Account Director

Direct Focus; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Amazing teammates

Coaching and mentorship

Professional development

Exposure to brands

Modern tools

Growth opportunities

Accountability culture

Job summary

Direct Focus is seeking a seasoned Account Director to own outcomes across a portfolio, guiding strategic growth, retention, and profitability. You’ll lead client relationships, coach teams, and shape account strategy with a focus on measurable business results.

You’ll collaborate with Strategy, Operations, and Executive Leadership to improve processes, enable scalable marketing delivery, and drive meaningful client outcomes across national and international brands.

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years of marketing, agency, client leadership, or business operations experience.
• 3+ years leading teams.
• Proven success managing strategic client relationships.
• Strong financial and business acumen.
• Experience growing accounts and identifying new opportunities.
• Exceptional communication and leadership abilities.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution.
• Comfort leveraging technology and AI-enabled tools to improve performance.

Responsibilities

• Build strategic client partnerships with senior stakeholders and align marketing investments with business objectives.
• Identify opportunities to deepen client relationships, strengthen engagement, and create long-term value.
• Take accountability for retention, profitability, forecasting accuracy, and overall account health.
• Lead high-performing teams of Account Managers and Account Coordinators with a focus on accountability and growth.
• Guide strategic planning during account planning, quarterly business reviews, and major client initiatives.
• Partner with Strategy, Operations, and Executive Leadership to improve systems, workflows, and service delivery models.

Job description

Build Trusted Partnerships. Lead Strategic Growth. Own Outcomes.

At Direct Focus, Account Directors own outcomes.

Not projects.

Outcomes.

You are responsible for the health, growth, profitability, and long‑term success of your portfolio. You serve as a trusted advisor to clients, a leader to your team, and a key contributor to the success of the organization.

This role requires someone who can think strategically while remaining deeply connected to client needs, team performance, and operational excellence.

You don’t wait for problems to arrive.

You anticipate them.

You don’t simply manage relationships.

You deepen them.

You don’t just protect what’s been built.

You help clients and teams reach what’s next.

What We Mean By Great Client Service

At Direct Focus, great client service means more than being responsive. It means understanding our clients’ businesses, anticipating needs, communicating clearly, creating value proactively, and helping clients achieve meaningful business outcomes.

We strive to be trusted partners—not just service providers. We build long‑term relationships by combining strategic thinking, operational excellence, and a genuine commitment to helping our clients succeed.

What You’ll Do

Build Strategic Client Partnerships

Develop trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and help clients align marketing investments with business objectives.

Identify opportunities to deepen client relationships, strengthen engagement, and create long‑term value.

Take accountability for retention, profitability, forecasting accuracy, and overall account health.

Lead High-Performing Teams

Provide direction, coaching, and support to Account Managers and Account Coordinators while fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.

Guide Strategic Planning

Provide leadership during account planning, quarterly business reviews, and major client initiatives.

Strengthen the Business

Partner with Strategy, Operations, and Executive Leadership to improve systems, workflows, and service delivery models.

What Success Looks Like

• High client retention
• Accurate forecasting
• Healthy client relationships
• High-performing account teams

What You Bring

• 8–10+ years of marketing, agency, client leadership, or business operations experience
• 3+ years leading teams
• Proven success managing strategic client relationships
• Strong financial and business acumen
• Experience growing accounts and identifying new opportunities
• Exceptional communication and leadership abilities
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution
• Comfort leveraging technology and AI-enabled tools to improve performance

How You Live Our Values

Own it

You lead with accountability and take responsibility for outcomes.

Better 2.0

You seek smarter ways to strengthen client relationships, team performance, and business results.

Make trust

You build credibility through consistency, transparency, and follow‑through.

Deliver “great”

You help your team deliver exceptional work and meaningful client outcomes.

You lead with empathy, authenticity, and respect while creating an environment where people can do their best work.

The Kind of Leader Who Thrives Here

You:

• Think like an owner
• Build trust through consistency
• Connect work to business outcomes
• Protect both client interests and business performance
• Develop strong teams
• Lead with accountability and empathy

Why Direct Focus?

For more than 30 years, we’ve helped clients navigate change, solve complex marketing challenges, and achieve meaningful business results.

We’re proud of what we’ve built, but we’re always looking for ways to improve, evolve, and create more value for our clients.

We combine strategic thinking, operational excellence, technology, and scalable marketing execution to help organizations do more with less.

Most importantly, we believe great work starts with great people.

You’ll find:

• Amazing teammates
• Coaching and mentorship
• Training and professional development
• Exposure to national and international brands
• Modern tools and workflows
• Opportunities for growth and advancement
• A culture built on accountability, trust, and continuous improvement