor of Arts (b.a.) in Communication Studies
- Bachelor of Science (b.sc.) in Marketing
- Bachelor of Arts (b.a.) in General Studies
Annual Pay Estimate for Account Specialist and Other Important Info
See how many years Account Specialist's are in their job, how much they make, how long it took to get there and how available this job is in terms of open positions.
Connect and Share
Career Paths for Account Specialist
Find data driven insights on the path to get to this role and where it can lead
Jobs to start your career in becoming an Account Specialist
Show MoreOffice ManagerJob posting titleCompany NameFront Office Manager-doubletree Hotel Tulsa Downtownhilton worldwideOffice Manager of State Preschool Sdo 2425-vpr443 (479)california department of educationBusiness Office Managercommunicare advantageDental Office Manageraspen dentalBusiness Office Managersenior lifestyle corporation
Show MoreCrewmanJob posting titleCompany NameRoad Crewman Precinct 1cameron county, tx
Show MoreAgentJob posting titleCompany NameAssociate Agent (independent Contractor) - Middleford, DelawareredfinGeek Squad Agent (retail Store)best buyInsurance Sales Agent - Customer Servicefreeway insurance services americaFront Desk Agentaimbridge hospitalitySecurity Agent (unarmed) Ft Evenings - Hospital Campuswilliamson health- See More
Other Jobs similar to Account Specialist
- See More