The Ultimate Guide to a Career as a Salesforce Account Executive
Salesforce is the world’s leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform and with 9.3 million new Salesforce jobs to be created by 2026, the demand for Salesforce talent is huge.
In today’s digital landscape, businesses are increasingly relying on Salesforce to manage customer relationships, streamline operations and drive growth. As businesses invest more into digital transformation, skilled Salesforce professionals are in high demand, resulting in competitive salaries, long-term job security and lots of opportunity for career progression.
Salesforce is not just a CRM tool anymore. It has expanded into various cloud services and technologies, opening doors to a wide range of roles and specialisations. From Salesforce Administrators to Salesforce Developers and Salesforce Solutions Architects, there is a Salesforce career for everyone based on their skills and interests.
As a Salesforce recruitment agency, we know all there is to know about careers in Salesforce and we are frequently asked by clients for advice around the many Salesforce job titles, what they mean and what skills they require. In this Salesforce careers guide we’ll provide an overview of the Salesforce Account Executive position to help connect you with your ideal Salesforce job.
What is a Salesforce Account Executive?
A Salesforce Account Executive plays a crucial role in the sales and business development process for the Salesforce CRM platform. In this Salesforce job, professionals are responsible for managing and growing relationships with clients, understanding their business needs, and positioning Salesforce solutions to address those needs effectively. Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients is a core aspect of the role.
Salesforce offers a range of products and solutions, and the Account Executive must be well-versed in understanding and presenting these offerings. Salesforce Account Executives often collaborate with other sales professionals, including account managers, solution engineers, and product specialists. It is a multifaceted role that involves a combination of sales, strategic thinking, relationship-building, and technical knowledge.
What does a Salesforce Account Executive do?
The role of a Salesforce Account Executive is multifaceted, demanding a unique combination of sales acumen, technical proficiency, and strategic thinking. They act as a bridge between the client and the Salesforce team, ensuring a smooth sales process and successful implementation of Salesforce products and services. The responsibilities of the Salesforce Account Executive include building a pipeline of new customers, building relationships with customers, developing sales strategy plans, maintaining sales activities across multiple streams and reporting feedback to the board.
Salesforce offers a wide range of products and features, and tailoring solutions to meet specific client needs can be complex. Salesforce Account Executives must navigate this complexity to provide effective recommendations. They must also manage expectations, provide ongoing support, and navigate the challenges that may arise during the decision-making process. To be successful in this Salesforce career, individuals must have a good understanding of Cloud and SaaS platforms, ecosystem technologies and how these solutions provide benefits to customers across multiple sectors. This requires good attention to detail whilst maintaining sight of the big picture.
Why is a Salesforce Account Executive Role so Interesting?
The Salesforce Account Executive is a dynamic role that combines sales, client interaction and technical expertise, making it exciting to those who are comfortable in a client facing role. Salesforce Account Executives must balance client requirements with the technical realities of the Salesforce platform, requiring effective communication with both clients and internal technical teams.
In this Salesforce job, you will act as a business acquisition hunter, actively seeking and closing new deals. If you have a background in solutions or technology services within the Salesforce ecosystem, and thrive in a fast-paced sales environment, could this role be your perfect fit. As a Salesforce Account Executive, you’ll also have the opportunity for continuous learning and skill development.
How do I get a role as a Salesforce Account Executive?
To successfully land a role as a Salesforce Account Executive, a candidate should have demonstrable experience of effectively selling Salesforce solutions-based technology and services in a collaborative team setting that they have gained from their current job, internships or volunteering. They should have a good understanding of the capabilities and constraints of Salesforce and the product suite.
Key skills include strong communication abilities to effectively engage with clients, a deep understanding of the Salesforce platform to articulate its values and excellent sales and negotiation skills. They should also be up to date with the latest trends in Salesforce technologies and be prepared to discuss their Salesforce knowledge, experience and how they can add value to an organisation during an interview.
What progression opportunities are there for a Salesforce Account Executive?
Firstly, after gaining several years of experience on the Salesforce platform it is typical for Salesforce Business Analysts and Salesforce Consultants to transition into the Salesforce Account Executive role. As you progress your career as a Salesforce Account Executive, you may also want to double down on a specific niche or move to a different type of company.
If you are looking to accelerate your Salesforce career up to a director-level position, then a Salesforce consultancy is the perfect place, as all senior positions will require a lot of Salesforce experience. Salesforce Delivery Directors will oversee all projects within a consultancy, often acting as an escalation point and ensuring the operation team are delivering projects on time to a good standard. This is a popular progression route for Salesforce Account Executives.
What salary can I expect as a Salesforce Account Executive?
In the UK, a Salesforce Account Executive can attain a base salary of £50-£70k given they will have undergone Salesforce training, have 2 to 3 Salesforce certifications, several years of experience and a background in consulting. However, this can vary depending on a number of factors including the experience level of the candidate, location and company size. A more senior Salesforce Account Executive can command a higher salary because of their greater experience level and specialist skills.
