Account Executive

Having set ambitious growth targets, we require a dedicated, organised, passionate and driven person to help us reach our goals. This is an exciting time for the agency and you will be tasked with helping develop our existing client relationships and increase our client base across our specialist sectors of education, sports, leisure and retail.

This is a varied role with enormous potential to ensure that clients, colleagues and partners are fully engaged by providing excellent project management and client service at all times.

Absolute is an integrated digital agency with bold ideas, specialising in brand building, digital innovation and campaign delivery. Our studio is based in a 10,000 sq ft converted church in Horwich, close to the M61 motorway (30 minutes from Manchester and Preston) and Horwich Parkway train station with free parking outside the studio.

The Role

Responsible for managing the day-to-day client relationship, developing and nurturing nominated client accounts as well as overall campaign and project management. The role of a .A.E is a multi-functional role with specific responsibilities which will include relationship management, project management and commercial awareness and accountability.

Client Relationship Management

Be the main point of contact on your nominated client accounts and develop and nurture client relationships - be proactive and not reactive.
Ensuring good communication is maintained with the clients at all times.
Develop a knowledge of clients’ business, competitive challenges, and how key strategic issues could impact client/agency objectives.
Develop and understand clear and concise project/creative briefs and establish their requirements with your client.
Write quality brand, website, digital, traditional marketing and video production proposals and presentations that are to a high standard and promote Absolute’s range of services and help to win / retain business.
Be proactive. Understand the big picture as well as the details of each client and project and contribute suggestions, new ideas and recommendations to internal teams and agency management.
Lead meetings (both internal and with clients) and deliver presentations clearly, effectively and confidently.
Possess sufficient knowledge of multiple marketing disciplines and how all disciplines can best work together to support client goals and agency targets.
Function as the source of information of the client’s business for all your team members.
Assisting in generating revenue growth of individual clients and as a result the growth of the agency.

Account / Project Management

You will have strong communication, project management skills, be super organised and be confident liaising with clients at all levels both face to face and on the phone.
Develop an understanding of integrated marketing campaign process, management, production and reporting.
Present client briefs to the creative team and other agency departments involved in a projects development.
Provide regular updates, and manage all WIPs and contact reports for each and every client, ensuring all action points are executed.
Take responsibility for quality control, ensuring that work is correct, on brief and meets client guidelines.
Liaise with the creative and digital teams in order to plan, price and prioritise new projects.
Learn how to analyse campaign results, draw conclusions and proactively make recommendations to optimize the client’s spend and return on investment.
Evaluate copy, artwork, media plans and production materials against approved briefs and make recommendations as appropriate prior to concepts being presented to clients.
Anticipate project delays or cost/time overages and proactively address any situation with your Line Manager and client where there could be a negative impact
Keep management fully informed of account challenges and potential opportunities.
Throughout project implementation, identify specific tasks, delegate as appropriate and manage people, finances and external resources (with support of Studio Manager).
Contribute to the measurement of the results of all campaigns, looking at how effective they have been and ensure any learnings are utilised in further work/recommendations.
Working on tenders for new projects and supporting the agency’s new business function across all our key sectors.
Identify new opportunities within existing accounts and/or with complementary businesses to recommend and sell additional agency services.
Proficient in using internal project management software and tools such as Trello, Basecamp, Synergist as well as communication platforms i.e. Slack, Microsoft Teams etc.

Financial Management

Demonstrate that you understand how the profitability of the piece of business you work on is managed and suggest solutions to improve it.
Ensure financial targets are met and forecasted accurately.
Manage your client budgets including the timely invoicing of projects and reporting on income on a weekly basis.
Flag account overspends / predicted overspends to Head of Client Services - in advance where possible.
Forecast monthly/quarterly billings and identified revenue opportunities with Head of Client Services and agency management.
Ensure that invoices are raised on a regular basis and that the sales forecast tracker is updated weekly.

Experience

The ideal candidate will have at least 1-2 years’ experience working in the creative industry, ideally within a fully integrated agency covering brand, digital and print - knowledge of video production and photography is a bonus.
Previous experience of managing and coordinating the demands of multiple client accounts.
Excellent project management, organisational and problem-solving skills are a must.
You must have strong communication skills and be comfortable liaising with Clients both face to face and on the phone.

Also nice to have

Previous experience of using project management software i.e. Trello, Basecamp, Synergist (although training will be given).
Knowledge or experience of digital marketing techniques e.g. SEO, PPC, Social Media.
Understanding of Google Analytics.

We pride ourselves on making Absolute a friendly and welcoming agency, which is why we offer initiatives to help support you as a team-member and personally. So, what can you expect if you join us?

A great studio environment

We’ve invested a great deal in our studio space, and this was included in Prolific North's "Most Inspiring Places to Work" campaign a few years ago. This includes communal spaces to break away from your desk, work in project specific studios etc. We also have our own ping-pong and pool table areas along with a new studio bar to let off steam.

Team building activities

We like to get together and socialise as often as we can. Team lunches, quiz nights, nights out and even trips abroad are all part and parcel of working with Absolute. We’ve even hired chefs to come in and cook amazing meals for the team in our studio.

Health is a priority

We’re aware that we don’t work in the most active of jobs, which is why we’ve built our own in-house gym for all staff to keep you happy and healthy. This includes a full subscription to Peloton (Bike & Running machine). We also keep our studio stocked with fresh fruit every week alongside access to mental well-being services should you need it. Also, being based very close to the picturesque Rivington, we’ve invested in Absolute Mountain Bikes for you to explore the reservoirs or hills around the agency to clear your head.

Learning is encouraged

Whether you have a desire to pick up a letterpress course, an SEO course or visit an exhibition/event or whatever it is that you need to keep inspired, we offer a personal budget for creative & technical development.

Time off work

We offer 24 days holiday a year (plus bank hols obviously) and we don’t expect you to work on your birthday or take time off for appointments.

Flexible working

We currently offer a blend of studio and home working. We want to maintain the highly collaborative levels of working whilst providing some flexibility.

Salary

Dependent on Experience

NO AGENCIES.