If you’re in Singapore, you’ll realise that the city state is fast becoming one of the crucial technology hubs, both regionally and globally.
That’s down to the fact that many large technology multinational corporations (MNCs) have their regional headquarters here. Additionally, there’s also a thriving ecosystem of smaller tech startups that are continuously testing, iterating, and launching new products in Singapore.
For those in Singapore who want to get into the tech workforce, one of the most promising sub-sectors within tech is the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) industry. Think of major technology companies in various businesses such as Salesforce’s cloud-based sales and marketing software; Microsoft’s productivity software such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint; Shopify’s tools for online stores and POS systems; Slack’s cloud-based communications platform; Xero’s cloud-based accounting platform; or Canva’s graphic design platform.
SaaS companies will typically looking for sales people and account managers in client-facing roles. If you’re thinking about a career in SaaS roles, here’s a quick roadmap of what you need to know to become a SaaS Account Manager in Singapore.
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What Qualifications You Need To Become A SaaS Account Manager
Before pursuing an account manager role at a SaaS company in Singapore, it’s worth considering what sorts of qualifications you should have.
For most SaaS account manager roles, you typically need to hold a degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or another relevant field. This is because a lot of the day-to-day work of an account manager involves building and maintain strong client relationships.
Having an educational background in these areas, particularly in Business or Marketing/Comms, helps lay the foundation for a solid opportunity to become a SaaS account manager.
Furthermore, any experience that you can gain in a sales or customer-facing services role will be helpful. Positions such as Sales Representative (Rep) or Customer Service Specialist can show prospective employers that you have dealt with customers on a daily basis to understand their requirements and ensure their satisfaction.
Beyond that, it would also be useful to obtain extra qualifications that could help you in the SaaS field. For example, a certification like the Certified Strategic Account Manager (CSAM) can help boost your CV and make you stand out from peers.
How Much You Can Earn As A SaaS Account Manager In Singapore
The technology segment is a lucrative one, and many of you may be looking to become a SaaS account manager to earn a good salary.
Starting out, at the entry level (around 1 to 3 years of experience), Account Managers at SaaS firms can expect to earn an average of around $63,000 per year – or $5,250 per month. More experienced Account Managers, with 8 years of experience or more, can earn an average annual salary of around S$143,500 – or about S$12,000 per month.
The highest-paying SaaS roles tend to be with the “Big Tech” firms like Salesforce, Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure. Newer SaaS startups may also allow account managers to gain more experience and potentially benefit from rapidly scaling operations if successful.
Obtaining Soft Skills As A SaaS Account Manager
Finally, it’s important that those wanting to get into Account Manager positions at SaaS companies also think hard about acquiring “soft skills” that can help them stand out. One such example is understanding the customer landscape in the SaaS space as well as anticipating customer needs as well as future demand trends.
Displaying an ability to adapt to changing tastes among customers and being able to (amicably) resolve any conflicts can also be huge boons to have when applying for roles. Any case studies of being able to show these skills should be highlighted.
Ultimately, getting into the SaaS space as an Account Manager can be a rewarding experience – both from a personal growth perspective as well as salary point of view – but before committing to the sector, it’s important to take note of what companies are looking for and how you can best add value to advertised roles.
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