Account Director / AVP

Job Description

Job Description

Account Director / AVP

Location for role: New York, NY (hybrid)

We're a global integrated communications agency specializing in financial services, technology and energy, with offices in New York, Boston, London, Scotland, Singapore, Dubai, and Switzerland. We create smart and creative campaigns - telling stories that haven't been told before, and making our clients famous for what they do. We run strategic programs built around delivering tangible business results, through compelling content, top-notch media relations, critical thought leadership, and stand-out digital media.

We're the fastest growing independent agency in the PR Week Top 150. But more importantly, we are passionate about being a business run by our people, for our people. Our success is made possible through our ability to attract and develop the very best talent. So it's vital our people see the benefits – be that through well-being, financial reward, professional development, or best in class PTO and flexibility offerings. We do everything we can to ensure our employees have the opportunity to grow, contribute, and create according to their individual skills. We have high expectations for everyone who works for the agency, but we truly respect each other , try to keep as flat a structure as possible, and we have a lot of fun along the way.

We're looking for a motivated and ambitious Account Director or AVP to join us, supporting us in an exciting phase of growth.

Your job purpose:

• Manage and drive key client accounts, ensuring high quality results are achieved, client relationship health is strong and accounts are retained
• Demonstrate an expert understanding of PR and your clients' business, industry and competitive environment in financial services and fintech – and use this to make decisions and recommendations about PR strategy
• Manage client programs on a day-to-day basis, including acting as day to day senior client liaison and quality control for all client work
• Build and manage solid account teams, balancing client workloads, working within specific client budgets and scopes of work, and ensuring overall account profitability.
• Develop strategic communications plans, including media relations campaigns , tactics, and timelines consistent with the overall PR strategy.
• Lead brainstorming sessions to develop strategic/creative thinking for our clients, and manage team on creating plans.
• Including ability to prep for and lead strategic planning meetings with clients to extract necessary intel for thoughtful campaign creation
• Monitor progress against our scope of work and turn up or down the dial on activity based on performance with proactive ideas and action plans
• Play an active role in media relations alongside managing a team on media execution. Leverage and maintain high level media contacts and industry knowledge to secure quality coverage and ensure results for clients.
• Successfully manage multiple accounts and respective team members.
• Oversee integrated client accounts, including collaborating with our digital leads on any digital marketing activity, and ensure slick organization/ alignment of activities across PR and the wider marketing mix

New Business

• Actively participate in new business development efforts while further developing the firm's reputation.
• Identify new business opportunities both within existing client engagements and through sourcing external leads.
• Participate in the development of materials for new business opportunities including timelines, proposals, capabilities decks and case studies.

Team Management and Development

• Provide strategic leadership, counseling and mentoring to the account team to ensure they have the skills to execute client programs.
• Manage internal account teams by regularly providing performance feedback.
• Assume responsibility for the performance and growth of junior staff through the development of a career roadmap and working with individuals to ensure annual performance goals are met.

Corporate Responsibilities

• Serve a leadership role in the company to all employees through but not limited to mentoring and networking
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the agency as a global company; know its partnerships, key clients, and global offerings
• Be actively involved in recruiting and talent management

The ideal candidate:

• At least 6+ years of experience in a PR agency role, with demonstrated understanding of financial services, technology, and/or fintech.
• Excellent client management skills and organization skills
• Proactive, self-starter willing to take ownership of accounts and drive activity independently
• A strong proven track record of developing successful B2B campaigns, and securing coverage in B2B media outlets.
• Ability to cultivate strong, lasting relationships with media contacts and position yourself as a trusted source of strategic counsel
• The ability to metabolize complex financial services / fintech businesses and turn them into concise and compelling ideas.
• Strong interest in current affairs within our key markets (financial services, fintech, and other B2B adjacencies), and the ability to leverage market news to deliver new ideas and strong media results.
• Strong sense of personal responsibility with high standards for self and others, while still acting as a team player.
• Interest in managing and up-skilling team (AMs, AEs etc)