Digital Account Director - Contract

The Up&Up Group (affiliated to the global M&C Saatchi Group); Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Job summary

The Up&Up Group in Johannesburg is seeking a Digital Account Director to lead day-to-day relationship with a key financial services client, guiding strategic direction and ensuring successful delivery of integrated campaigns from brief to execution.

You will chair client presentations, work across creative, digital, media and production teams, manage budgets and invoicing, and navigate complex stakeholder environments while delivering measurable ROI.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years' experience in an Account Director role within an advertising agency.
• Experience in digital advertising and marketing environment is required.
• Strong understanding of agency structures and integrated campaign delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall client relationship with senior client stakeholders.
• Act as the agency lead across strategic, creative, digital, production and media teams.
• Translate client requirements into actionable briefs and integrated campaigns.
• Present confidently to senior stakeholders and lead client meetings.

Skills

Client relationship management

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Presentation skills

Project management

Budgeting

Financial management

Communication

Digital advertising knowledge

Education

Degree or diploma in Marketing/Advertising/Communications/Business

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

We are a highly entrepreneurial and opportunity focused company who want to be the most desired creative company on the African continent and beyond. To achieve this, we set out to inspire our people and define ourselves as a Group with one powerful orientation at our core: WE BOLDLY GO. These few words serve as both an invitation and challenge to all our people to always do the BOLD thing, together. The idea that, in the face of considerable challenges & change, we would be daring enough to do something audacious. Challenge yourself. Be bold. Join us.

Job Summary

As a Digital Account Director, you will be responsible for leading the day-to-day relationship with a key financial services client, providing strategic direction and ensuring the successful delivery of integrated campaigns from brief through to execution.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the overall client relationship, building trusted partnerships with senior client stakeholders.
• Act as the key agency lead across strategic, creative, digital, production and media teams.
• Translate complex client business requirements into clear, actionable briefs and integrated campaigns.
• Provide strategic input and challenge clients constructively to deliver stronger business and creative outcomes.
• Lead campaigns from strategy and briefing through to execution and rollout, ensuring quality and consistency across all touchpoints.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining clear priorities, timelines and deliverables.
• Ensure effective collaboration across internal teams, external agencies and partner agencies.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of digital, social and performance marketing platforms and how they integrate into broader campaigns.
• Present confidently to senior stakeholders and lead client presentations, status meetings and campaign reviews.
• Identify potential risks, challenges and project blockages early and proactively develop solutions.
• Provide clarity across briefs, debriefs, project plans, status updates and campaign delivery.

Financial and Commercial Accountability:

• Take ownership of the financial management of the account and individual projects.
• Develop and manage project budgets, ensuring work is delivered within agreed financial parameters.
• Generate and manage Change Estimates (CEs) for out-of-scope work.
• Ensure Purchase Orders are received from clients timeously.
• Work closely with Finance to ensure accurate and timely invoicing.
• Follow up on outstanding client payments where required.
• Identify opportunities to improve account profitability and demonstrate a strong understanding of return on investment.
• Balance client expectations, agency resources and commercial requirements effectively.

Client and Team Leadership:

• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, particularly within the financial services sector.
• Lead strategic client engagements and confidently navigate complex, high-level and sensitive business discussions.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the regulatory, reputational and commercial considerations that influence communications within the financial services industry.
• Lead, inspire and motivate multidisciplinary agency teams to deliver strategically sound, innovative and high-quality work.
• Drive an integrated approach to campaign development and delivery across Creative, Strategy, Digital, Media, Production and external partner agencies.
• Provide clear leadership, direction and accountability, ensuring teams remain aligned on client expectations, project objectives and deliverables across both remote and in-office working environments.

Experience Required:

• 3 - 5 years' experience in an Account Director role within an established advertising agency, preferably a large or integrated agency.
• At least 3 years' experience working within the digital advertising and marketing environment.
• In-depth understanding of advertising agency structures, departments, processes and integrated campaign delivery.
• Strong knowledge of the digital landscape, including digital marketing, social media, performance marketing and emerging platforms.
• Proven experience managing senior client relationships and navigating multiple stakeholder environments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage digital projects end-to-end, from strategy and briefing through to execution and rollout.
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience in account financial management, budgeting, profitability and client invoicing.
• Excellent presentation, communication, negotiation and relationship-management skills.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines in a fast-paced agency environment.
• Proven leadership skills, with the ability to influence, motivate and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
• Computer literacy, with proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Experience within the financial services or banking sector will be advantageous.

Qualifications:

• Degree or diploma in Marketing, Advertising, Communications, Business or a related field.
• Project Management qualification or relevant training is advantageous.

Contract Details:

This is a contract position commencing in 2027.

If you do not hear from us within two weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful.