Senior Account Director

Elmwood Design Consultancy, Singapore Studio 

Elmwood Design Consultancy is a leading global design agency renowned for creating impactful and innovative brand experiences. With a rich history of design excellence, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of creativity and design to deliver outstanding results for our clients. As we expand our creative team, we are seeking an experienced and dynamic Finance Executive to join our Singapore Studio.

Who are we looking for:

As a Senior Account Director, you will be in a unique position to help build our Brand out Comms (BOC) team, driving strategic and profitable client relationships across integrated advertising campaigns. You have deep insights into consumer behaviour and media ecosystems, can 'talk the talk' of integrated marketing communications with clients, show commercial leadership, and define what is right for Elmwood through effective campaign strategies.

Our team and our clients need you in the room to have quality conversations about multi-channel campaigns, and you're comfortable negotiating production budgets. You're a leader in a fast-paced environment who takes control, spending a fair amount of time directing those around you. You are self-motivated with an entrepreneurial mindset, embracing our company's spirit of growth and progress.

To be a truly great Senior Account Director at Elmwood, your focus will be on:

Team: We're a close-knit and agile team, focused on delivering outputs globally. Culture is key and ambition and a desire to win as one is essential. You'll work with and run a small team, bringing best-in-class people management and direction across account management, creative, and production functions.

Relationships: You understand what excellent client service looks like and deliver it daily. You immerse yourself in the client's business, gaining a deep understanding of their business challenges and objectives. You develop a profitable industry network around you, including media partners and production vendors.

Creativity: You are a reservoir of knowledge about advertising trends, campaign effectiveness, and emerging channels. You understand the power of brand and constantly come up with new and interesting ways to delight your clients through innovative campaign ideas. You use the talent around you to provide strategic delivery across all touchpoints.

Effectiveness: You resource campaigns effectively, ensuring you meet all financial and customer targets. You have developed strong client relationships and can now leverage these to uncover new opportunities across traditional, digital, social, and experiential channels.

What you will do:

Strategic Account & Campaign Management

• Long-term and day-to-day hands-on campaign management of multiple accounts
• Lead 4-5 key client (brand) relationships and play an active role in the strategic growth of your clients' advertising and communications programs
• Strong strategic development and recommendations on integrated marketing campaigns, media planning, and creative initiatives across all channels (TV, digital, social, OOH, radio, experiential, etc.)
• Lead campaign planning from brief to execution, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and business objectives
• Support in consumer research, strategic planning, and campaign effectiveness measurement
• Drive new business development and account growth through upselling and cross-selling
• Observe regular industry trends, platform updates, and best practices to fulfil your role as the client's marketing and communications advisor.

Client Relationship Management

• Primary relationship owner to develop long-term partnerships, creating new relationships, and increasing revenue significantly beyond initial engagements
• Develop strategies and processes/approaches to increase client satisfaction and demonstrate campaign ROI
• Manage client expectations/communications, expand client relationships, and ensure effective comprehension and delivery of expectations
• Effectively manage all aspects of client and internal/external communications and end-to-end campaign deliverables to ensure projects are delivered on-time, on-budget, and exceeding expectations
• Present campaign strategies, creative work, and performance reports to senior client stakeholders with confidence

Campaign & Project Management

• Ability to manage multiple, highly complex integrated campaigns simultaneously across multiple clients
• Holistic understanding of your clients' campaigns' impact across different media channels and leading to effective resource planning that is optimal across functions
• Coordinate with creative, production, media, and digital teams to ensure seamless campaign execution
• Manage campaign timelines, production schedules, and media delivery deadlines
• Oversee campaign performance tracking and optimization

Commercial Management

• Prepare proposals, estimating costs (including campaign production, media buying, and agency fees), timelines, and case studies
• Translate and/or write strategic/effective Creative Briefs and Communications Briefs to ensure the successful delivery of campaigns
• Demonstrate clarity and persuasion in proposals and presentations
• Effectively manage campaign implementation including coordination with media partners and 3rd party suppliers/vendors (supported by Production team)
• Gather, monitor, and manage campaign status, billing information, and budget tracking
• Support the development of internal processes to improve efficiency and campaign delivery
• Account(s) level P&L responsibility—achieving revenue targets whilst maintaining optimum cost ratios for profitability
• Ensure healthy cash flow and on-time payment

People Management

• Participate in hiring new client services employees and work with the senior team to assess and compose account teams
• Provide direction and development to team members, ensuring performance is managed in line with the performance review process (junior, peer, and senior)
• Strong mentoring and leadership skills, particularly in developing junior account managers

What you have done:

• 8-10 years of account management experience in an advertising agency or integrated communications environment
• Proven track record of managing integrated marketing campaigns across multiple channels (digital, social, traditional media, experiential)
• Deep understanding of the advertising ecosystem, including media planning, production processes, and campaign measurement
• Strong proficiency in financial management tools, project management software, and campaign tracking platforms
• A strategic mindset with the ability to interpret market data, consumer insights, and campaign performance metrics to inform communications solutions
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to inspire, mentor, and manage cross-functional teams while fostering a collaborative and results-driven environment
• A natural relationship builder who excels at managing and expanding senior-level client relationships
• Extensive experience in managing account profitability, forecasting revenue, and delivering campaigns that drive measurable business results
• Excellent presentation skills with the ability to communicate campaign strategies and creative rationale effectively
• An accountable team player and individual contributor with attention to detail and accuracy

Advantageous:

• Knowledge of branding, brand design, and brand world to inform integrated campaigns that maintain brand consistency
• Experience working in or with brand design consultancies
• Understanding of how advertising campaigns integrate with broader brand strategy and visual identity systems
• Familiarity with design processes and the ability to collaborate effectively with design teams

What We Offer  

• Birthday Leave
• Group Health Insurance 
• Group Personal Accident Insurance 
• A hybrid working environment 
• Curated Learning & Development opportunities 
• Annual festivities, along with various social events throughout the year 
• Fun Studio environment working alongside great and talented individuals 
• We offer 'Recharge Friday' every two weeks, providing our team members a half-day off on Fridays to promote well-beng and rejuvenation.

Equal Opportunities:  

Elmwood Design Consultancy is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We appreciate all applicants' interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.