How To Become An Account Executive In Australia?

Are you energetic and like solving people's problems? If yes, consider becoming an account executive.

Account Executives play a vital role in a company's marketing and sales operations. They identify new businesses, manage client acquisition and development, and maintain client relationships.

You can become an account executive without any formal qualification. However, a university qualification in accounting, marketing, or advertising can help you quickly start this profession.

If you like sales, connecting with people and working in a fast-paced environment, consider becoming an account executive in Australia.

This comprehensive guide features the job requirements and duties, earning potential, work environment, career paths, job outlook, and different education pathways to pursue this career.

1. What Is An Account Executive?

Account Executives are sales-based professionals responsible for achieving revenue targets by selling products or services of a company.

They are masters of market research, business strategy, and customer service. They usually manage client acquisition and development in different industries' marketing, sales, and advertising divisions.

These highly confident individuals possess remarkable interpersonal and communication skills. It helps them develop and maintain lasting customer relationships.

2. Account Executive Job Description In Australia

Here is a list of the most common duties of account executives:

• Develop and manage healthy relationships with existing clients and encourage them to make future purchases

• Find new business opportunities and clients. 

• Recommend products and services to clients 

• Negotiate, track, and maintain records of the customer's purchase history 

• Work to reach established sales targets.

• Provide excellent customer service and keep clients happy 

• Coordinate paid media, social media content, and press releases

• Research about competitors and prospective consumers 

• Promote a company's product and services online and offline

• Work with sales departments to create and negotiate sales pitches for new clients.

• Work with several account planners. 

• Create and implement projects timelines

• Conduct quarterly and annual performance reviews of advertising and sales campaigns 

• Present performance reviews to clients and management and uses the information to enhance future campaigns.

• Identify product development and marketing opportunities.

• Devise campaigns to meet the budgets and requirements of the client.

• Recruit new hires

• Conduct meetings with team members for training or to evaluate their work progress to improve performance

• Follow up with prospective clients via phone calls, video chat, or an in-person meeting to address their concerns and provide them with a beautiful experience.

• Uses business acumen and sales expertise to develop customised packages to solve client issues 

• Analyse trends to research probable threats from competitors 

• Invoice clients

3. Relevant Skills For Account Executives

You must have excellent selling and relationship management skills to succeed in this career. A good sales track record and ability to meet organisational goals are most desirable for this role.

To become a successful account executive, you need to have the following essential hard skills and soft skills:

• Impressive communication skills

• Impressive Selling skills

• Effective Negotiation and Closing skills 

• Business Acumen 

• Time Management skills

• Work Ethics

• Professionalism

• Enthusiasm

• Good knowledge of human behaviour

• Analytical skills

• Able to conduct thorough market research

• Confidence

• Positive attitude

• Data organisation and management skills 

• Working knowledge of word-processing software, CRM software, and spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel

• Comprehensive knowledge of logistics, finance, sales, and accounting 

• Decision-making skills

• Strong managerial and leadership skills 

• Presentation skills and knowledge of designing slideshow presentations

• Strong public speaking skills

• Good listening abilities

• Good interpersonal skills

4. Qualifications For Account Executives In Australia

The exact qualification of an Account Executive depends on the area in which they work, such as advertising, accounting, or marketing. 

The general qualification for the role is as follows:

• Above 17 years of age 

• Complete your Year 12 education certificate

• Complete a three or 4-years full-time Bachelor's degree in business, advertising, accounting, or marketing.

• Work experience and exposure in sales via an internship or entry-level roles, such as a Sales Representative or Presales Consultant, is beneficial.

• You can advance your career by earning specific degree courses or certifications.

5. Steps To Become An Account Executive In Australia

Do you like the job profile and aspire to become a successful account executive?

Here is a step-by-step guide to help you launch this career:

Step 1: Get Qualified

Though a degree is not a requirement to become an account executive, gaining it can open more career opportunities. 

A relevant bachelor's qualification helps you develop a solid base in sales, business acumen, and interpersonal skills and proves your competence to future employers.

Consider earning a 3-4 year full-time Bachelor's Degree in Business, Accounting, Marketing, Business administration, or a related discipline after completing your year 12 education.

Step 2: Widen Your Professional Network

Besides earning a qualification, you should also develop your professional network to find new job openings or mentorship opportunities. 

Local professional organisations, online networks, and networking events are some of the best ways to meet other professionals and employers in your field.

Step 3: Gain Practical Sales And Management Experience

Work in entry-level roles, such as a sales representative or a presales consultant. The on-the-job training will help you develop essential skills, master persuasion techniques, and bolster your resume.

Other training platforms to learn the fundamentals of customer service and sales include volunteering for government agencies/NGOs or working as an apprentice.

Step 4: Take Courses To Develop Key Skills

You can find several courses to enhance your soft skills for your sales career and gain a competitive edge. 

Courses focusing on business acumen, leadership skills, customer service, sales, and decision-making will help you excel as an account executive.

Step 5: Apply For Jobs

Update your resume frequently to ensure that skills, work experience, and qualification aligns with the job specifications. Research common technical, situational, and behavioural technical interview questions and form reasonable answers.

This interview preparation will make you confident when appearing for an interview and achieving success.

6. Account Executive Courses In Australia

You should have at least a bachelor's degree in accounting, marketing, or advertising to grab an entry role in this field. 

