Internal: Agency management/leadership team; Agency account team, including planners/strategists; Creative teams and directors; Creative services and production staff; New business team; Human resources; Finance/accounts.
External: Client marketing team, including Marketing Director; Client procurement personnel; Other agencies in their client's roster e.g. Media, Public Relations; Regulatory bodies; New business opportunity contacts.
Account Directors will report to the senior management team of the agency, usually the Managing Director. They will also report to the Finance Director on account profitability. They will manage staff within their team, being accountable for their performance and providing them with professional development opportunities.
Responsibilities:
Leading client accounts within the agency, with overall responsibility for the client agency relationship.
Working with planners to interrogate client briefs, by challenging and asking questions, to develop communications briefs that meet business needs in an effective and accountable way. This is done in collaboration with Media Planners and Strategists from roster agencies to ensure integrated work is delivered for the client.
Supporting the Account Planner in writing inspirational creative briefs and going on to direct the strategic development of creative work, presenting and selling this effectively to clients.
Ensuring the profitability and growth of client accounts.
Identifying, developing and converting new business opportunities with existing and future agency clients.
Negotiating contracts and fees with marketing directors and client procurement personnel.
Managing the work, performance and professional development of team members.
Leading and inspiring those outside of the core team, including creative teams and those in other agencies working on the same account.
Reporting key financial and team data to the agency's senior leadership, finance and human resources departments.
Maintaining a detailed awareness of relevant market trends affecting their accounts, and developments in the wider advertising and communications industry.
In coordination with the line manager, responsible for ensuring client satisfaction and handling strategic issues or problem resolution of one-to-one marketing issues
Develop a comprehensive understanding of the marketplace and our client's business including various media and distribution channels
Proactive engagement with client to improve existing services, in order to drive profitable client relationships
Be accountable for the security of our client's business
Manage and ensure quality of our services to clients
Management and handling of key client briefs, projects and requests, including the refinement of the above
Typical day-to-day management of clients and their requests including presentations, documentation, and client activity administration
Ensure the excellence of projects; effectively manage and interpret client feedback; guide/lead Account Managers (AMs) and Account Executives (AEs) to implement projects smoothly and effectively
Support line manager in developing initiatives for new business or expanding existing business
Manage and handling of key client briefs, projects and requests, including the refinement of the above
Typical day-to-day management of clients and their requests including presentations, documentation, and client activity administration
Ensure the excellence of projects; effectively manage and interpret client feedback; guide/lead Account Managers (AMs) and Account Executives (AEs) to implement projects smoothly and effectively
Support line manager in develop
Financial control of billings and third party costs
Write/proofread major communications materials including executive internal memos, executive speeches, Q&A, sensitive topic statements, pitch docs or press releases
Maintain high-level contacts within business and industry relations
Lead major offline activities/events and overall quality control
Provide account planning and strategic support to key clients
Provide clients counsel in the development of successful customer management strategies
Lead the team to write communication plan/PR plan
Understand industry/market trends and the success factors critical to the organization's long-term sustainability and competitiveness
Understand the offering of the 6 Capabilities
Modify proposals based on changing business conditions
Drive the right client briefs for internal stakeholders, mainly strategy, creative and delivery teams
Take ownership of the quality of creative responses in conjunction with Creative Director
Ensure creative team motivation and working processes
Oversee project briefings (both written and actual briefing) and client approval
Provide creative judgement
Develop strong working relationships with AMs and AEs to ensure that once briefed the campaign/project moves forward smoothly
Be the first stop in resolving problems raised by AMs and AEs
Work with Business Director/Group Account Director to project future account team personnel requirements and overcome any existing issues
Assume responsibility, and demonstrate proactive and energetic working attitude
Take responsibility for management and motivation of account team members to allow them to achieve maximum potential
Skills:
Able to lead and inspire their team, the wider agency, clients, and other external partners.
Commercially and creatively astute.
Effective negotiators.
Unafraid to take charge when necessary, be decisive and then build support for those decisions.
Responsible and accountable for their own and others work, delegating effectively to balance a varied and demanding workload, and appreciates that the team working well can achieve much more than any individual.
Good at evaluating creative work; able to give and receive feedback to support its development.
Knowledgeable and passionate about their client's business, and where and how advertising contributes to its success.
Plan budgets and activities for account management in the company
Set up goals and objectives for all subordinate staff
Provide feedback and counsel to account staff to meet quotas/objectives
Conduct performance evaluation using key metrics
Serve as the point of contact for customers in your portfolio
Understand customer requirements and needs to offer suitable solutions and generate new business
Ensure the timely delivery of services and products to clients
Resolve issues to maintain and strengthen customer trust
Read reports of subordinates and communicate overall quarterly/annual progress to senior management and external stakeholders
Requirements:
6+ years proven experience as an account director or similar position
Team-leading experience
Excellent writing skills, strong presentation capabilities (proven media relations skills)
Strong verbal and presentation skills with the ability to speak knowledgably with high level executives internally and with clients
Detail-oriented, organized and dedicated; proactive and enthusiastic with an ability to juggle multiple tasks and meet deadlines; a quick learner
Demonstrable experience in negotiation and meeting client requirements
Solid understanding of budgeting and reporting on progress
Knowledge of performance evaluation techniques and metrics
Working knowledge of MS Office and/or relevant software (e.g. Salesforce)
Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities with aptitude in fostering long-term relationships
Outstanding organizational and leadership skills
BSc/BA in business administration, sales or relevant field
