Key Account Director

Position profile
As a Key Account Director, you need to be a client facing, well organised individual who is able to engage in a broader business dialogue with clients. You will be expected to work closely with the key client and the et al Group companies, take and provide clear and directional creative briefs and support the teams through the successful execution of each brief and project.
You will be the key client’s representative at the agency, and the agency’s representative at the key client’s organisation. You must develop a thorough knowledge of the key client’s business, and all aspects of advertising, including creative, media, research, and commercial production.
You must be a dynamic, independent thinker that can plan, execute, and finalise projects according to strict deadlines and within budget. You must be able to build strong client relationships, clearly understand client requirements, think on your feet and partake in on-the-spot solutions, manage the client, projects and suppliers, take briefs, compile status documents, and run/participate in status meetings and creative reviews, compile CEs, project plans, manage budgets, communicate creative ideas from client to creative teams and write clear instructional briefs, and co-ordinate and execute activities and tasks required to meet all project objectives.
Key performance areas (KPAs)
Manage key client account
Engage in client services duties
Financial administration
Reporting
Manage key client account
Manage the account management team (AE’s) who work on the relevant client account - includes all operational and HR requirements.
Liaising with, and acting as the link between the client and the advertising agency by maintaining regular contact with both.
Work across a number of sectors, including digital and AtL.
Oversee projects on a day-to-day basis, ensuring that projects run smoothly and objectives are achieved.
Have a proactive approach to all projects and maintain an excellent working relationship with all clients and members of the et al Group
Actively pursue new opportunities with the client.
Provide strategic input on all account activities
Engage in client services duties
Meet and liaise with key client to discuss and identify their advertising requirements.
Work with employees of the et al Group to devise a campaign that meets the key client's brief and budget.
Write clear and directional briefs.
Arrange and attend key client and internal meetings.
Present alongside agency colleagues, the campaign/project ideas and budget to the key client
Ensure that communication flows effectively between all the relevant parties.
Create project plans and timelines and keep the team and key client informed.
Send work to key client for approval or modification.
Debrief the relevant teams on all changes/edits from key client.
Monitor job progress and keeping the key client informed.
Manage key client expectations.
Take accountability for each job, follow up on a job progress, and meet all deadlines.
Constantly provide insight and direction to align the key client’s marketing activities with the business strategy.
Serve as a brand custodian, monitoring all relevant marketing activities in relation to the brand and corporate identity guidelines as set out by the agency.
Proactively innovate on the key client’s marketing strategy and execution thereof, provided it is under the supervision and guidance of the relevant Managing Director at the agency.
Financial administration
Create accurate cost estimates
Obtain supplier quotes
Follow financial processes within the agency
Manage key client budget and campaign costs
Manage the client retainer on a monthly basis
Reporting
Generate accurate reports and status notifications on a daily basis
Send weekly reports to key client and keep key client informed about the status of their jobs.
Accurately keeping activity sheets up to date on a daily basis
Immediately report all issues or concerns pertaining to the key client’s marketing activities to the client service director and relevant Managing Director, and then, with guidance from the client Service Director, to the relevant client contact person.

**REQUIREMENTS**:
Requirements for this position
Qualification
Relevant tertiary education
Work experience
5 years relevant working experience
Competencies
Time management
Extraordinary attention to detail
People skills and very good communication skills
Excellent problem-solving skills
High attention to detail
Deadline driven
Professional, client-centric approach to all projects
Solid administrative skills
Exceptional project planning and implementation skills
Organisational and time management skills
Other requirements
Computer skills (Outlook, Excel, Internet Explorer, Word, PowerPoint)
Ability to use relevant software programs - intermediate Microsoft Word user
Ability to work under pressure
Ability to work quickly and accurately
Client and inter-company liaison
Internal liaison (including stakeholders within