Account Manager (12-month FTC)

Company Description

With a history that dates back over 80 years, Starcom is a global communications planning and media leader. We are an agency still grounded in our founding principle that people are at the centre of all we do. Each day, we apply this belief to harness the transformative power of data and technology to inspire and move people and business forward. With more than 7,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we are the flagship Publicis Media agency that uses our ‘Power of One’ business model, with teams that span multiple disciplines across clients such as Aldi, P&G, Primark, Samsung, Stellantis, and Visa.

We place a huge focus on our People, and have driven flagship D&I and L&D programmes within Publicis Media; our goal is to help every individual reach their fullest potential, and we encourage everyone to make “Brave Plays” in how they approach their work and their own career development. As a result, we have an exceptionally energised and committed talent base, all of us proud of our welcoming and supportive culture, as evidenced by our recognition as one of Campaign’s Best Places to Work for five years in a row, Media Week’s Agency of the Year 2025 and one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025.

Overview

L’Oréal is a market leading beauty advertiser, with a diverse and prestigious portfolio spanning mass, dermatological, luxury and professional haircare divisions. Brands include L’Oréal Paris, Garnier, Maybelline, La Roche Posay, Kérastase, YSL Beauty, Armani Beauty, Kiehl’s, Aesop and Maison Margiela. The UK business is widely recognised for its innovative, data‑led and full‑funnel approach to media, making it a fast‑paced, high‑profile and rewarding client to work on.

The Planning Account Manager plays a critical role in the day‑to‑day delivery of planning and campaign output for L’Oréal UK. Acting as the engine room of the account, the role connects junior team members with senior leadership, ensuring work is accurate, timely and aligned to the strategic direction set by the Account Director and Business Director. This role combines strong planning fundamentals, operational excellence and people leadership, with increasing responsibility across clients, projects and junior team development within L’Oréal UK’s multi‑brand portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Client & Account Management

• Acts as a key day‑to‑day contact for junior and mid‑level L’Oréal UK stakeholders
• Leads regular campaign, status and delivery meetings with confidence and clarity
• Ensures client deliverables are accurate, well‑structured and delivered on time
• Builds strong working relationships with internal activation teams and media partners

• Supports the Account Director on campaign and brand planning across L’Oréal UK portfolio
• Owns key sections of planning output including audience, competitor and performance insights
• Applies planning tools, UK market insights and campaign learnings to shape recommendations
• Leads smaller planning briefs and RTBs under AD guidance

• Owns campaign finances including budget trackers, POs, reconciliations, taxonomies and billing hygiene
• Ensures planning and activation processes run efficiently and compliantly
• Acts as a quality‑control layer for junior outputs before escalation to AD / BD

• Line manages Account Executives and Senior Account Executives
• Builds capability and confidence within the junior team through coaching and feedback
• Creates a strong “engine room” culture focused on accountability, best practice and development

Qualifications

What are we looking for?

• Experience in a planning or comms role within a UK media agency
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Confident communicator with growing client‑facing experience
• Solid understanding of UK media channels and the communications planning process
• Early people‑management experience or readiness to step into line management
• Curiosity, proactivity and enthusiasm for working on a fast‑paced, innovative client

Additional Information

Starcom offers a wide range of benefits to support our employees. Full details are shared when you join, but highlights include core benefits such as Pension, Life Assurance, and Private Medical cover, alongside enhanced policies like Reflection Days and Shared Parental Leave. You’ll also have access to a range of additional initiatives.

Publicis Groupe works primarily from the office or our clients' office four days per week. At Starcom, we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age, citizenship, relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic. We are committed to providing a fair, accessible, and inclusive recruitment process. If you have any access needs—for example, related to disability, neurodivergence, or a health condition—please let us know. We’ll work with you to ensure the process works for you. Sharing this information will never impact your application. Guided by our values, we listen with empathy, uplift each other, take responsibility, and embrace change— building a culture where everyone feels seen, respected, and genuinely included.