Junior Account Director: Dynamic Integrated Agency (329 views)

Previously disadvantaged candidates will be given preference.

A wonderful opportunity has become available for a self-motivated junior Account Director at a fabulous full service below-the-line agency’s Cape Town office. This is the middle- senior level operational position in the Client Service Department. In this role you will be expected to project manage Digital & BTL accounts by effectively delegating to and empowering the wider client services team. This involves taking “ownership” of allocated campaigns/projects in order to produce professional and creative campaign plans and/or solutions. We’re looking for someone who is able to demonstrate a high level of responsibility. Super opportunity to work on some really exciting campaigns!

Responsibilities

• Deliver the required work on time to ensure the highest possible levels of quality, excellence and service 
• Write accurate, insightful and single-minded briefs
• Manage the workflow within your team and ensures deadlines are met 
• Solve problems that occur, and escalate issues that cannot be resolved to the manager 
• Show enthusiasm for the client’s business 
• Is courteous and helpful at all times
• Present a professional outlook in dress and mannerisms
• Manage the internal pitch process from brief to concept revert
• Communicate with new clients throughout pitch process
• Participate in brainstorming sessions in order to accurately understand client briefs
• Contribute to creative concept development and pre/post research (where required)
• Produce budgets, with the help of Project Managers, in line with approved brief response, as provided by new business department
• Manage full campaign budgets and reconciliations, including invoices being raised according to financing practice
• Follow up with finance department to ensure payment is received according to terms
• Be involved in the financial management and profitability of the account
• Ensure financial success on the business
• Ensure that the Project Management team has a sound understanding of the client briefs
• Ensure status documents are done and kept up to date
• Ensure project management processes are followed including magnetic tasks
• Ensure studio teams are briefed as per process with enough lead time
• Follow up with the Production team on the management of their suppliers
• Work with the Production team to produce project plan & schedule and manage these schedules throughout life cycle of campaign. Ensure timelines are followed on each campaign
• Conduct thorough post campaign analysis
• Produce debrief document with results and implementable key learning and recommendations that improve the agency offering
• Understand the strategies of the client’s business and their challenges
• Manage client expectations, objectives, and timelines through campaign life cycle
• Problem solve with clients at senior level
• Establish and foster good client relationships at all times
• Report opportunities through WOM or client information to New Business team ASAP
• Recommend additional areas of business to the client where appropriate
• Demonstrate interest in areas of personal interest to the client outside of work 
• Remain up-to-date with any local or international coverage given to the client or related brands, and feedback timeously
• Identify and pursue up-selling opportunities for the agency
• Help guide and influence client strategies and brand plans
• Identify potential clients, and the decision makers within the current client organisation
• Research and build relationships with existing new clients 
• Identify opportunities for campaigns and services that will lead to an increase in sales 
• Seek opportunities with current client and up-sell more services
• Continuously communicate the key services that the agency sells to new and existing clients
• Proactively ensure existing clients continue to use agency services after initial campaign 
• Close new business deals by coordinating requirements; developing and negotiating contracts; integrating contract requirements with business operations
• Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks and participating in professional organisations
• Manage the internal pitch process from brief to debrief
• Communicate with new clients throughout pitch process
• Grow, training and develop a career plan for direct reports and junior staff
• Delegate to team members where needed
• Oversee the day-to-day performance and outputs of the Client Service team 
• Update management team on campaign progress and issues during campaign life cycle during Monday status meetings
• Manage capacity within team and flag resource issues when they arise 
• Delegate tasks to staff where applicable
• Is involved in the financial management and profitability of the account

Requirements
The successful candidate must have/be:

• 5 years’ work experience as an Account Manager in BTL agency and/or Digital agency
• Able to work across multiple types of campaigns (specifically Experiential & Digital) 
• Proficiency in MS Office especially Excel and PowerPoint 
• Budgeting and reconciliation experience
• BTL experience
• Professional writing skills 
• Driver’s license and own vehicle 

Should you not receive a response within 2 weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful.

JOB REFERENCE CODE: #Mich1260