Account Manager in Manchester

A bit about us

We are ZEAL – the UK’s Most Effective Brand Activation Agency. Founded in 2014 by friends and colleagues Stewart Hilton and Robert White, ZEAL has pursued its ambition to be the World’s Most Recommended Agency by recognising that our amazing people are the key to our success. We’re proud partners to Nestlé, Carlsberg, Arla, Weetabix, Suntory, Bacardi, PZ Cussons, and more, delivering award-winning work across brand strategy, shopper marketing, experiential, partnerships, social and integrated campaign development. Our principles around our people are simple – you bring your passion, creativity and drive and we invest in your training, long‑term personal development and give you the resources you need to thrive and create your best work. We’re passionate about creating an inclusive place to work that celebrates and values diversity and inclusion and ultimately, enriches our culture.

Role in summary

We’re looking for an established Account Manager to join our growing team in Manchester on a fixed‑term contract basis to support delivery across a range of FMCG brands. 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 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:

• Availability to start work at short notice or immediately.
• Proven experience in client services in an advertising agency, delivering creative briefs.
• 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:

• Contributory pension scheme.
• Annual company bonus scheme.
• 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.

Interested? Send your application to talent@zealcreative.com or click ‘apply’!