Account Executive
Assistant Account Executive, Account Executive, Sr. Account Executive, Account Director, Sr. Account Director, Group Account Director. This role is typically filled by an individual that has mastered the Assistant Account Executive role, or equivalent, which usually takes one to two years.
The Account Executive position primarily ensures that projects flow through the agency on time and on budget. This position is client-facing and will be expected to develop business acumen and strategic thinking, with the help of their supervisor. This position may be the day-to-day point person on smaller clients. Project management ability and focus is a critical part of this position.
Promotion path
On average, it takes two years of high performance in this position to be considered for a promotion to Sr. Account Executive. Mastery of the Account Executive position will be determined by your supervisor with consultation from other department leaders.
Core responsibilities
This role includes, but is not limited to, these foundational responsibilities:
Client Management
• Understand your client’s business and how they make money
• Maintain competitive intelligence – media spending and messaging, and present to clients on a regular basis
• Prepare client status reports
• Write conference reports and distribute within 24 hours of a client meeting
• Prepare for client meetings with excellence i.e. agendas, seating, A/V
• Support ongoing budget tracking and management
• Anticipate what your supervisor requires to lead the account successfully
Workflow Management
• Open jobs, develop timelines, prepare estimates and track monthly billing
• Take the lead on workflow management in Wrike: opening projects, creating timelines, assigning tasks to the correct individuals, and updating ongoing task and project status
• Work cross functionally with media, production, insights, marketing
sciences and creative to communicate expectations, deadlines and drive internal workflow management
• Review work for accuracy and compliance and obtain necessary internal approvals
• Manage the Ad Set Planning document and process, ensuring all campaign assets are correctly named and are provided to the Ad Operations team for on-time trafficking
Strategy & Creative
• Help make the work better - provide opinions on briefs and creative concepts internally
• Key leader to produce advertising units, such as radio, social, print, OOH (video as well, but not complex, high budget productions)
Media & Analytics
• Open media jobs and assist in the media estimate / billing process
• Display knowledge across integrated media, from traditional to digital and social, gaining a deeper understanding of the consumer purchase funnel
• Provide opinions and feedback on client reporting / analytics, helping ensure reports are clear and actionable
Supervision & Reporting
• Facilitate the success of your direct supervisor and clients
• Provide AAE direction when appropriate
The Account Executive will strive to demonstrate our seven agency-wide core competencies and will be measured on each during the annual performance review period.
1. Accountable: Possesses an over-developed sense of responsibility and can be counted on when the chips are down.
2. Critical Thinker: Looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at the first answer.
3. Resilient: Pursues everything with energy, drive, and a need to finish and doesn’t give up in the face of resistance or setbacks.
4. Creative: Uses imagination and intuition to create something new or make unexpected, relevant changes to better something that already exists.
5. Empathetic: Understand and feel what another person or client is experiencing. Ability to place oneself in another’s shoes. Strong listener.
6. Collaborative: Work well with others since our work is always dependent on others’ efforts.
7. Motivated to be better: No matter what level, genuinely interested in learning, growing and honing your craft.
The Account Executive will be an exemplar of these agency values:
1. Believe in the power of a creative idea
2. Do the right thing
3. Provide value beyond the fee to our clients
4. Strength through inclusion
5. Respect for the bottom-line
6. Please and thank you