Chicago - N. State / Client Management

Merkle Inc.; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance (short/long-term)

401k

Flexible paid time off

15 paid holidays per year

Paid sick and safe leave

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Merkle Inc. in Chicago is seeking an Account Manager to support client success through day-to-day coordination, operational execution, and clear internal and external communication.

This role supports multiple client relationships by ensuring work moves forward, client needs are understood, and teams stay aligned. You will learn Merkle processes, assist with forecast updates, revenue tracking, and account planning while collaborating with senior leadership on escalations and changes.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in client services, account management, or project coordination.
• Experience coordinating with cross-functional and remote teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to identify issues, escalate when needed, and maintain client relationships.
• Self-motivated, collaborative, and eager to learn.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day account operations and client communications.
• Coordinate meetings, follow-ups, and internal alignment.
• Learn and apply Merkle processes including Salesforce reviews.
• Help manage tasks, deadlines, and account updates.
• Identify issues and escalate to leadership as needed.
• Partner with Project Managers and delivery teams on timelines and deliverables.
• Support revenue forecasting, opportunity updates, and reporting.
• Communicate progress and next steps clearly to clients and teams.

Skills

Account management

Client services

Project coordination

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Job description

Merkle is a leading data-driven, technology-enabled global performance marketing agency specializing in personalized customer experiences across platforms and devices. For more than 30 years, Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios.

We are looking for an Account Manager to support client success through strong day-to-day coordination, operational execution, and internal and external communication. This role supports client account teams across industries by helping ensure work is moving forward, client needs are understood, and internal teams are aligned.

The Account Managerwillsupportmultipleclient relationships orprojects. This individual will learn and operate Merkle processes, support account operations, and partner with senior account leadership when client needs, escalations, or business decisions requireadditionalguidance.

Key Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day account operations, including client communications, meeting coordination, follow-ups, and internal team alignment.
• Learn, follow, and apply Merkle operational processes, including Salesforce account reviews, account maps, account health updates, and forecast support.
• Help manage assigned tasks, deadlines, and account updates with strong organization, attention to detail, and follow-through.
• Identifypotential issues, risks, or client concerns and escalation appropriately toaccountleadership, project leads, or cross-functional partners.
• Partner with Project Managers, Project Leads, and delivery teams to understand timelines, deliverables, change requests, proposals, and open items.
• Support revenue forecasting, opportunity updates, operational reporting, andbusiness review preparation.
• Communicate clearlyandtimelywith internal teams and clientsregardingproject progress, next steps, and decisions needed.
• Contribute to positive client experiences byanticipatingneeds, tracking action items, and helping ensuretimelyfollow-through.

People & Teams

• Build strong working relationships with internal teams, client contacts, and account leadership.
• Support an organized, collaborative, and energized internal account team environment.
• Engage with clients by providing updates, capturing needs, and escalating questions or concerns whenappropriate.
• Contribute positively to team culture, morale, and day-to-day collaboration.
• Build trust through reliable execution, responsiveness, and attention to detail.
• Continue building technicalskills, business acumen, and account management capability through training, coaching, and hands-on experience.

Business Operations & Account Support

• Develop a working understanding of revenue recognition, billing, invoicing, forecasting, and financial processes.
• Support invoice tracking, payment follow-ups, financial reporting, and account health needs in partnership with Finance and account leadership.
• Help review time allocations, project financials, andreportoutputs toidentifyquestions, risks, or follow-ups.
• Listentoclient needs and share potential risks, opportunities, or growth areas with account leadership.
• Support SOW renewals, change orders, and proposal development by coordinating inputs, timelines, and internal reviews.
• Assistwith research, account planning, market intelligence, and materials that support client growth or account planning.

Key Skills & Experience

• 3-5 years of experience in client services, account management, project coordination, agency, or relevant client-side work.
• Experience working with cross-functional and/or remote teams.
• Foundational project management skills with strong organization, follow-through, and attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Client-service mindset with the ability to build relationships and respond professionally to client and internal needs.
• Ability toidentifyissues, ask thoughtful questions, and escalation complex or sensitive issuesappropriatelyto leadership.
• Self-motivated, collaborative, solution-oriented, highly ethical, and eager to learn.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and adapting to change.
• Developing presentation, storytelling, and insight delivery skills.

Additional Information:

The annual salary range for this position is $72,000 - $85,000. Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factors permitted by law.

Benefits available with this position include:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance,
• Life insurance,
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance,
• 401k,
• Flexible paid time off,
• At least 15 paid holidays per year,
• Paid sick and safe leave, and
• Paid parental leave.

At dentsu, we believe great work happens when we're connected. Our way of working combines flexibility with in-person collaboration to spark ideas and strengthen our teams. Employees who live within a commutable distance of one of our hub offices, currently located in Chicago, metro Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City, are required and expected to work from the office three days per week (two days per week for employees based in Los Angeles). Dentsu may designate other Hub offices at any time. Those who live outside a commutable range may be designated as remote, depending on the role and business needs. Regardless of your work location, we expect our employees to be flexible to meet the needs of our Company and clients, which may include attendance in an office.

Dentsu also complies with applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies. For further details regarding Dentsu benefits, please visit www.dentsubenefitsplus.com .