Account Director

POSITION OVERVIEW

• This position provides leadership to all accounts across the Company by ensuring they are profitable and growing. Inspire the highest standards in all team members whilst directing the Agency’s longer-term relationship with the Client. As an Account Director, you are responsible for developing strong client relationships by acting as a partner in developing strategy and delivering quality creative work that meets the client’s needs and addresses their business challenges.

This is a senior-level position and manages Account Managers and Account Executives.

OVERVIEW OF ROLE:

• Serve as the primary point of contact on strategic, creative, and resource matters for clients.
• Work closely with senior management to develop integrated marketing strategies.
• Represent and champion the Client’s business within the Agency.
• Ensure the Agency allocates sufficient and appropriate resources to deliver projects effectively.
• Provide leadership and support to Account Managers and Executives, ensuring all projects are delivered to the highest standards, on brief, on budget, and on time.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Client Management

• Manage the smooth running of client accounts operationally, creatively, and financially, while remaining accountable to both the client and the General Manager Operations.
• Act as the client’s primary point of contact for strategic, creative, and resource-related matters.
• Set the strategic direction in collaboration with planning, data, and creative teams.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term professional relationships with clients.
• Develop a deep understanding of clients’ businesses, markets, industries, and emerging trends.
• Continually enhance knowledge of client brands, products, and competitive environments.
• Keep the Client Team Leader informed on client satisfaction, business status, financial forecasting, creative projects, timelines, and overall account health.
• Guide clients through the creative development and production process while negotiating realistic timelines and budgets that enable quality delivery.

Talent Management & Internal Relationships

• Foster positive working relationships across departments to encourage collaboration and teamwork.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and motivate team members to consistently deliver high-quality work.
• Support career development through regular performance reviews and professional coaching.
• Promote a culture of professionalism, honesty, respect, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Commercial Management

• Contribute to the Agency’s financial performance by improving profitability and maximizing revenue opportunities.
• Monitor billing procedures and proactively alert management to anticipated changes in billing, income, or potential write-offs.
• Drive account growth by maximizing billings and identifying additional revenue opportunities.

Project Management

• Set the creative context for client business by understanding brand communication needs and client objectives.
• Evaluate creative work critically and take responsibility for the quality of ideas presented to clients.
• Present and sell creative work with confidence, ensuring client buy-in and alignment.
• Oversee client approvals and ensure the approval process is managed efficiently.
• Inspire project teams through innovative briefing techniques while providing clear business context, vision, and strategic direction.

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in account management within an agency environment, including senior account management responsibilities.
• At least 5 years’ experience leading, developing, and managing high-performing teams.
• Proven experience managing integrated communication strategies covering Brand PR, Digital, Creative, Stakeholder Engagement, and related disciplines.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to identify innovative solutions and opportunities.
• Excellent project management skills with proven experience in project scoping, planning, and execution.
• Demonstrated business development success with a proven track record of winning new accounts.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and proposal development skills.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs):

• Lead the Agency’s media influence across multiple sectors through the development of measurable media influence programmes and team training initiatives.
• Provide editorial leadership by contributing thought leadership and editorial content alongside the Editorial team, measured quarterly.
• Lead assigned client accounts effectively while preparing and delivering monthly client activity reports, measured through client satisfaction and reporting quality.
• Drive integration across existing and new business while actively participating in new business opportunities and pitches.
• Complete strategic planning training through the company’s WARC platform within the required 10-week period.
• Mentor and coach at least one direct report, with progress measured quarterly.

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