Role Overview:
The Account Director is responsible for running their client accounts and the ongoing progress towards the account’s goals. They’ll work closely with the Client Services Director in setting the direction for each client, and with the Account Management team in delivering them.
The Account Director may be dedicated to one larger account or work across several smaller accounts.
The focuses of the role include setting the direction & goals for the account, client satisfaction, client profitability and growth, as well as managing the AM team (including AEs, AMs and SAMs). (team size dependant)
Responsibilities:
Client Satisfaction
Have a deep understanding of the client’s business
Work with strategy & creative leads to set the creative and strategic tone and goals for the account
Send out the client satisfaction survey quarterly
Educate the client on Waste processes and ways of working
Get regular face-to-face feedback on the Waste team and work from the client, relaying this to the necessary team members and acting on it
Where necessary develop action plans when clients are unsatisfied with Waste’s performance
Ensure the client’s expectations are continually managed via timely, clear and regular communication
Act as an escalation point for client concerns beyond PM/AM team members
Account profitability / Finance
Signing off client cost estimates as agreed at kick off, & escalating larger estimates to CSD
Running fortnightly project reconciliation meetings
Oversight that all client projects are being billed on time, and are entered into revenue forecast sheet, with timely communication to Finance department, including confirming and chasing receipt of client POs
Monitoring progress against revenue and profitability targets and reporting monthly to HOCS and founders
Ongoing forecasting for client account revenue, alongside finance team
Account goal progress
Work with the HOCS and the accounts teams on developing the client account plan for each account
Enact and deliver on the client account plan goals
Oversee the day-to-day running of the client account, ensuring it meets the standards agreed in the account plan
Continually look for new work opportunities within the client, using your knowledge of the client to create project briefs
Day-to-day account direction
Ensuring account presence in all client meetings / calls (SAM/AD/AM)
Monitoring and advising on all the client communications on the account
Escalating potential high-risk or damaging situations to the HOCS
Attending the majority of client meetings and calls
Acting as the point of contact for new briefs and the early stages of projects where necessary
Acting as the point of contact for large scale / high visibility projects
Attending all client wash-up sessions
Writing creative briefs for mid-scale projects or delegating to team
Signing off all briefs, & escalating larger project briefs to HOCS / strategy
Attend check-ins on key client work, if agreed at project kick-off
Sign-off on all key client work, before sending to client, if agreed at project kick-off
Notifying the Resource Manager of any future large scale projects
The AM team
Inducting new team members into client accounts
Act as an escalation point for AM team members
Manage appraisals for AM team members
Run weekly team meetings
Manage week-on-week team capacity & escalate issues to HOCS
Mentor the AM members of the team
Manage regular feedback loops with the team alongside HOCS
Arrange regular one-to-ones with the team
Ensure the AM team understand and deliver against their roles & responsibilities, alongside BD, from a client management perspective
Knowledge and skills:
Minimum 2 year experience in an Account Director role, with a strong track record of building senior relationships and growing client accounts.
Minimum 6 years proven creative agency experience, working with big brands and managing multiple clients or key stakeholders.
Experience line-managing a team of Account Managers
Experience with entertainment clients
Ability to plan and strategise at a senior level
A passion for client satisfaction, building relationships that will weather any storms, and making decisions that are client-first.
Excellent industry knowledge and a thirst for keeping that knowledge ahead of the curve.
The ability to lead proposals and presentations articulately, with incredible brand knowledge and amiability.
An awareness and love for the financials and an understanding of how to positively present project scopes and proposals to the client.
As well as the knowledge and experience to interrogate budgets, you’ll have a strong grasp on budget tracking, forecasting and how that fits into the overall picture.
Enough confidence in your experience, knowledge and client relationships to overcome unforeseen challenges.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to bring all teams together to get the job done and keep the client informed.
Experience working with your clients to come up with new ideas and ways to develop their digital communications
In return, you’ll get:
To work with one of the most innovative mobile gaming clients in the world
Competitive salary
The option to work between home and the office both now and long term.
The opportunity to develop your own skills in a fun, supportive environment.
The opportunity to grow and take on line management
To work on big game titles in a fast-paced, exciting and ever-growing agency
To work alongside extremely passionate digital natives, producing world-class work
Access to training and development at the directors and line managers discretion
Waste shuts during the Christmas period ranging between 1 and 2 weeks with that time not being taken out of your regular holiday entitlement
Early-finish/late start Fridays in August & February
Christmas and summer parties you'll want to post about
Regular team outings and social events
Workplace pension
Cycle to work scheme
Birthdays off
Volunteer days
Access to Employee Assistant Programme (EAP)
Flexible start times
Group Life Assurance
Group Income Protection
Private Medical Insurance
The Waste Way:
Highly proactive in finding opportunities for client account growth
Ability to proactively identify future challenges and risks on your accounts and plan for them
Taking ownership of your accounts, setting the goals & plan in line with Waste’s business objectives & roadmap
Being kind, supportive and constructive to your team, helping them coach and develop along their career paths
Strong team player who’s able to bring teams together, motivating and exciting them to work on the client account
Leading discussions internally & contributing your views
At Waste, we live by 4 key cultural pillars and expect ALL Waster’s to live up to these principles. This is what Waste was founded on:
Be Brave – We look for fresh ways to solve problems and encourage diversity of thought.
Own Your Shit - We value actions over words and empower Wasters to make things happen.
Make it Better – We’re always looking for ways to improve our work, agency and ourselves.
Be Kind – We’re a team. Win together, lose together, learn together.
How Wasters embrace Diversity & Equal Opportunity
Us Wasters are committed to diversity, equality and inclusion. For us diversity and inclusion are not just a tick-boxing activity, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. A diverse workforce means that we’re able to unlock our ability to innovate, be creative, be better problem solvers and provide an inclusive environment for everyone and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.