Account Manager ( Retail )

Account Manager – Accenture Song

London Office In days: Tuesday – Thursday

Accenture Song accelerates growth and value for our clients through sustained customer relevance. Our capabilities span ideation to execution: growth, product and experience design; technology and experience platforms; creative, media and marketing strategy; and campaign, content and channel orchestration. With strong client relationships and deep industry expertise, we help our clients operate at the speed of life through the unlimited potential of imagination, technology and intelligence. Visit us at: www.accenture.com/song

As a team…

You'll learn, grow and advance in an innovative culture that thrives on shared success, diverse ways of thinking and enables boundaryless opportunities that can drive your career in new and exciting ways. If you’re looking for a challenging career working with one of the UK’s leading modern luxury automotive brands, this could be the role for you. As part of our UK Retail team, you'll be working across multi-channel campaigns and will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of new skills on the job.

The Role:

Working as part of the UK Retail team, the Account Manager will be responsible for delivering a range of integrated marketing campaigns to support the JLR brands and their network of Franchise Retailers. Reporting to the Retail Lead, you will project manage the delivery of campaign assets against clear business objectives to meet timelines. You’ll focus on building client relationships and managing internal and external workflows – working collaboratively to help define briefs, review and feedback on creative, and deliver effective and innovative solutions. In addition, you’ll also work with the immediate team to manage the wide array of inquiries directly from Retailers via the dedicated phoneline and email within the agreed SLAs. The Account Manager will ideally have a proven track record and experience of managing campaigns at an operational level.

Role Responsibilities:

Creative Development

• Clearly communicate and support the Creative team with the client’s brief, ensuring the client’s voice is not lost, but the creative boundaries are still pushed.
• Demonstrate a full understanding of the creative process – managing expectations and time pressures, including managing creative resourcing.
• Establish an excellent “eye” for creative output, recognising strong creative work and when work could be improved.
• Support the Senior Account Manager in the review of creative work. Be able to express objective opinions which are strategically sound & carefully thought through.
• Act as a brand guardian, immersing yourself in all JLR product developments and be able to advise on industry trends and developments both inside Accenture Song and whilst working with client/other agencies.

Operational

• Managing and coordinating asset delivery to the Retailers and provide ongoing support.
• Working closely and collaboratively with Studio teams to ensure work is progressed through the delivery process and completed: on time, on brief and on budget.
• Working closely and collaboratively with the Strategy and Creative team to support larger creative briefs.
• Responsible for weekly client status meetings incl. preparation & follow up.
• Deliver work to an exceptional standard, ensuring that everything that has been briefed has been actioned, before client presentation.
• Be responsible for creating and ensuring the client-facing contact Reports are produced from all client meetings – using the contact report agency templates.
• Be responsible for writing all necessary production briefs for copy and studio requirements.
• Demonstrate an understanding of administration to support projects set up and finance process.
• Ensure a thorough understanding of the contractual obligations, commercial arrangements & SLAs of the account – escalating when necessary to avoid commercial risk.

Client Management

• Build strong, trusting relationships with key stakeholders, operating as advisor and support to clients.
• Ensure the client understands agreed workflows and manage them through the delivery process – showing flexibility and providing practical advice to achieve a solution.
• Support the Retail Lead and Senior Account Manager and be able to work effectively and efficiently with both clients and other JLR agencies to establish and manage project plans through to delivery.
• Effectively communicate with Franchise Retailer Marketing Managers providing guidance and support with their local marketing.
• Be a confident presenter, able to deliver ideas persuasively – and result in the progression of excellent and effective advertising.

Person Specification:

• An ambitious existing Account Executive or Senior Account Executive looking to progress to the next level.
• Automotive advertising experience is essential.
• Integrated marketing experience (Digital, ATL & BTL) with experience of advertising origination and production.
• Ability to report upwards and downwards while managing the dynamics within the current account management team.
• A clear and proficient communicator, in person and writing.
• Comfortable building strong connections with the wider Account Management function within the UK and Global teams.
• Good administrative and organisational skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Confident presenter with experience in working on/supporting presentations, who can articulate and present ideas with conviction.
• Able to make decisions and solve problems based on sound technical knowledge.
• Excellent time management/ prioritisation and project management skills.
• Commercially aware.
• Proficient using Apple software packages (including Microsoft for Mac), esp. PowerPoint, Excel, Keynote.
• Be confident but without ego; approachable, outgoing and diplomatic – must have excellent emotional intelligence.
• Passionate about getting others involved and having fun along the way.