Typical Career Progression
| |
Position |
Remuneration |
Experience |
Education |
| Start Position |
Account Coordinator/Executive |
$40,000-$50,000 |
None, or Work Experience |
Degree |
| 1st and 2nd Promotion |
Account Manager/Senior Account Manager |
$50,000-$70,000 |
2-4 years |
Degree |
| 3rd and 4th Promotion |
Account Director/Senior Account Director |
$60,000-$120,000 |
6-8 years |
Degree |
| 5th Promotion |
Group Account Director |
$130,000-$200,000 |
10+ years |
Degree |
**The above table should only be used as a guide
Typical accountabilities and responsibilities
| Account Coordinator |
Responsible for supporting the Account Management team in all day to day aspects of the account. |
| Account Manager |
Responsible for managing all day to day aspects of the account: trafficking work through agency departments, estimates, invoices and client meetings. |
| Account Director |
Responsible for running the account, including development of strategy and creative briefs and budget control. |
| Group Account Director |
Ultimately responsible for leading a number of client accounts, including brand strategy and profitability of the account. |
**The above table should only be used as a guide
Career Path Options and Employment opportunities
To become a ‘suit’ you work your way up through the ranks of a number of agencies before becoming Account Directors or Group Account Directors. You may take a sideways step into Strategic Planning and some even go client side.
It is not uncommon for Account Directors to come from marketing careers in either product or services marketing. Many of the skills and much of the specialised knowledge is transferrable. The reverse is also true. Account Directors can transfer to corporate marketing or corporate communication. In these larger companies the product is usually developed by technical departments and they require a specialist in communication to manage the organisation’s brand. The banking and financial services sector, telecommunications and professional services all fall into this category.
You may decide to start your own ‘consultancy’ business assisting smaller clients who do not have the infrastructure or budget to afford fulltime marketing or communications staff.
About the Author
Christine Barnes
Chris is a highly respected member of the advertising industry. She’s served on the National Board of the Advertising Federation of Australia, was the Victorian Chair and ran a mentoring program for young women in the industry.
Catapulting from account service secretary to Managing Director of a Top 4 Melbourne agency, Chris has enormous experience. Her passion for great work and the results it delivers makes her as enthusiastic about the industry today as she was when she first entered it.
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