Advertising Account Director

Tasks & duties

Advertising account directors may do some or all of the following:

• ensure that agency services keep up to date with industry developments
• provide top-level client contact
• negotiate new accounts
• ensure advertising does not breach the law or offend consumers
• plan long-term goals such as yearly budgets
• control correspondence, deadlines, budgets, and timetables
• look after the interests of the client and the agency
• supervise junior account services staff
• attend briefs on what the client wants
• attend meetings between the client and agency
• stay in regular contact with clients about things such as industry changes and relevant market opportunities
• assist clients in deciding what kind of advertising they want and what medium to use
• liaise with the people involved in the creative design of a client's advertising
• check advertisements to ensure they meet objectives
• handle any problems or complaints clients may have

Skills & knowledge

Advertising account directors need to have:

• knowledge of all aspects of the advertising industry
• knowledge of marketing, business management, administration and financial planning
• an understanding of promotional and publicity techniques
• good decision-making skills
• planning and organisational ability
• excellent sales and negotiation skills
• written and oral communication skills
• the ability to find and attract new clients
• skill in analysing and interpreting clients' ideas and requirements
• the ability to come up with new marketing and advertising ideas, and opportunities for clients

Entry requirements

To become an advertising account director, you need to have a relevant tertiary qualification. Advertising account directors usually work their way up through the advertising industry, so extensive agency experience is also necessary.

Secondary education

A tertiary entrance qualification is needed to enter further training. Useful subjects include year 12 Certificate of Education or Higher School Certificate equivalent English, maths with statistics, economics and computer studies.

Tertiary education

A degree or diploma in advertising, marketing, media studies, communication, psychology, sociology or any other relevant subject is useful for becoming an advertising account director.

Training on the job

Skills are gained on the job. Advertising account directors may also attend conferences and training courses to stay up to date with new information.

Useful experience

Useful experience for advertising account directors includes:

Related courses

Advertising
Marketing
Public Relations

For more information, please refer to myfuture.