Account Executive (Exit Consultant) - Axial for Owners
7 days ago
New York
Job DescriptionAbout Axial Axial is the largest online M&A platform for small & mid-sized businesses (SMBs) in North America. Our mission is to unleash the potential of private capital markets for entrepreneurs by helping small businesses hire M&A advisors and exit successfully. In 2024, over 10,000 SMBs pursued M&A via Axial, leading to 1M+ connections, 75,000+ signed NDAs, and hundreds of millions in closed deals. See closed deals → About Axial for Owners Axial for Owners supports business owners as they prepare to exit. Our flagship offering, Advisor Finder, is the first tech-enabled solution dedicated to helping owners find and hire the right M&A advisor. The majority of business owners with $1M+ in annualized profits hire M&A advisors to represent them in a sale process. This decision maximizes an owner's ability to successfully find a buyer and exit at a higher valuation. Yet most owners rely on informal referrals, rarely hiring the best advisor with relevant experience for their use case. As a solution, Advisor Finder taps into Axial's network and proprietary data on 2,500+ M&A advisors to find owners the advisors with the most relevant experience and proven track record. For owners exploring a sale, it offers unmatched access to the most relevant, proven advisors. About the Role As an Account Executive at Axial, you'll serve as a trusted Exit Consultant — helping business owners navigate the complex, high-stakes process of hiring an M&A advisor. Your primary goal is to grow the number of business owners successfully hiring advisors through Advisor Finder. You'll work directly with founders and CEOs of North American companies valued between $5M and $100M, spanning "newer-economy" sectors like technology and consumer products, and "older-economy" sectors like manufacturing, industrials, and business services. Top performers combine rigorous sales discipline with rapport, empathy, intellectual curiosity, and domain fluency in M&A. This is a consultative role that requires thoughtful guidance and high trust. You'll collaborate closely with Axial's marketing, data, strategy, and business operations teams to continuously improve and expand the program. Responsibilities * Master Axial's talk tracks and M&A foundations — including advisor types, process structures, and how to guide owners through exit prep and advisor selection * Build rapport with a diverse range of business owners (e.g., a 75-year-old industrial founder in Arkansas and a 45-year-old NYC-based investor selling a portfolio company) * Deliver curated advisor shortlists (3–5 candidates) tailored to each owner's goals and business profile * Lead debriefs and feedback sessions with owners as they evaluate their options — offering benchmarks, prep strategies, and decision frameworks * Manage inbound interest with urgency, structure, and personalized follow-up * Proactively engage warm leads (e.g., users of Axial's free tools, newsletter readers, and ebook downloaders) * Attend targeted industry events and owner forums to grow your network and surface new opportunities * Provide real-time owner feedback to shape marketing efforts and product evolution — your insights will directly impact how the program improves Qualifications * Embodiment of the Traits of an Axialite: positivity, humility, grit, discernment, and accountability for results * 5–10 years of experience in at least one of the following: * Business development or B2B sales at a financial services or technology company * Advising business owners on raising capital or selling a business (e.g., M&A advisory, exit planning) * Trusted advisory for $5M–$150M business owners (e.g., wealth management, executive recruiting) * Proven ability to sell to C-level executives and high-trust decision makers * Track record of running complex, consultative sales processes and consistently exceeding goals * Strong verbal and written communication — clear, persuasive, and executive-ready * High EQ and versatility — able to build rapport across geographies, industries, and age groups * Relevant domain experience (preferred): M&A Advisory, Exit Planning, Financial Technology, Financial Services, Executive Search, Wealth Management Working at Axial We are a small, tight-knit, and mission-aligned team (currently 50+ employees). You'll be expected to have a direct impact on the growth of the company. Our Manhattan office is comfortable, well-stocked, and designed for collaboration. We take a 'hybrid' approach to in-office attendance, where NYC-based employees are in the office 3-4 days a week (minimally Tues, Wed, Thurs). The atmosphere is collegial, open, and full of accommodations — including snacks, coffee, adult beverages, relaxing spaces, games, and an upright piano. At Axial, you'll also enjoy: • Robust medical, dental and vision insurance, paid for by Axial at nearly 100%, • 401k program, • Flexible vacation policy (we urge employees to take a minimum of 15 days), • Paid Parental Leave Policy, • Monthly Health & Wellness stipend, • Pre-tax commuter programAxial Values, • Obsess over Member Trust – you work in a way that helps Axial earn, grow, and keep member trust, • Expect and Deliver Excellence – you do high-quality work consistently, and you expect it from your colleagues as well, • Be an Owner – you take responsibility for your work, operate transparently, and focus on delivering results, • Communication Matters – you prioritize clear, proactive, and empathetic communication