Account Executive

You know higher education. You know how to build relationships. Have you ever considered bringing those skills to sales?

Ascendium is hiring an Account Executive to connect colleges, universities, employers, and other organizations with products and services that support their needs. You’ll build relationships with prospective customers, create sales and marketing plans, deliver presentations and product demonstrations, and represent Ascendium at industry events.

You don’t need to have spent your entire career in sales to succeed here. This could be a great next step if you have 2+ years of experience in higher education, financial aid, admissions, customer service, marketing, or sales and enjoy connecting with people, understanding their needs, and helping them find solutions. Strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills will be key.

You’ll also have opportunities to attend conferences and industry events, build your knowledge of Ascendium’s products and services, and contribute ideas that help shape our sales and marketing strategies. The position requires approximately 20% travel, including multi-day travel to events and conferences up to five times per year.

This position requires residence in or relocation to Madison, Wisconsin; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; or Columbus, Ohio.

Starting salary: $60,000, with opportunities to earn additional compensation through sales incentives based on performance.

Job Responsibilities

On a day-to-day basis, you may do the following.

• Perform outbound sales activity including prospecting, marketing and promoting Ascendium’s products and services to new customers. Working within the Ascendium marketing team, create and implement sales and marketing plans. Establish and develop positive customer relations.
• Participate in various organizations and attend conferences (exhibit). Approximately 20% of the job requires multi-day travel to various events and conferences up to 5 times per year.
• Plan, develop, and conduct presentations for potential customers.
• Demonstrate, support and assist in installation of Ascendium products as needed.
• Maintain current knowledge of Ascendium products and services.
• Assist in providing input regarding potential markets, products, services and enhancements and for sales and marketing strategies and plans.
• Participate in developing and updating hard copy and computer-based communication pieces.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

A highly qualified candidate will possess the following.

• Knowledge equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree in business, marketing, communications or a related field.
• Two or more years of experience with sales and marketing, customer service, student loans, student loan industry technologies, and/or employee benefit solutions.
• Life activities including ability to communicate, learn, and be self-sufficient.
• Strong communication (oral and written), interpersonal, presentation, problem solving and time management skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the student loan industry and related technology.
• General computer proficiency.

Other Information

Ascendium offers an outstanding benefits package designed to provide employees and their families with a high degree of security. These benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
• Student loan repayment assistance and tuition reimbursement.
• Generous time off, including up to eight weeks of paid parental leave.

Ascendium provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, creed, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

H-1B sponsorship (initiation or transfer) is not available for this position.

If you would like assistance with the application process, please email Ascendium Human Resources. We invite all applicants to complete the Voluntary Affirmative Action questions when submitting application materials. The questions are found at the end of the online application process. To learn more about our commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity, please visit the Ascendium Careers webpage.

Ascendium requires criminal, employment, and education background investigations before hiring.

Equal Opportunity Employer


This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.