Application Guide

How to Apply for Account Executive - Corporate Financial Services - New Customer Acquisitions Team

at Workiva

🏢 About Workiva

Workiva is a leader in streamlining integrated ESG reporting, helping organizations achieve transparent climate impact and compliance. The company is uniquely positioned at the intersection of financial services and sustainability, offering a platform that simplifies complex reporting. Joining Workiva means contributing to a mission-driven team that values innovation and collaboration.

About This Role

This Account Executive role focuses on acquiring new business from executive-level buyers in the Financial Services vertical. You'll lead the full sales cycle, from prospecting to closing, by showcasing Workiva's core platform and collaborating with Solution Sales teams. Your impact lies in driving customer acquisition and helping financial institutions modernize their reporting processes.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves prospecting via phone/email to senior financial executives, then conducting discovery calls to understand their reporting pain points. After collaborating with Solutions Consulting for a demo, you'll negotiate contracts and update Salesforce. Afternoons might include internal syncs with Inside Sales or Partnerships to refine territory strategy.

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🎯 Who Workiva Is Looking For

  • Proven track record of new business sales to executive-level buyers in the Financial Services industry (e.g., banks, insurance, asset management).
  • Skilled at consultative selling, using needs analysis to tailor Workiva's platform solutions to client challenges.
  • Comfortable with a remote, collaborative environment, leveraging internal teams (Inside Sales, Partnerships, Solutions Consulting) to generate pipeline.
  • Highly organized, with discipline to regularly update CRM tools and manage a complex sales cycle from prospecting to close.

📝 Tips for Applying to Workiva

1

Highlight specific experience selling to Financial Services executives, with concrete examples of deal sizes and close rates.

2

Demonstrate your understanding of integrated reporting (e.g., ESG, financial) and how Workiva's platform addresses compliance and transparency.

3

Tailor your resume to emphasize new customer acquisition (not account management) and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

4

In your cover letter, mention a specific challenge in financial reporting and how you'd position Workiva's solution.

5

Research Workiva's recent ESG partnerships or product launches to show genuine interest during interviews.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your success in selling complex solutions to Financial Services buyers, with quantifiable results.', 'Understanding of the evolving regulatory landscape (e.g., SEC climate rules) and how Workiva addresses it.', 'Ability to collaborate with internal teams (Solutions Consulting, Inside Sales) to drive pipeline and close deals.', "Passion for sustainability and transparent reporting, aligning with Workiva's mission."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read Workiva's latest ESG report and press releases about new product features or partnerships.
  • → Understand the competitive landscape (e.g., other ESG reporting platforms) and how Workiva differentiates.
  • → Review the SEC's climate disclosure rules and their impact on Financial Services clients.
  • → Look at Workiva's customer success stories in the financial sector to understand use cases.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through a time you sold a new solution to a Financial Services executive; how did you overcome objections?
2 How would you approach prospecting in a remote environment with limited travel?
3 Describe your experience with multi-solution sales; how do you collaborate with other teams?
4 How do you stay current on ESG reporting regulations and trends?
5 Tell me about a deal you lost and what you learned from it.
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing too much on account management or upselling existing accounts instead of new customer acquisition.
  • Not demonstrating specific knowledge of the Financial Services vertical's reporting challenges.
  • Failing to show how you use CRM tools and data to manage a pipeline effectively.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Workiva!

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