Senior Account Manager

Position Title: Senior Account Manager

Department: Client Services / Business Development

Reports To: Account Director / Country Head

Location: London

Employment Type: Full-time

Role Summary

The Senior Account Manager is both a strategic client partner and business builder, responsible for managing key client relationships while also driving agency growth through new business acquisition. This role goes beyond account servicing; the Senior Account Manager is expected to proactively identify, pursue, and close new business opportunities while ensuring existing clients receive exceptional service. They act as a trusted advisor, providing strategic leadership and ensuring the agency consistently delivers innovative, results‑driven campaigns. The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking, strong relationship management, and commercial acumen with a proven track record of winning new clients and expanding agency revenues.

Key Responsibilities

Client Management & Retention

• Serve as the primary point of contact for key clients, ensuring smooth communication and delivery of services.
• Build deep, trusted relationships with clients to strengthen retention and loyalty.
• Proactively anticipate client needs and provide strategic solutions to drive measurable results.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and strategy sessions to align on objectives and growth plans.

Business Development Organic & New Business

• Bring in new business by identifying, pitching, and securing new clients and projects.
• Actively prospect and build relationships with potential clients through networking, referrals, and industry events.
• Work with leadership to develop and execute a business development strategy for the agency.
• Prepare and deliver compelling pitches, proposals, and presentations tailored to prospective clients.
• Organic Growth: Identify upselling and cross‑selling opportunities within existing accounts to expand the agency’s scope of work.
• Maintain a robust pipeline of leads and regularly report on business development progress and outcomes.

Strategic Planning

• Translate client briefs and business objectives into clear, actionable strategies.
• Collaborate with internal teams (creative, strategy, media, production) to deliver campaigns that align with client KPIs.
• Develop annual plans and campaign roadmaps to support long‑term client and agency growth.
• Use data and insights to measure success and optimize future campaigns.

Project & Campaign Oversight

• Oversee the end‑to‑end management of campaigns to ensure timely, on‑budget, and high‑quality delivery.
• Coordinate cross‑functional teams to align resources and timelines.
• Review and approve key deliverables before presenting to clients.
• Quickly resolve issues to ensure smooth execution and client satisfaction.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Manage and mentor junior account team members, providing guidance, training, and development opportunities.
• Build a collaborative, performance‑driven team culture that supports creativity and innovation.
• Help allocate team resources effectively across multiple accounts and pitches.

Financial Management

• Create and manage budgets for client accounts and pitches.
• Monitor project profitability and track revenue against targets.
• Work with leadership to forecast revenue growth and plan resources accordingly.

Required Skills & Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or related field.
• 5‑7 years of experience in account management and business development, ideally within an advertising or communications agency.
• Proven track record of winning new clients and expanding agency revenue streams.

Technical & Professional Skills

• Strong understanding of integrated marketing, including digital, social, media, experiential, and PR campaigns.
• Skilled in developing and delivering compelling pitches and proposals.
• Excellent negotiation, presentation, and networking skills.
• Familiarity with CRM and pipeline tracking tools.

Soft Skills

• Entrepreneurial mindset with a hunter mentality for driving new business.
• Strategic thinker with exceptional problem‑solving abilities.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to lead and inspire teams while managing multiple priorities.
• Resilience and adaptability in a fast‑paced environment.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• New business revenue generated from successfully closed pitches and clients.
• Growth of existing accounts through upselling and cross‑selling.
• Client satisfaction and retention rates.
• Profitability and revenue growth of managed accounts.
• Successful, on‑time, and high‑quality delivery of campaigns.
• Team performance and development.