Account Director - Corporate & Financial

Burson is looking for an Associate / Account Director for our Mumbai location. The individual will join our client servicing team to work in our Corporate & Financial Practice. This Practice is part of the Corporate & Financial practice that services client in Fintech, Corporate, BFSI, IPO, etc. The team works with some of the leading players in the industry.

Position Summary –

As an Associate / Account Director at BURSON you are responsible for supporting the senior management to contribute to the company’s performance by managing client relationships and integrated communication (IC) programs, satisfying, and delighting clients, generating new business, and developing strong teams. You are expected to be leader with leadership skills. You are also required to support our corporate strategy and your practice or office to help ensure superior client service, a winning culture and profitability.

CORE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Client Service

1. Manage a significant portfolio of clients and demonstrate the ability to profitably grow clients and build long term relationships.
2. Seek opportunities to develop senior client level relationships and serve as their trusted advisor for insights critical to their business; understand the trends and issues that impact brands, including media, business, political and cultural.
3. Proactively manage client expectations and quickly grasp problems, consult with senior leader(s) on the engagement team on tough decisions and assist in implementing swift action plans to ensure client satisfaction, engaging additional BURSON resources where required.
4. Manage and lead account teams to deliver superior client service and creative groundbreaking plans and concepts by ensuring they are equipped with the right resources, tools, and training.
5. Timely Decision Making – The ability to identify a problem and find solutions. Makes decisions in a timely manner, using available information and under tight deadlines.
6. Maintain close relationship with senior editors and journalists and respond to complex media queries.
7. Know the power of our proprietary tools such as Creative Catalyst Network and Digital Catalyst Cards, and other businesses under the BURSON umbrella (i.e. PSB, Axicom, etc.) to build brands and nail client objective.
8. Take an active role in issues and crisis management, media training and messaging workshops.
9. Understand social media and integrate digital products and services into client programs to deliver optimum results.
10. Ensure clients and account teams feel confident about how best to utilize new media outlets.

Business Development:

1. Support Directors and Senior Leaders in identifying opportunities for organic growth with existing clients and keep up with client and market changes that could lead to new business opportunities.
2. Support our new business development process by actively developing business contacts through professional activities and network with professional contacts as a means of exchanging ideas and opening new client opportunities.
3. Introduce existing clients to BURSON offices in other geographies to contribute to the regional/global growth of the company.

Talent Management:

1. Coach, mentor, and delegate responsibilities to junior staff
2. Foster teamwork and build morale and motivation within account teams ensuring that good performance and efforts are recognized.
3. Create an inclusive and welcoming environment that engage all individuals without bias and demonstrate flexibility in a changing work environment.
4. Support directors and senior leaders to help team members to identify development needs, acquire new skills and grow within the organization.
5. Provide continuous constructive feedback to team members- not just during performance reviews- to develop the next generation of client leaders.
6. Conduct learning and development programs and participate in staff retention initiatives.
7. Serve as a role model to the junior staff, embodying the values of the company.

Financial Management:

1. Know and meet billability targets.
2. Act as a conduit between finance and the client servicing team to ensure that accounts are profitably managed; understand the reason for over and under servicing.
3. Follow agency procedures for client budgets, budget tracking, contract approval and billing rates.
4. Support senior leaders to prepare and manage annual budgets and forecasts of projected income.
5. Manage your team and allocate resources for agency profitability.
6. Understand client contracts and assist with the development of detailed scopes of work.
7. Ensure that contracts and terms and conditions of businesses are issued and signed by all new clients prior to the commencement of work.
8. Support your director to contribute to BURSON's business plans to increase market share and profits.