Here are a few options to consider starting in this profession:

Bachelor of Business (Accounting)

• MIT

• QUT

• Torrens University

• The University of South Australia (Online)

• USC

Bachelor of Business (Marketing)

• The University of South Australia

• Torrens University

• MIT

• RMIT University

• QUT

• Monash University

Relevant Online Short Courses

• Certificate III in Business (Administration) at MCI Institute

• Certificate IV in Business (Administration) at MCI Institute

• Graduate Certificate in Business Administration at Le Cordon Bleu Institute Australia

• Diploma of Business (Business Development) at MCI Institute

• Advanced Certificate in Business at The Career Academy

• Diploma of Business at MCI Institute

• Diploma of Applied Business in La Trobe University

• Certificate III in Business at MCI Institute

• Certificate IV in Business (Operations) at MCI Institute

7. Is It Possible To Become An Account Executive From Home?

Yes. With several nationally recognised online degree courses available, you can quickly develop the essential knowledge and cultivate job skills from the comfort of your home.

Online courses also enable students to learn at their own pace and manage other personal and professional commitments. All you need is to sign up for account executive online courses and launch a career as an account executive.

8. Can You Become An Account Executive Without A Degree?

There is no formal education needed to become an account executive in Australia. You can enter this profession with just a high school degree. However, most recruiting firms seek applicants with a bachelor's degree in Business, Business Administration, Accounting, or Marketing.

Take relevant short courses to gain a basic knowledge of finance, administration, accounting, and business. You can also work in an entry-level role for a few years to learn the necessary job skills and knowledge to make your way to an account executive position.

Also, read various business books, articles, and journals to stay updated on industry developments and trends. Take technical courses to gain proficiency in working with spreadsheets, word processing software, sales tools, and CRM systems like Salesforce to improve your chances of job success.

9. How To Become An Account Executive Without Experience?

You don't need formal education or experience to be an account executive. Though you can enter this field with a high school qualification, getting the job can take longer.

Consider undertaking a university degree in a related field such as accounting, commerce, business, marketing, or business administration. The qualification will give you the essential knowledge and skills to accomplish the work responsibilities efficiently. 

It is a great way to improve your employability and demonstrate your competency to potential employers.

10. Work Environment of Account Executives

Account executives work full-time and within regular business hours from 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays. However, they may work late hours on large projects to meet strict deadlines or during busy seasons.

Account executives work independently or with peers in competitive and fast-paced environments. They generally work in offices but may require travelling to clients' offices at varying locations to conduct meetings and discussions.

11. Where Do Account Executives Work In Australia?

Many businesses in Australia rely on account executives to develop sales strategies, boost revenue, and increase customer satisfaction.

External companies often recruit them to work in the same field, or they get promoted internally. The top recruiting industries for account executives are healthcare, consumer goods, telecommunications, IT, real estate, financial services, media, technology, travel, and tourism.

12. Job Outlook For Account Executives In Australia

Account executives help businesses get new clients, generate sales, create strategies to increase sales, and keep clients happy. There is a heavy demand for these workers across various industries in Australia.

The number of employment opportunities in the sales, marketing, and advertising sectors will likely grow faster than the average for all occupations in the next five years.

Those with at least a relevant bachelor's degree, certifications, internships, and on-the-job training have a higher chance of getting into the industry quickly.

Account executives can get promoted to senior positions where they work with high-profile clients and focus on enhancing the workflow of organisations.

They may advance their career to senior-level roles, including Sales Managers, Marketing Managers, Sales Directors, Vice President of Sales, and Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

The executive account hierarchy in ascending order is as follows:

1. Sales Representative

2. Account Executive

3. Sales Manager/ Marketing Managers

4. Sales Director

5. Vice President of Sales

6. Vice President of Sales and Marketing

13. How Long Does It Take To Become An Account Executive In Australia?

Depending on your chosen learning pathway, it can take around five years to become a professional account executive in Australia.

• A bachelor's degree in accounting, marketing, business, or advertising will require 3-4 years.

• Next, employers mostly look for candidates who have previous sales experience for this role. 

• Thus, consider completing relevant training programs or working in an entry-level position, such as a Sales Representative, Administrative Assistant, or Presales Consultant. Subsequently, work your way up to the Account Executive role.

14. How Much Does An Account Executive Earn In Australia?

The Account executive's salary varies based on the following:

• Experience

• Skillset 

• Qualification 

• Company location

• Company size

• Products and services offered by the company

The Account executive salary in Australia is AU$58,251 per year or equivalent to AU$28.71 per hour. A few account executives may also earn a commission on their wages.

Average Annual Salary Based On Experience

• Entry-level account executive salary (< 1-year experience) AU$50,033

• Early career Account Executive salary (1 to 4 years of experience) AU$55,585

• Mid-career Account Executive salary (5 to 9 years of experience) AU$72,205

• Experienced Account Executive salary (10 to 19 years of experience) AU$80,556

Based on Location

Account executive salary in Sydney is $90,635 per year. 

Other top-paying Australian cities for Account Executives are as follows:

• Brisbane QLD: $101,972 per year

• Perth WA: $86,416 per year

• Melbourne VIC: $86,087 per year

• Sydney Central Business District NSW: $79,673 per year

• Melbourne City Centre VIC: $78,166 per year

• Gold Coast QLD: $68,863 per year

• North Sydney NSW: $62,428 per year

15. Conclusion

A career as an account executive is undoubtedly exciting and rewarding. Still, it can be challenging and demanding at the same time.

It is among the most comprehensive professions, as account executives handle several operations such as sales pitches, advertising, leading the workflow, reaching PR, etc. 

With no specific qualification requirement, you don't need to invest time and effort in education to enter this profession.

With the necessary knowledge and skills, you can work in varied positions across diverse industries and earn high salaries. If you think this profession is worthwhile, take the chance and become qualified.

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