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Sales Development Representative

San Francisco, CA

What We Do

Ascend is transforming the $10 trillion global insurance industry by combining AI automation with embedded fintech. 

While insurance represents 7.2% of global GDP, outdated financial infrastructure like PDFs, emails, and manual reconciliation continues to slow the industry down. Ascend is the first and market-leading finance automation platform built specifically for insurance, driving the industry’s rapid digital transformation.

In just three years:

  • Trusted by thousands of insurance businesses nationwide

  • Processes billions in transactions annually, growing 200%+ per year

  • Built a world-class team of 50+ across San Francisco and Columbus

How We Do It

Ascend automates the entire insurance financial lifecycle—from collections and accounting to reconciliations and disbursements—helping businesses streamline operations and increase profitability.

In the AI era, software alone is no longer enough. For decades, software costs have declined, and with AI, they’re now in free fall. As both software buyers and builders, we fully embrace this shift—it makes technology more powerful and accessible. However, businesses must also maximize monetization, and the future belongs to those that embed themselves into financial flows rather than simply selling SaaS.

That’s why AI + fintech is our edge—seamlessly integrating financial automation into transactions to create real, lasting value. Customers don’t just buy software; they unlock powerful financial efficiencies with a 5–7x ROI.

Why We Do It

Insurance is a $10 trillion-plus industry running on legacy systems. AI alone won’t fix it, but AI-powered automation embedded into payments and transactions will.

Ascend’s mission is to become the leading financial automation platform for insurance by 2030—powering the entire industry’s financial operations while transforming the way trillions of dollars move.

Your Role

As a Sales Development Representative, you’ll be a driving force behind Ascend’s growth and at the forefront of our go-to-market efforts. You’ll play a key role in helping us expand our footprint across the Mid-Market and SMB segments, further solidifying our leadership in the space.

We’re looking for someone with a proven history of effective cold calling, a strong drive for constant improvement, and a creative approach to outreach. You’ll be part of a growing team, helping us build a consistent and high-quality outbound motion.

Please note, this role is in-person at our San Francisco office.

Responsibilities Will Include

Objective #1: In your first 30 days, you will onboard and get up to speed on Ascend, our processes, and our market (and begin generating pipeline):

  • Develop a deep understanding of the problems our customers face, how Ascend solves them, and how to communicate that value to prospective customers

  • Learn and ask questions about how we operate as an SDR team, as a GTM function, and as a business more broadly

  • Jump into prospecting, cold calling, cold emailing, and booking demos with guidance and coaching from other team members

Objective #2: In your first 60 days, you will establish the key habits and processes needed to drive predictable and repeatable results:

  • Work with your manager on a strategic initiative that you will own, build, and implement across the team (for example: defining new outreach strategies or figuring out ways to implement AI into the team’s workflows)

  • Identify and establish a repeatable process to meet weekly, monthly, and quarterly goals, and build structure around your workflows to ensure consistency

  • Experiment with different outreach strategies, messaging, cadences, and channels, and attend industry events

Objective #3: In your first 90 days, you will have in-depth conversations with prospective customers and perform alongside the other members of our SDR team:

  • Collaborate with marketing and the broader GTM function to identify new opportunities and push the team forward

  • Leverage data and reporting to find areas for improvement and optimization, both individually and across the sales development function

  • Give feedback to, and receive feedback from, other team members to ensure consistent learnings, and mentor new SDRs as they join

You Might Be a Good Fit If You Are/Have

  • Some proven experience: SDR experience in SaaS is preferred (but open to ambitious people who break that mold and are eager to grow in their sales career)

  • Strong communication skills: comfortable speaking on the phone, clear in writing, and able to adapt messaging to the moment

  • A learner’s mindset: self-motivated, resourceful, and excited to learn new strategies, messaging, and tools

  • A creative thinker: eager to experiment with new outreach ideas and constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency and impact

  • Flexible and agile: excited by the pace of a startup environment and able to adapt quickly to shifting priorities

  • The ultimate team player: you thrive in collaboration and are energized by team wins above all else

Nice to Haves

  • Experience with Salesforce, Outreach, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Apollo, or Clay

  • Exposure to startup environments and comfort with navigating ambiguity

Compensation: $70,000–$115,000 OTE

Benefits

  • Competitive base salary and meaningful equity in a fast-growing company

  • 100% health premiums covered for you and your dependents

  • 401k with employer matching options

  • Unlimited PTO

  • Monthly company-paid commuter benefit options

  • Parental and family leave

  • Lunch provided when in office

  • Dog-friendly office!

Join Ascend and be part of our mission to revolutionize the insurance industry and contribute to global financial modernization. Your leadership can make a significant impact on improving the $1T+ insurance industry.

Equal Opportunity

We are committed to equal opportunity employment and embrace diversity within our organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We encourage candidates to apply even if their experience doesn't precisely match this opportunity. We value diversity and are dedicated to equal opportunity employment.

 

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