Account Manager in Kennington

VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that drive growth. Guided by a Human First philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world’s leading creative companies. VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore. VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands.

Within VML, our specialist commerce experience practice is dedicated to creating the world’s leading retail and brand touchpoints. We combine strategy, creative craft, and physical-to-digital innovation to turn moments of shopper engagement into moments of conversion.

We are looking for a proactive, commercially astute, and collaborative Account Manager to join our Client Partnerships team in London. In this role, you will lead the day-to-day management and delivery of client work across shopper marketing and retail experience projects. You will serve as the operational heartbeat connecting Strategy, Creative, 2D/3D Design, Production, and Operations—steering briefs from inception through to flawless in-store/on-shelf execution, ensuring creative excellence, operational efficiency, and commercial profitability.

The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced agency setting, brings a practical understanding of retail, shopper marketing, or FMCG landscapes, and possesses the confidence to manage complex client dynamics and multi-stakeholder workflows.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Client Partnership: Manage and nurture day-to-day client relationships, leading regular status catch-ups, responding with speed and strategic clarity, and proactively identifying opportunities to add value.
• End-to-End Delivery: Own and steer projects from inception to execution—managing project scopes, critical paths, milestone reviews, resource scheduling, and timely approvals across 2D/3D retail and shopper deliverables.
• Briefing & Creative Collaboration: Translate client business and commercial needs into sharp, inspiring internal briefs; collaborate closely with Strategy, Creative, 2D/3D Design, and Production to uphold high standards of craft and feasibility.
• Commercial Management: Manage account finances, including drafting accurate scopes of work (SOWs), cost estimates, purchase orders, client billing, budget tracking, and ensuring project profitability.
• Quality & Governance: Review all deliverables thoroughly against client briefs, retail guidelines, and production feasibility before work leaves the building.
• Risk Mitigation: Proactively anticipate project roadblocks, timeline slips, or scope creep; negotiate solutions collaboratively with internal teams and clients.
• Presentations & Reviews: Prepare and co-lead client presentations, strategic workshops, and post-campaign analysis/wash-ups.
• Commercial & Industry Insight: Develop deep expertise in your clients’ business, categories, competitive landscape, and key retail channels (grocery, high street, travel retail, and digital commerce).
• Team Mentorship: Guide, mentor, and delegate effectively to Account Executives and junior team members, fostering a supportive, high-performing team culture.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Experience: 2–4+ years of account handling experience within a shopper marketing, retail design, creative, or integrated communications agency.
• Sector Knowledge: Practical familiarity with commerce, retail toolkits, FMCG, shopper marketing, POS/display design, or physical-to-digital retail activations is highly advantageous.
• Client Leadership: Proven experience independently managing client communications and leading cross-functional agency teams through complex deliverables.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong track record managing project finances, tracking budgets, generating estimates, and overseeing scope.
• Communication & Influence: Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate creative and strategic work compellingly.
• Problem-Solving & Agility: Solutions-oriented mindset with high emotional intelligence, sound judgment under pressure, and the resilience to navigate changing priorities.
• Tools & Systems: Proficiency in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word); practical experience with project and workflow management tools (e.g., Asana, Monday.com, Smartsheet).

Location: Ability to work from our London office three days per week under our hybrid working policy.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.