Advertising account executives liaise with clients and agency staff in the administration of advertising campaigns and the co-ordination of associated work. They are responsible for the coordination of advertising campaigns and therefore communicating clearly to all those involved.
They must understand their clients’ needs and objectives and liaise closely with them throughout campaigns, often on a daily basis.
Duties
- passing proposals to appropriate media/creative staff
- negotiating time-scales and budgets
- monitoring work progress and keeping in contact with clients at all stages
- delivering final products for review
- financial administration
- meeting and liaising with clients to discuss and identify their advertising requirements;
- working with agency colleagues to devise an advertising campaign that meets the client’s brief and budget;
- presenting alongside agency colleagues (particularly the account manager), the campaign ideas and budget to the client;
- working with the account manager to brief media, creative and research staff and assisting with the formulation of marketing strategies;
- liaising with, and acting as the link between, the client and the advertising agency by maintaining regular contact with both,
- ensuring that communication flows effectively;
- negotiating with clients and agency staff about the details of campaigns;
- presenting creative work to clients for approval or modification;
- handling budgets, managing campaign costs and invoicing clients;
- writing client reports;
- monitoring the effectiveness of campaigns;
- undertaking administration tasks;
- arranging and attending meetings;
- making ‘pitches’, along with other agency staff, to try to win new business for the agency.
Employers of Advertising Account Executive
- media houses
- advertising departments of large companies
- digital marketing agencies
- advertising agencies
Qualifications
Although this area of work is open to all graduates, a degree in the following subjects may increase your chances:
- advertising;
- business/management;
- communications;
- English;
- marketing.
Skills
You will need to show evidence of the following:
- excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
- a proactive attitude, with the ability to use initiative;
- excellent organizational skills;
- the ability to work under pressure and assimilate large quantities of information quickly, while maintaining attention to detail; drive;
- flexibility;
- effective team-working skills;
- influencing and negotiation skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- commercial awareness;
- a passion for advertising and an understanding of what makes a good advertisement;
- a willingness to learn;
- resilience, to enable you to deal with problems and constructive criticism;
- IT literacy and an awareness of how the industry is developing in light of new communication technologies.