Account Director

Role Description

As our Account Director you’ll be supporting the Group Account Director to direct a client portfolio and be accountable for all aspects of the agency’s business in relation to your clients. You’ll develop strong client relationships and provide recommendations across their client portfolio. And you’ll assist in the management of the financial and operational aspects of your accounts. 

Core responsibilities include: 

BUSINESS 

• Be the right-hand person to your GAD. Working in unison to support your portfolio of clients.
• Support your GAD to deliver on the strategic requirements that meet your clients’ objectives. 
• You think ahead and add value at every stage – seeking out opportunities to better service your accounts, generate revenue, and develop relationships. 
• You’re always looking for solutions, not questioning what to do with problems.
• When appropriate, you’ll be a valued support to the Group Account Director and Client Services Director with new business development and pitching.

PROCESS 

• Manage the workflow, operational and quality processes of your client portfolio and across other agency departments.
• Maintain strong creative evaluation skills. Is able to judge when creative is on strategy or not, and able to work with the creatives to strengthen ideas. 

• Possesses a thorough understanding of the production and agency process – is able to support and explain production estimates and schedules for broadcast, online, print, collateral, etc. and internal agency processes. 
• Identifies, develops, and implements efficient processes to accomplish team objectives.
• Juggles multiple projects and tasks.
• Ability to present concepts to the client.
• Full management of financials – forecasting, budget control and analysis. 
• Understands drivers of financial performance and is responsible for growth and profitability of assigned accounts. 
• Meets growth targets for the accounts through proactive initiatives.

PEOPLE 

• Builds trusting relationships with clients with sufficient experience to independently interact with senior clients, and to solve most problems or issues that arise with the client or agency. 
• Is able to develop respectful and productive relationships with colleagues in all other departments and agencies within the township. Knows when to push, and when to pull back. 
• Keeps the Group Account Director informed on any important information relating to clients’ business, campaigns, and team members.
• An excellent communicator - accurately communicates information to and from the client whilst also providing sound advice.
• Shares ideas across the Account Management group to help diversify and pick up new approaches.
• Collaborative approach: involved in brainstorming, suggesting ideas and solutions. 

Desired Skills & Experience

• Client management experience – including project management with brand manager level.
• Must be a good listener. A strong presenter and seller. Able to handle delicate issues with the clients.
• Knows how to get buy in, build rapport, navigate tough conversations, sell an idea, and leave with everyone feeling like a winner.
• Some level of experience in strategic thinking.
• Provides a deep understanding of industry trends, competitive landscape and how they impact clients’ businesses.
• Experience managing and mentoring entry level roles a bonus.
• Financial management skills.
• Possesses a positive, enthusiastic, and collaborative attitude.
• Tertiary qualified in a communications/marketing discipline preferred.
• Ideally 5+ years experience in agency account management or marketing brand management.