Account Director

The Account Director contributes to the efficient and profitable running of the account. Looking beyond the day-to-day needs whilst being completely hands-on, motivating the team and demonstrating a key understanding of the clients’ business and growth opportunities. Accountable for the successful development and implementation of account strategies and activities.

Client Responsibilities

• Build positive and productive client relationships by demonstrating an understanding and sound knowledge of your clients’ business and industries in which they operate.

• Manage integrated multi-level projects simultaneously, forward planning, prioritising workflow and demonstrating problem solving at all levels.

• Work with and draw on the expertise of the full spectrum of the agency’s resources to develop integrated offerings to clients where necessary.

• Assist in delivering the highest quality of work and highest standard of creativity at all times.

• Produce top quality written work for clients on time including proposals, presentations and reports.

• Deliver presentations to clients as and when required.

• Test strategic direction with creative teams in order to evaluate against strategy and adaptation across various channels of communication.

• Effective communication of client needs and deliverables.

• Budget management and monthly hours reconciliation.

People Responsibilities

• Work with Group Account Director to set annual review KPIs and take responsibility for your development as an advertising professional.

• Actively manage own performance and career.

• Manage junior team members, focussing on motivation, hands-on training and appraisals.

• Actively manage and supervise the team on a day-to-day basis to ensure service levels and client deliverables are consistently met.

• Ensure effective communication internally to full team.

• Co-ordinate and ensure successful orientiation of new employees into the team.

• Ensure that work is executed in accordance with the agency process.

Finance Responsibilities

• Assess project costs against client budgets, managing client and agency budgets on an ongoing basis.

• Ensure invoicing and financial administration adheres to best practice.

• Identify opportunities for expanding the financial potential of the clients’ business.

• Work with Creative Agency team on new and potential clients where appropriate.

Operations Responsibilities

• Ensure meeting action reports, status reports, monthly reports, quarterly and annual reviews, and other client admin is completed when required.

• Manage all projects to ensure delivery on time and on budget.

Skills and attribute / Key competencies:

• Proficient in MS Office suite (incl. Mail, Word, Powerpoint and Excel) essential

• Diverse and excellent writing skills

• Enthusiastic / confident / professional / diplomatic

• Exceptional interpersonal skills

• Good team working and management skills

• Presentation skills

• Ability to cope with pressure, work to tight deadlines and handle diverse activities

• Reliable, organized and attention to detail

• Passion for client delivery and service

• Organisation and administration skills essential

• Accountable with good follow-through

• Business and commercial acumen

Qualifications:

• Matric essential

• Relevant tertiary qualification (marketing and communications) essential

• Driver’s license and own reliable transport essential

Experience:

• 5+ years client service and agency experience

• 3+ years people management experience essential