Account Director

Role Overview

The Account Director manages a wide range of assignments, projects and/or clients with a high degree of success and independence across a large account or a few smaller ones.

The role is responsible for account performance, profitability and growth, working closely with internal teams by leading, inspiring and driving the client portfolio to provide excellent service and manage the delivery of an exceptional creative product that meets and exceeds brand expectations.

This role is furthermore responsible for the agency's reputation and delivering on our values, vision, performance requirements and growth opportunities.

Duties

Client Management:

• Assumes responsibility for the smooth and efficient running of the account(s) – operationally, creatively and financially and for inspiring the highest standards and ensuring quality agency output
• Has a deep understanding of the clients business and of the key broader factors and trends shaping their market and categories, leveraging these insights and knowledge to engage in broader business dialogue with clients
• Builds strong and enduring relationship with clients, professionally and socially
• Continuously improve output and provide (and ensure) the very highest levels of service excellence, and inspiring a drive for creative and strategic distinction by understanding local and global competitor environments to best inform opportunities and threats
• Guiding and interrogating the brand strategy within the context of the broader business, financial, cultural and social environments
• Is a good judge of creative work and is willing and able to review, validate and interrogate deliverables
• Creating a climate that is conducive to the promoting of new idea generationthat is solutions driven and able to recognise when an idea has potential to work across multiple touchpoints and to encourage creatives to go further than the brief

Finance:

• Deep understanding of client contract / retainer / in-scope / out-of-scope / WIP / forecasting of client billing / income budgets and accountable for reporting on over / under burn against retainer / SOW
• Ensures timeous and accurate billing processes, ensuring that preparation and presentation of accounts are executed and invoices are checked against quotes and budgets and that all CE’s / PO’s are billed timeously and before jobs are closed
• Contributes to good financial management by maximising account billings and revenue and for seeking out additional revenue opportunities
• Ensures self and team’s (where applicable) timesheets are always up to date and accurate

Operations:

• Builds respect and loyal commitment of team members, other departments and of the agency as a whole
• Champion the agency’s philosophy of brilliant basics and imaginative provocation
• Report to line manager on client health, financials, operational challenges and opportunities

Talent Management:

• Manage and grow direct team reports with confidence and integrity
• Contribute by effecting innovation that builds a positive agency culture and work environment through knowledge sharing, mentorship and guidance
• Inspires and energises individuals and teams to achieve their own and agency objectives

Qualifications & Experience

• Qualification in relevant field
• Proven experience in managing multiple projects and partners with a strong understanding of digital services and products across data, media and content
• Must have a minimum of 6 years working experience in the marketing, advertising, digital or communications industry
• Must be an adrenaline junkie with a solutions-driven approach, with proven experience of building great proactive client relationships
• Has an entrepreneurial?flair with a nose for new business opportunities and business acumen
• Must possess a thorough understanding of integrated and interactive communications, delivery systems, processes, as well as industry best practices
• Has a thorough understanding of the ASA Advertising Code and Consumer Protection Act

Competencies

• Self-motivated, flexible and possess high mental agility to work in an agile and fast-paced environment
• Great interpersonal, communication, presentation and organisational skills
• Comfortable in business development and an understanding of commercial expertise
• Above average computer literacy in all Microsoft applications
• Highly professional, articulate, confident and self-reliant
• Must be committed to continuous learning and development

Should you not hear from us within two weeks after the application deadline, please consider your application unsuccessful