Senior Account Executive, Marketing

Who we are: Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation. WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands.

More about the role: We are looking for a sharp, organised and proactive Senior Account Executive/Junior Account Manager to join Burson’s UK Growth Team in London. The UK Growth Team sits at the heart of Burson’s business development and agency marketing activity, helping to identify new opportunities, coordinate high-profile pitches and proposals, strengthen our approach to prospective clients and showcase Burson’s capabilities and reputation in the UK market. In this role, you will be an important operational partner across live pitches, Requests for Information (RFIs) and Requests for Proposal (RFPs), prospect research, client due diligence, pipeline management and agency marketing.

You will work closely with senior leadership and colleagues across Burson’s practices to bring together the right expertise, insight, credentials and creative thinking to deliver compelling new business responses. You will be part project manager, researcher, writer and orchestrator, bringing structure to complex workstreams, maintaining momentum against demanding deadlines and ensuring the highest standards of quality, accuracy and governance throughout. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working at pace, has strong attention to detail and is excited by the opportunity to develop a long-term career within the growth function of a leading global communications agency.

What you'll do:

• Support the end-to-end new business process, coordinating Requests for Information (RFIs) and Requests for Proposal (RFPs), credentials requests and live pitches from initial briefing and opportunity assessment through to timelines, rehearsals, final submissions and supporting materials.
• Coordinate compelling pitch and proposal content, partnering with practice teams across the UK agency to source and shape relevant credentials, case studies, team biographies, insights and supporting evidence into clear, persuasive and well-structured responses.
• Conduct prospect, market and competitor research, including prospective client mapping, sector analysis, organisational research and monitoring relevant senior leadership moves to support opportunity identification, strategic outreach and pitch preparation.
• Support prospective client due diligence and governance, undertaking initial desktop research and background reviews and working with relevant Legal, Finance and internal stakeholders to ensure opportunities progress in line with Burson’s client acceptance, risk and commercial processes.
• Manage pitch operations and logistics, coordinating internal workstreams, meetings and rehearsal schedules, supporting presentation and submission requirements and partnering with Creative and Design colleagues to ensure materials are polished, visually impactful and consistent with Burson’s brand standards.
• Maintain the UK new business pipeline and reporting, ensuring opportunity stages, prospective revenue, vetting information and other key data remain accurate and up to date within Burson’s CRM and pipeline management systems, while helping prepare regular reports and insights for senior leadership.
• Develop and maintain new business knowledge and resources, keeping pitch content, credentials, boilerplate copy, case studies and best-practice materials organised, current and easily accessible to enable faster and more effective responses across the agency.
• Support Burson’s UK marketing and profile-building activity, contributing to owned digital and social channels, thought leadership, newsletters, agency events, roundtables, credentials materials and industry award submissions that strengthen Burson’s reputation and visibility in the market.

Experience that contributes to success:

• Relevant agency or consultancy experience within PR, communications, marketing, advertising or another related professional services environment.
• Experience supporting business development activity, with an understanding of new business processes such as credentials development, pitch preparation, proposal coordination and live presentation logistics.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders, prioritise competing demands and maintain momentum across several workstreams within deadline-driven environments.
• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading capability, with the ability to take information from multiple sources and turn it into clear, concise and engaging content while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the curiosity and judgement to investigate companies, sectors, competitors and market developments and translate findings into useful insights for colleagues and senior stakeholders.
• A strong understanding of accuracy, governance and risk, ideally including exposure to client due diligence, compliance, client onboarding, risk-screening processes or commercial approval frameworks within an agency or professional services environment.
• Confidence using digital and productivity tools, including strong proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel, alongside the ability and enthusiasm to quickly learn CRM platforms, research technologies and emerging AI-enabled tools.
• A collaborative, proactive and solutions-focused approach, with strong communication skills, sound judgement and the confidence to work with colleagues at different levels across the organisation while remaining calm, responsive and dependable when working at pace.