Senior Account Development Executive - Education

About IRIS

IRIS Software Group is one of the UK's largest privately held software companies, trusted by 100,000+ businesses, schools and accountancy firms to keep their operations running. Our software pays 1 in 6 UK employees, supports over 12,000 schools, and is relied on by 91 of the top 100 UK accountancy firms.

We're a Great Place to Work® certified employer, recognised for our commitment to well-being, inclusion and development - and we're growing fast.

Senior Account Development Executive – Education 📚

📍 Location: South of England / Field-based
💼 Department: Sales – IRIS Education
🏢 Company: IRIS Software Group

The Role

We’re looking for an experienced and driven Senior Account Development Executive to join our IRIS Education sales team, covering customers across the South of England.

You’ll be responsible for growing revenue across your territory by developing relationships with existing and prospective education customers, understanding their challenges and identifying where IRIS solutions can add value.

This is a consultative sales role where you’ll own opportunities from initial conversation through to close, working closely with internal teams to deliver the right solutions for our customers.

What You’ll Be Doing 🚀

• Own and develop a portfolio of customers and opportunities across the South of England

• Identify and generate new business and growth opportunities

• Build strong relationships with key decision-makers across schools, trusts and education organisations

• Understand customer challenges and position relevant IRIS Education solutions

• Manage the full sales cycle, from prospecting and discovery through to proposal, negotiation and close

• Build and maintain a healthy pipeline to achieve revenue targets

• Deliver product demonstrations and commercial presentations where required

• Develop account and territory plans to identify opportunities for growth

• Work collaboratively with Customer Success, Marketing, Product and other Sales teams

• Maintain accurate pipeline and forecasting information within the CRM

• Stay informed on developments and challenges within the UK education sector

What We’re Looking For ⭐

• Strong B2B sales experience, ideally within SaaS, software or technology

• Proven experience managing and closing complex sales opportunities

• A track record of achieving or exceeding sales targets

• Confident generating your own opportunities through proactive business development

• Strong account management and relationship-building skills

• Comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders and decision-makers

• Commercially minded with strong negotiation skills

• Able to manage a territory and prioritise multiple opportunities effectively

• A consultative approach to sales with the ability to understand customer needs and demonstrate value

• Self-motivated, proactive and comfortable working independently

Desirable 👀

• Previous experience selling into the education sector

• Experience working with schools, Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) or education groups

• SaaS or education technology experience

• Experience selling multiple products or solutions across an account

Why Join IRIS? 💜

You’ll be joining a successful and growing team within IRIS Software Group, working with technology that supports organisations across the UK education sector.

You’ll have the opportunity to take ownership of your territory, build strong customer relationships and develop your career within a large and established software organisation.

If you’re an experienced salesperson who enjoys building relationships, developing new opportunities and closing business, we’d love to hear from you.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Impact: Your work will influence millions globally.

• Growth: Continuous learning and career development opportunities.

• Belonging: A culture that celebrates diversity and empowers every individual.
  

Ready to Apply?

Click Apply - we’re excited to learn about your unique perspective and experience. If you need adjustments during the process, let us know. We’re committed to making this opportunity accessible to everyone.

What to expect from our hiring process

Our process is designed to be fair, transparent and straightforward. Stages vary depending on the role — more senior positions may involve additional steps, and some areas include role-specific assessments such as a technical test or case study — but typically you can expect:

1. Application review — we assess your experience and potential

2. Initial call — a short conversation to learn about you and share more about the role

3. Skills assessment — tailored to the position, e.g. case study, coding challenge or portfolio review

4. Final interview — meet the team and explore how you'll make an IMPACT at IRIS

We'll always walk you through the specific stages at the start of the process so you can prepare with confidence.

If you need any adjustments or accommodations during the process, let us know, we’re committed to making this experience accessible for everyone.