Marketing & PR Jobs

Advertising Account Executive

Advertising Account Executives work within advertising or multi-service agencies, acting as a link between the clients and the agency.  They are responsible for liaising between the client and other agency staff to coordinate advertising campaigns.

What does the job entail?

Advertising Account Executives manage administrative and campaign work, ensuring that this is all completed on time and on budget. The role can involve handling up to four client accounts or, in larger agencies, just one or two accounts. Advertising Executives usually report to an Account Manager.

Advertising Account Executives contribute to and develop advertising campaigns.  Tasks include:

• Meeting and liaising with clients to discuss and identify their advertising requirements
• Working with account team to devise advertising campaigns that meet the client’s brief and budget
• Working with the Account Manager to brief media, creative and research staff
• Liaising with the client and advertising agency by maintaining regular contact with both
• Negotiating with clients and agency staff about the details of campaigns
• Presenting creative work to clients for approval or modification
• Writing detailed client reports and monitoring the effectiveness of campaigns
• Undertaking administration tasks
• Arranging and attending meetings

Typical Career Routes

A job as an Advertising Account Executive is normally an entry-level role for a graduate. After one or two years, an Account Executive may progress to Senior Account Executive or Account Manager where they will manage other executives and handle higher profile clients. After three or four years as an Account Manager, the next step is to become an Account Director, responsible for all account staff and clients.

Career progression is firmly linked to gaining relevant experience and key transferable skills. One way of achieving this is by moving between agencies and working for several different clients.  Therefore mobility and flexibility are important.

Key Skills

Candidates need to show evidence of the following:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• A proactive attitude with the ability to use initiative
• Excellent organisational skills
• Experience of effective team working skills
• Influencing and negotiation skills
• Oral and written communication skills
• Commercial awareness
• A passion for advertising and an understanding of what makes a good advertisement

Training and Qualifications

Although candidates do not need a particular degree to enter PR, studying subjects such as Advertising, Marketing, Communications or English may improve your chances.

Entry without a degree or HND but with a proven track record of relevant work experience may be considered, more typically in smaller or specialist agencies. However, graduates are often preferred, so candidates without a degree may have to consider starting at a more junior level.

Pre-entry work experience is desirable and an excellent way to gain an understanding of how an agency works.  Work experience also enables you to make some valuable contacts to use when you are looking for a permanent role as an Account Executive.