Account Executive

ERM; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM in Knoxville, TN is seeking an Account Executive to serve as the primary point of contact for day-to-day client communications and to build trusted relationships grounded in responsiveness and accountability.

You will own project details from initiation through completion, coordinate timing, resources and budgets across agency teams, maintain thorough documentation, and drive client satisfaction and account growth. Experience in sustainability consulting is a plus; travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Experience managing day-to-day account activities for clients.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to coordinate across internal teams and timelines.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day account activities for assigned clients.
• Monitor and respond promptly to client emails, calls and requests.
• Coordinate project workflows, timelines and deliverables with internal teams.
• Prepare meeting notes and status updates for clients.

Skills

Client relationship management

Project coordination

Communication

Budgeting

Job description

Client Relationship Management

• Serves as the primary point of contact for day-to-day client communications.
• Builds and maintains strong client relationships founded on trust, responsiveness and accountability.
• Keeps clients informed of project status through weekly status reports, timelines, meetings, and other written or verbal communications.
• Receives and documents client briefings, feedback and approvals, ensuring information is communicated accurately to internal teams.
• Understands client business objectives and keeps agency teams informed about relevant client, industry and sustainability developments.
• Supports account growth by actively listening for new opportunities and identifying additional client needs.

Project Management & Execution

• Owns project details from initiation through completion.
• Coordinates project timing, resources, budgets and deliverables across agency teams.
• Collaborates with internal teams to develop, maintain and adjust project schedules as priorities evolve.
• Maintains complete and accurate project documentation, including job setups, files, briefs, approvals and historical records.
• Ensures all projects are executed accurately, efficiently, on time and within budget.
• Tracks projects through project management and agency systems, proactively addressing potential delays or issues.
• Demonstrates exceptional attention to detail and "sweats the small stuff" to ensure high-quality execution.

Agency Coordination

• Works closely with account leadership, creative, research, digital and production teams to move projects forward.
• Keeps internal teams informed of project status, client feedback and potential concerns.
• Initiates and prepares first drafts of creative briefs and project documentation.
• Reviews work product prior to client delivery to ensure accuracy and alignment with project objectives.
• Coordinates client reviews and approvals for creative, production and project materials.

Financial Management

• Supports project budgeting, forecasting, billing and invoicing processes.
• Reviews billing schedules and invoice descriptions for accuracy.
• Maintains client projections and assists with revenue forecasting.
• Monitors project budgets and alerts account leadership to potential scope, budget or timeline concerns.
• Supports change order development and scope management efforts.

Business Development & Agency Representation

• Identifies opportunities for account growth and additional agency services.
• Supports proposal and scope development efforts as requested.
• Represents the agency at industry, client and community events.
• Builds professional relationships that strengthen the agency's reputation and business development efforts.

Daily Job Duties

• Manage day-to-day account activities for assigned clients.
• Monitor and respond promptly to client emails, calls and requests.
• Coordinate project workflows, timelines and deliverables with internal teams.
• Prepare meeting notes, conference reports, status updates and client communications.
• Track project progress and update schedules in agency project management systems.
• Maintain accurate records in project management and related agency platforms.
• Review client budgets, billing schedules and invoices for accuracy.
• Prepare first drafts of creative briefs, project briefs and change orders.
• Escalate project risks, budget concerns or client issues as needed.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen client relationships and contribute to account growth.

Success Metrics

• Maintains high client satisfaction and trust.
• Delivers projects on time and on budget.
• Demonstrates exceptional organization and attention to detail.
• Builds productive partnerships with clients and internal teams.
• Maintains accurate project, billing and forecasting information.
• Proactively solves problems and manages risks.
• Supports account growth and agency business objectives.
• Operates with professionalism, accountability and a client-first mindset.

Compensation and Benefits

For the Account Executive position, the anticipated annual base pay is $59,700 - $69,000 (USD). Actual pay will depend on factors such as education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business needs. In some cases, pay may fall outside this range.

This role may be eligible for bonus pay subject to the sole discretion of ERM and its policies and procedures (casual and fixed term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible).

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off (vacation, sick, and floating holidays), parental leave, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D insurance, 401(k), and other applicable benefits to eligible employees.

About Us

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

At ERM we know that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our company a great place to build a career. We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients.

Our diverse team of world-class experts supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technical expertise in addressing their environmental, health, safety, risk and social issues.

We call this capability our “boots to boardroom” approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level.

At ERM, sustainability is our business. We are the world’s largest advisory firm focused solely on sustainability, offering unparalleled expertise across business and finance. ERM partners with clients to operationalize sustainability at pace and scale, through our unique combination of strategic transformation and technical delivery capabilities.

Our diverse global team of experts works with the world’s leading organizations to help them set clear sustainability targets, measure progress and operationalize strategy through deep implementation and business transformation.

With more than 50 years of experience, our ability to integrate sustainability solutions and our depth and breadth of technical knowledge are why organizations choose to partner with us as their trusted advisor.

Every one of us firmly believes in the potential to create value for our clients through an integrated approach to sustainability (because we have personally seen it and professionally achieved it).

Our team members are passionate about client service. We work closely with our clients to help them operationalize their sustainability goals and meet their environmental, health and safety objectives while advancing ERM’s purpose through delivering tangible progress in what the United Nations coined The Decade of Action.

Organizing our people across globally integrated communities of technical and strategic talent positions ERM to be a “boots to boardroom” leader in bringing that value creation to our clients, partners, and the world.

We recruit exceptional professionals with a personal and professional passion for sustainability and nurture them to even greater success as specialists. We prepare our consultants to bring integrated, innovative and sustainable solutions to our clients and provide opportunities for ongoing development across a variety of subject areas related to technical, business, and personal growth.

At ERM, effort pays off and becomes career defining work that leaves a positive imprint on our planet.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.