Account Director

Leagas Delaney South Africa; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 850 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent advertising agency is seeking an experienced Account Director to lead the Investec business. In this strategic leadership role, you will be responsible for shaping direction, managing high-profile client relationships, and ensuring financial performance. The ideal candidate will have 6–10+ years in account management, proven ability to lead complex client relationships, and hold a degree in a relevant field. This position requires strong leadership qualities, strategic thinking, and the capability to thrive under pressure while delivering exceptional results.

Qualifications

• 6–10+ years in account management, with at least 3 years operating at Account Director level.
• Experience leading complex, senior-level client relationships in financial services or similarly demanding categories.
• Strong understanding of integrated communications: TTL, ATL, digital, content and social.

Responsibilities

• Act as the senior strategic partner to Investec, embedding clear direction and structured thinking into every brief.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior Investec leaders across business, brand and marketing.
• Oversee the end-to-end delivery of integrated initiatives including TTL, ATL, digital, content and design.

Skills

Strategic thinker

Creative thinker

Effective communicator

Proactive problem solver

Detail-oriented

Education

Degree or diploma in marketing, communications, business or a related field

Job description

Account Director – Investec Partnership

Leagas Delaney South Africa is looking for a world-class Account Director to lead our Investec business, one of the most critical and high-profile partnerships within our agency.

This senior strategic leadership position requires intelligence, presence, maturity and a deep commitment to excellence.

You will shape strategic direction, manage senior client relationships, guide internal teams, ensure commercial discipline, and deliver work that reflects our belief that Everything Matters.

If you thrive in complexity, bring clarity to ambiguity and lead with both EQ and IQ, this role is for you.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

Act as the senior strategic partner to Investec, embedding clear direction and structured thinking into every brief.

Connect the dots across business, brand and communications to unlock value and elevate LDSA's role in the client organisation.

Interrogate challenges with depth and intelligence, providing clarity and informed counsel at all times.

Proactively identify opportunities for growth, improvement and strategic evolution within the partnership.

Senior Client Relationship Management

Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior Investec leaders across business, brand and marketing.

Lead high-stakes conversations with confidence, emotional intelligence and sound judgment.

Foster a genuine partnership model, where LDSA is seen as indispensable, valued for thought leadership, not just delivery.

Represent the agency with gravitas, professionalism and a calm, solutions-oriented mindset.

Commercial & Financial Stewardship

Take full ownership of commercial performance, profitability, staffing ratios, scopes, deadlines and revenue forecasting.

Maintain rigorous financial discipline, ensuring scope integrity and fair commercial negotiations.

Identify new revenue opportunities and present them with strategic rationale and commercial clarity.

Ensure internal reporting, budget summaries and financial documentation are accurate and timely.

Integrated Work Delivery

Oversee the end-to-end delivery of integrated initiatives including TTL, ATL, digital, content and design.

Ensure processes, approvals and communication flows are seamless and efficient.

Champion operational excellence and long-term efficiency through optimised workflows and best practices.

Translate client needs into sharp creative and strategic briefs with clear context, direction and ambition.

Team Leadership & Culture

Build a respected team grounded in clarity, accountability and high performance.

Model LDSA's culture and values – integrity, curiosity, professionalism and the relentless belief that Everything Matters.

Promote collaboration across strategy, creative, production and leadership functions.

Experience & Qualifications

Experience

6–10+ years in account management, with at least 3 years operating at Account Director level.

Experience leading complex, senior-level client relationships in financial services or similarly demanding categories (preferred).

Strong understanding of integrated communications : TTL, ATL, digital, content and social.

Proven ability to own a project and relationship from strategy through execution.

Qualifications

Degree or diploma in marketing, communications, business or a related field.

Who You Are – Personal Qualities

A natural leader who owns the room with presence and confidence.

Highly solutions-oriented, able to navigate multiple senior stakeholders with maturity.

Driven, accountable and disciplined, a person who takes extreme ownership of outcomes.

A clear thinker with strong strategic intuition.

Calm under pressure, composed in complexity.

Adaptable, collaborative and energised by fast-paced environments.

Someone who believes deeply in clarity, craft and high standards.

Key Competencies

Behavioural

• Strategic thinker
• Creative thinker
• Proactive problem solver
• Detail-oriented
• Decisive decision-maker
• Effective communicator
• Independent operator
• Leadership presence

Technical

• Relationship management
• Project and workflow management
• Financial and commercial acumen
• Ability to brief and evaluate creative and strategic work
• Long-term planning and business development
• Risk identification and mitigation

Leadership

• Emotional and social intelligence
• Conflict management
• Self-management
• Collaborative leadership style
• Ability to build shared vision and drive alignment

Seniority Level

Director

Employment Type

Full-time

Job Function

Sales and Business Development
Advertising Services