Account Director

Job description

The Account Director provides strategic leadership for key client accounts, driving business growth and ensuring exceptional service delivery. This senior role requires extensive experience, strategic acumen, and the ability to influence at the highest levels. You will oversee multiple account teams, lead major client relationships, and play a crucial role in shaping agency strategy whilst maintaining P&L responsibility for your portfolio.

Key responsibilities:

Executive client leadership

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients at Exco and senior management level.
• Serve as strategic counsel to clients, advising on business and communication challenges beyond day-to-day campaign work.
• Drive transformational outcomes that deliver measurable value for clients and the agency.
• Lead crisis management and resolution, acting as the primary point of escalation for client accounts.
• Champion client needs across all agency departments to ensure exceptional, joined-up service delivery.

Strategic direction

• Shape the long-term strategic vision for client accounts in partnership with strategy and creative.
• Lead integrated campaign development across all channels and touch points.
• Drive innovation in creative solutions, media approaches, and technology adoption.
• Ensure all strategic output delivers measurable business impact against client objectives.
• Present strategic recommendations to client boards and senior leadership.

Business leadership

• Drive organic growth within existing accounts through proactive opportunity identification.
• Lead major new business pitches and proposals.

Team leadership and development

• Lead and inspire multiple account teams of account managers and account executives.
• Set clear goals and expectations, provide guidance, support, and regular performance feedback.
• Create a high-performance culture built on accountability, collaboration, and excellence.
• Drive talent acquisition by contributing to recruitment, selection, and onboarding of new team members.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion within the team and the broader agency.

Brief development and campaign delivery

• Write clear, accurate, and concise creative briefs that effectively communicate client goals, target audience, and all relevant information.
• Collaborate with creative, strategy, production, and other agency resources to develop innovative, impactful campaigns.
• Oversee quality assurance on all work produced, ensuring creativity, attention to detail, and alignment with brand strategy.

Agency leadership and business development

• Contribute to agency-wide strategic planning and business development initiatives.
• Participate in executive-level decision-making and cross-departmental governance.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration between client service, creative, strategy, and production.
• Build and protect the agency’s reputation through thought leadership and client excellence.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, communications, or a related field
• Postgraduate qualification in business or marketing is advantageous

Experience

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in advertising or related industry, with at least 3 years at senior account management level.
• Proven track record of managing large, complex, multi-market accounts.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and developing talent.
• Retail or FMCG advertising experience is highly advantageous.

Skills and competencies

• Exceptional client relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong strategic thinking and the ability to translate business objectives into communication strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong financial acumen — budgeting, forecasting, P&L management.
• Proficiency in project management tools and agency workflow systems (e.g. Magnetic).
• Thorough knowledge of integrated marketing, digital channels, and social media.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools.

Personal attributes:

• Strategic, solutions-oriented thinker who thrives at the intersection of business and creativity.
• Natural leader — people-focused, approachable, emotionally intelligent, and empathetic.
• Proactive, resilient, and able to remain calm under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to influence and align cross-functional stakeholders.
• Meticulous with excellent attention to detail.
• Deadline and solution driven, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Creative, out-of-the-box thinker who challenges the status quo.

Posted on 17 Apr 09:22, Closing date 15 May