Account Executive - Splunk (Global Financial Services Accounts)
Cisco · Zürich
Splunk, a Cisco company, is building a safer and more resilient digital world with an end-to-end full stack platform made for a hybrid, multi-cloud world. Leading enterprises use our unified security and observability platform to keep their digital systems secure and reliable. Our customers love our technology, but it's our caring employees that make Splunk stand out as an amazing career destination. No matter where in the world or what level of the organization, we approach our work with kindness. So bring your work experience, problem-solving skills and talent, of course, but also bring your joy, your passion and all the things that make you, you. Come help organizations be their best, while you reach new heights with a team that has your back.
Position Overview:
We are seeking a highly accomplished Account Executive - Splunk (Global Financial Services Accounts) to join one of our strategic sales teams. This is a senior individual-contributor appointment carrying a named patch of two of the most significant global financial services institutions headquartered in Switzerland - spanning global banking and global insurance - with operations and decision-making structures that reach across every major region worldwide.
This role is designed for a proven operator at the top of the Swiss financial services market. We expect an established, current personal network at executive level within Swiss-headquartered global financial institutions and a verifiable history of closed, multi-million-dollar enterprise software transactions in this segment. You will be responsible for protecting and growing a substantial installed base - securing high-value renewals while developing expansion strategies across the security and observability portfolio - and for positioning Splunk as a strategic long-term platform partner at group level.
If you are ready for your next challenge and seeking an opportunity to grow within a company where you can truly thrive alongside a high-performing, results-driven team within the Cisco/Splunk family, please continue reading.
Responsibilities:
Client Relationship Management: Leverage and deepen existing executive relationships across global banking and insurance organisations - CISO, CTO, COO, Group Technology, architecture, and group procurement / category management - at both Swiss headquarters and global divisional level.
Account Development - Protect & Grow: Secure and renew a large installed base while identifying and capitalising on expansion opportunities across the portfolio, driving retention and growth in an environment of active vendor consolidation and cost scrutiny.
Global Account Orchestration: Navigate the matrixed buying environment of global financial institutions, where commercial authority and budget span group functions, divisions, and regions. Coordinate the extended account team across geographies, including out-of-country and local account roles engaged on the same customer.
Extended Team Leadership: Structure highly complex, multi-stakeholder situations toward defined outcomes by orchestrating System Engineers, Customer Success Managers, specialists, and partners - leading the virtual account team toward successful execution.
Program-based Execution: Run account engagements as structured programs, with clear close plans, mutual action plans, milestones, and disciplined project-based execution rather than opportunistic selling.
AI-Driven Selling & Productivity: Position Splunk's AI-powered security and observability capabilities with credibility in financial institutions - including AI governance, model risk, and resilience considerations - while applying internal AI tooling with versatility to accelerate account research, strategy development, and execution.
Negotiation & Closing: Lead large-scale contract negotiations, enterprise agreements, and executive presentations with C-level stakeholders and group procurement, ensuring mutually beneficial agreements that align with both customer and company goals.
Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with internal teams (engineering, product, marketing, legal) and with partners and the Cisco field to develop tailored solutions for the specific demands of globally regulated financial institutions.
Market & Regulatory Intelligence: Stay ahead of industry trends, competitor activity, and technology shifts in banking and insurance. Understand the regulatory environment governing this market - including FINMA requirements on operational resilience, outsourcing, and cyber risk, DORA obligations affecting EU operations, banking secrecy, and Swiss/EU data-residency and privacy obligations - and reflect it in how you position security and observability.
Sales Forecasting & Reporting: Maintain accurate pipeline, forecast, and account plans across a concentrated, high-value portfolio, providing clear insight and recommendations for improvement.
Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering, customer success, and support to ensure successful delivery and customer satisfaction across multi-workstream engagements.
Requirements:
10+ years of enterprise software sales experience with a demonstrated history of consistent quota overachievement, the majority of it within financial services.
Proven, verifiable track record of closed multi-million-dollar enterprise software transactions with global banks and/or insurers headquartered in Switzerland.
Established and current executive-level network within Swiss-headquartered global financial institutions, with the ability to open the right doors from day one.
Deep understanding of how global financial institutions buy: group procurement, vendor risk management, outsourcing governance, global-versus-divisional decision rights, and budget cycles.
Strong command of the regulatory landscape shaping technology decisions in financial services - FINMA outsourcing and operational-resilience requirements, DORA, banking secrecy, and data-residency obligations.
Demonstrated ability to orchestrate an extended, virtual account team (System Engineers, Customer Success Managers, specialists, partners) toward a shared outcome without direct authority.
Experience running account engagements as structured programs - close plans, mutual action plans, and project-based execution on complex accounts.
Track record of both protecting a substantial installed base (renewals and retention) and driving expansion under vendor-consolidation pressure.
Strong AI fluency on two fronts: the ability to position AI-led value credibly within customer environments, and the versatility to operate internal AI systems and tooling to accelerate research, strategy formulation, and execution.
Mastery of MEDDPICC, or an equivalent qualification methodology.
Boardroom-ready executive presence with a proven ability to influence and close multi-million-dollar enterprise software deals at CxO level.
Accurate forecasting and commitment delivery across large portfolios and extended sales cycles.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.
Deep understanding of enterprise IT ecosystems including cloud infrastructure, security, and observability / digital transformation initiatives.
Experience in SaaS, security, or observability environments.
Power user of enterprise CRM platforms (Salesforce), with strong operational discipline and reporting fluency.
Minimum of a Bachelor's degree; an advanced degree is a plus.
Fluent in German and English (written and spoken); additional languages a plus.
Willingness to travel within Switzerland and internationally.
Splunk, a Cisco company, is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.
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