Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Strategic Account Executive – Financial Services (DACH)

at Workiva

🏢 About Workiva

Workiva is a leader in integrated ESG reporting, helping financial services firms streamline climate impact and compliance disclosures. With a remote-first culture and a focus on sustainability, it offers a unique opportunity to drive meaningful change in the DACH region.

About This Role

As a Senior Strategic Account Executive, you'll own the full sales cycle for large financial services accounts in DACH, leveraging partnerships and inside sales to build pipeline. Your impact lies in closing complex SaaS deals that enable clients to meet evolving ESG regulations.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day starts with checking DACH financial news and regulatory updates, then reviewing your pipeline with Inside Sales. You might spend the morning on a virtual demo for a Frankfurt-based bank, followed by a strategic account planning session with your partnership team. Afternoons involve follow-ups, contract negotiations, and researching ESG trends to refine your value proposition.

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🎯 Who Workiva Is Looking For

  • A native German speaker with 8+ years of enterprise technology sales, specifically selling complex solutions (e.g., SaaS, ERP) to large financial services accounts.
  • Proven track record of strategic account planning and closing multi-stakeholder deals in a consultative, value-based sales approach.
  • Deep understanding of the SaaS business model, including subscription metrics, ROI demonstration, and long-term contract negotiation.
  • Familiarity with ESG reporting, regulatory compliance (e.g., CSRD, SFDR), and the unique challenges of the DACH financial sector.

📝 Tips for Applying to Workiva

1

Tailor your resume to highlight experience selling to financial services in DACH, using metrics (e.g., quota attainment, deal size) and mentioning any ESG or compliance-related sales.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your success in enterprise SaaS sales to Workiva's mission of transparent reporting—show you understand the product's value.

3

Research Workiva's specific ESG solutions (e.g., Workiva Carbon, ESG Management) and mention how they address DACH regulatory needs like the EU Taxonomy.

4

Highlight native German fluency and cross-cultural sales expertise; emphasize ability to navigate German-speaking client hierarchies.

5

Prepare to discuss how you've used partnerships (e.g., with consultancies) to generate pipeline—Workiva values collaborative sales.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for sustainability and how Workiva's platform uniquely solves ESG reporting challenges in financial services.", 'Specific examples of complex SaaS sales to large DACH-based financial institutions, including deal size and strategic account planning.', 'Your ability to work remotely and self-manage a sales territory, collaborating with cross-functional teams.', "Understanding of the DACH regulatory landscape (e.g., BaFin, CSRD) and how you've navigated compliance-driven buying processes."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Understand Workiva's platform: focus on ESG reporting features, especially for financial services (e.g., integrated data management, audit trails).
  • → Read recent news on DACH ESG regulations: CSRD implementation, BaFin guidelines on sustainability reporting, and EU Taxonomy updates.
  • → Study Workiva's competitors in ESG reporting (e.g., Salesforce Net Zero Cloud, Persefoni) and identify differentiators.
  • → Review Workiva's customer success stories in financial services, particularly in DACH, to understand typical use cases and ROI.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through how you would develop a strategic account plan for a top 5 German bank, including key stakeholders and value proposition.
2 Describe a time you lost a deal to a competitor—what did you learn and how did you adjust your approach?
3 How do you stay current on ESG regulations and their impact on financial services clients?
4 Explain how you would partner with Inside Sales and Partnerships to generate qualified pipeline in a remote setting.
5 What metrics do you use to track your sales pipeline and forecast accuracy, and how have you improved them?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Generic applications without mentioning ESG or financial services—show you understand the niche.
  • Overlooking the remote collaboration aspect; emphasize self-motivation and virtual team coordination.
  • Neglecting to quantify past achievements—use concrete numbers (e.g., 'closed 5M€ in new business with a 120% quota attainment').

📅 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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