Account Manager in Manchester

A bit about us

We are ZEAL, a brand activation group that helps fast-moving brands grow faster by turning apathy into action in the moments that matter most. Powered by our ZEAL-EQ process, we create powerful emotional engagement, unlock hidden shopper buying triggers and give brands the ‘cheat codes’ to win in their key retail channels. Born in Manchester, we are an independent group with 150 people across Manchester, London, Singapore and Los Angeles, delivering integrated activation across shopper marketing, experiential, partnerships, PR, social, influencer and digital. We work with leading global brands including Nestlé, Carlsberg Britvic, Suntory, Kraft Heinz, Kellanova, Arla, Bacardi, Essity, Froneri, Weetabix and Revlon. Our work has been recognised across the industry, including three consecutive IPM Agency of the Year titles (2023–2025), FMBE Brand Experience Agency of the Year 2026, and the Campaign Experience Awards’ Best Integrated Campaign (2025). We have also been shortlisted for Independent Agency of the Year at the Campaign Agency of the Year Awards 2025 and are proud to be listed in Campaign’s Top 100 Best Places to Work.

Role in summary

Working across a range of brands under a household name client, we’re looking for an established Account Manager to join our growing team in Manchester. As an Account Manager you’ll act as one of your clients’ main points of contact at ZEAL, independently managing the delivery of creative campaigns and projects ensuring the work is delivered on brief, on budget and in line with the agreed statement of work.

What you’ll be doing:

• Supported by the Account Director you’ll manage the delivery of projects, acting as a key point of contact between Client Services, Planning, Creative and the client.
• Plan key milestones of projects including preparing timelines, securing creative resource, planning budgets and forecasting to ensure we deliver with excellence on time and on brief.
• Taking the leading role with full accountability on your projects, ensuring they are delivered with impact and without fault.
• Participating in client meetings, presentations and internal meetings, taking ownership of your actions and deliverables.
• Facilitate sessions with Creatives to take them through your well thought out, actionable briefs, ensuring the creative solution meets the client brief.
• Attend internal planning and forecasting meetings to ensure the correct resources are planned in each week, making course corrections quickly and efficiently when required.
• Lead monthly project management meetings, reporting on time spent versus billed across your projects.
• Create estimates and budget proposals, and oversee delivery of day-to-day financials including invoices, raising POs, expenses and managing accrued income.
• Actively develop your knowledge of the landscape where your clients’ brands operate through effective working relationships with Planning and Creative.

What you’ll bring to the role:

• Proven experience in client services in an advertising agency, delivering creative briefs at Account Manager level of similar.
• Ideally, experience with FMCG clients.
• Strong financial management and commercial acumen.
• The ability to effectively project manage and communicate with multiple stakeholders.
• Confidence in liaising directly with clients and strong presentation skills to share creative ideas.

How we reward you:

• 24 days holiday (plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata).
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Annual company bonus scheme (pro-rata).
• Private Medical Insurance.
• Life Assurance.
• Continuous learning and development.
• Enhanced parental benefits.

Additional benefits:

• The last Friday of every quarter is a ZEAL Day off.
• Christmas closure.
• Work from home budget to help you achieve your dream set up.
• Dog friendly offices.
• A wealth of social events from our seasonal gatherings to our quarter review get togethers.