Senior National Account Executive

Position Purpose/Summary

As Senior National Account Executive, you will report directly to the National Director of Client Services and be responsible for management, day-to-day communication and performance of assigned national account clients. A Senior Account Executive will effectively lead client engagements, drive revenue growth and deliver exceptional value and service to clients while contributing to the overall success and growth of the agency.

Duties + Responsibilities

Cultivate strong and enduring relationships with clients through effective communication and personalized attention to the needs of key accounts at the national level.
Demonstrate active listening skills to understand clients’ challenges, goals and feedback, and respond with empathy and professionalism.
Communicate with clients in a clear, concise and transparent manner, ensuring they are empowered to make informed decisions.
Proactively engage with clients to anticipate their needs, identify opportunities for value creation and provide proactive recommendations and solutions.
Effectively manage client escalations and resolve issues or conflicts in a timely and satisfactory manner, demonstrating a commitment to customer satisfaction and retention.
Negotiate contracts, pricing and terms with clients, leveraging strong interpersonal skills, business acumen and strategic thinking to achieve client and agency goals.
Drive revenue growth through upselling, cross-selling and expansion opportunities within existing accounts.
Provide regular updates and reports on account performance and progress to client and director.
Foster a collaborative and consultative relationship with clients, positioning oneself as a trusted advisor and partner in achieving their business objectives.
Provide guidance, support, and mentorship to junior members of the account management team.
Lead the development and implementation of strategic account plans for key clients, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives.
Foster collaboration with other departments, such as creative, project management, media specialists and data analysts to deliver integrated solutions and maximize client satisfaction.
Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships or alliances that can enhance the value proposition for clients and drive mutual business growth.
Represent the company at industry events, conferences and forums, and contribute thought leadership toward content such as articles, white papers and presentations.
Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for client accounts and regularly report on progress and outcomes to internal stakeholders and senior management.
Stay informed about emerging technologies and trends in the industry and assess their potential impact on clients’ businesses to identify new opportunities for innovation and growth.

Budget/Financials

Develop and oversee the budget for national account activities, including annual budget, incremental budgets for marketing campaigns, promos and customer events.
Monitor and track budget expenditures, ensuring adherence to approved financial targets and objectives.
Collaborate with media, finance and accounting teams to ensure accurate forecasting and reporting of national account expenses and revenue.
Work closely with internal stakeholders, such as media and creative teams, to optimize budget allocation across different account activities and initiatives.
Provide financial insights and recommendations to support strategic decision-making related to national account management.
Continuously evaluate and improve budget management processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Reporting

Collaborate with clients to understand their key performance indicators (KPIs) and reporting preferences.
Utilize data analytics tools and platforms to analyze client data and derive actionable insights that drive business value and inform strategic decision-making.
Work with Curious Jane media and data analysts to have customized reports and metrics tailored to each client’s needs and objectives.
Regularly review and analyze account performance metrics with clients, providing insights and recommendations for improvement.
Act as a strategic advisor to clients, leveraging data and analytics to identify opportunities for growth and optimization.
Facilitate regular performance review meetings with clients to discuss progress against goals and initiatives.
Proactively identify issues or challenges impacting account performance and work with clients to develop solutions.
Ensure transparency and accountability in reporting by providing accurate and timely updates on account metrics and progress.
Solicit feedback from clients on reporting and metrics and adjust as necessary to meet their evolving needs.
Demonstrate the value of products or services by showcasing tangible results and ROI through data-driven reporting.

Process, Systems & Tools

Manage client requests and planning through approved agency tools.
Follow communication, onboarding, project management and reporting processes set forth by the agency.
Collaborate with the project management team to ensure projects are completed on time, on budget.
Lead meetings that represent client requests efficiently and with clear direction on client goals and objectives, ensuring all stakeholders are informed.
Monitor live campaign performance and communicate with media implementers to ensure efficiency and goals of client are being met.

Qualifications

Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas and information clearly and persuasively.
Be able to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively, listening actively to understand clients’ needs and concerns and build rapport and trust through effective communication.
Demonstrate empathy and emotional intelligence in interactions with clients, understanding their perspectives and building rapport based on trust and understanding.
Have a customer-centric mindset, prioritizing the needs and interests of clients and advocating for solutions that deliver tangible value and positive outcomes for them.
Think proactively and bring new ideas and procedures to the table.
Be able to perform in a fast-paced environment.
Be able to take clear instruction and execute flawlessly.
Have at least 5 years’ experience in customer-facing account management in a dynamic agency atmosphere (required).
Be able to drive strategy and produce measurable results for the company and client.

Soft Skills

To be successful in this role, you must be an account leader who:

Has exemplary communication and soft skills required to ensure clients are handled with professionalism and grace.
Pays meticulous attention to detail, maintaining accurate records, preparing documentation and ensuring the quality of client deliverables.
Displays strong organizational skills necessary for managing multiple tasks, deadlines and priorities efficiently, while maintaining a high level of productivity and effectiveness.
Demonstrates empathy and understanding toward clients’ concerns, challenges and perspectives, fostering trust and rapport, advocating for solutions and enhancing the overall client experience.
Exemplifies effective time management skills that enable the Senior Account Executive to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines and allocate resources efficiently to support and meet client needs.
Analyzes complex issues, identifying root causes and developing creative solutions that address clients’ challenges and drive business results, ultimately resolving client conflicts effectively and efficiently.
Adapts quickly to changing circumstances, market dynamics and client needs, demonstrating resilience and agility in navigating ambiguity and uncertainty.
Is self-aware, self-managed, displays social awareness and is relationship driven.
Builds confidence and trust toward a strong, lasting client relationship.

Reporting Relationship

Reports to: Director of Client Services

About Curious Jane

Curious Jane is the Ad Agency for Franchises^TM. We serve national, local and franchise development clients across the U.S. and Canada. Curious Jane is a mid-sized ad agency that has been helping franchise businesses for over eighteen years. Curious Jane is a woman-owned business based in sunny Lakeland, Florida. As seriously as we take our work, we have a lot of fun together along the way. Just check out our Facebook or Instagram profiles for a glimpse of our vibrant team and culture.

All Curious Jane employees are expected to conform to the following Core Values, regardless of position:

Expect Excellence by making customers priority #1, meeting deadlines, and always presenting a positive and collaborative approach to our work.
Carry the Ball by taking ownership of goals and tasks while seeing every project to completion. Anticipate and identify problems and solutions, follow through and communicate clearly and efficiently. Every employee is empowered.
Commit to Growth by developing professionally and evolving with the company and the times. Be innovative and seize opportunities while helping clients grow their businesses and contribute to their bottom line. Plan for the future.