Black Sun Plc

Overview of the role

The role of the Account Director is to work within one of our client communications teams leading the delivery of high calibre, multi-channel communications solutions for our blue-chip client base. This can include annual reports and reviews, sustainability reports, investor relations and employee communications, online reporting centres and wider website content and communications initiatives.

The role will require you to engage with senior stakeholders and provide you with the opportunity to develop an intimate understanding of your client’s strategy and business model as well as a deep understanding of best practice and market trends in financial and non-financial reporting. In time, we will also provide you with the opportunities and platform to develop your career within this growing and highly ambitious organisation.

The role is well suited for a highly motivated and ambitious individual with excellent academics, a curious and innovative mind, and a desire to learn about best practice corporate communications. The successful candidate must be comfortable communicating with clients and internal teams, have a keen eye for detail, exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, creative flair and want to participate in building one of the largest and most successful professional service companies of its kind.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic account development

• Continually develop your knowledge of your client’s businesses and the industries they operate in as well as developing a comprehensive understanding of your clients’ strategy and communications needs to lead the development of their content and messaging to all key stakeholder groups; and
• Continually provide advice and insight into best practice reporting to your clients to drive the development of all communications with the aim of achieving innovative, market-leading communications solutions.
  
  

Client relationship management

• Build strong, trusting relationships with your day-to-day and senior client contacts, leading all client meetings and calls, effectively managing your clients’ needs and working with your wider team to act on and resolve any account problems;
• Deliver exemplary client services at all times ensuring we maintain the current high levels of client satisfaction and exceptional client feedback; and
• Continually seek ways to enhance our deliverables and exceed your clients’ expectations.
  
  

Account management

• Successfully manage the delivery of all your mixed-media projects by driving all deliverables and deadlines, managing internal and external resources, and driving the preparation of all project documentation (such as project plans, communications briefs, photography briefs and page plans);
• Effectively drive the delivery of each project stage including the development of creative concepts, content and messaging, managing the amends turnaround process right through to the delivery process;
• Ensure all project management and quality assurance processes are implemented for each project stage;
• Leverage the strategic expertise within the business to shape and drive the strategic development of accounts; and
• Successfully liaise with and co-ordinate suppliers, driving the cost negotiations, completing the briefing process and ensuring that all work meets Black Sun’s, and your clients’, quality standards.
  
  

Commercial responsibility

• Have ownership of all financial aspects of accounts ensuring that all financial processes are successfully implemented by you and the project team to ensure the profitable delivery of all projects;
• Maintain complete visibility of all your project budgets through the implementation of all financial processes including budget proposals, billing schedules, purchase orders for external costs and regular cost reconciliations;
• Where necessary lead the recovery of overrun costs from your clients. New business and client development; and
• Work closely with the Client Directors to establish client development plans for each of your clients. Lead key Client presentations, meetings and conference calls, using core skills and experience to sell in our proposals in a powerful and persuasive manner.
  
  

Project team management

• Hold weekly team project update meetings to ensure the smooth running of all your projects;
• Ensure team adherence to all internal processes and procedures (including approval, quality assurance, financial and project management processes);
• Regularly assess team resources against workloads, taking steps to ensure that the right resources are in place to deliver on all account deadlines; and
• Create a positive and supportive team culture where innovation, creative thinking and performance excellence is championed.

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the job holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope of the role.

 Reporting Relationships

Reporting to: Client Director

Work closely with: Creative and Production teams, as well as Digital, Research & Strategy and Finance teams.

 

Qualifications, experience & skills

The successful candidate will hold or have experience in/with:

• 4+ years agency or client-side experience within marketing and communications;
• Excellent writing, editing, proofreading skills are essential;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential;
• Exceptional attention to detail; and
• Fully conversant with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

 

Your personal qualities

• Strong interpersonal and communications skills necessary to build trust and respect both externally and internally;
• High-quality service ethic and committed to customer service excellence;
• Ambition to self improve;
• Ability to manage many urgent and often conflicting priorities;
• Strong ‘can do’ attitude with an innate ability to take initiative and work by yourself as well as in a team;
• Flexibility and team focused, non-hierarchical approach with a ‘roll up your sleeves’ attitude to getting the job done; and
• A great sense of humour and fun!

 
In addition to a competitive salary based on skills and experience, as an employee at Black Sun, you will have access to a range of great benefits and perks, including:

Holidays

Upon joining, you’ll be eligible for 25 days’ holiday per year (pro-rated if you join mid-year). Two additional discretionary ‘bonus’ days are awarded for long service at Black Sun, up to a maximum of 27 days’ holiday.

Remote Working

We are thrilled to be able to offer our employees the option to work in a hybrid way. After a period of onboarding, employees have the ability to work from home, office and where applicable on site with clients. The amount of days are dependant on teams, role, time of year and deliverables.

Bonus Scheme

We operate an annual bonus scheme for all our employees to enable everyone to share in our success when the company achieves its financial targets.

Personal Development Plans

We believe that the more successful we are in developing our people, the more rewarding and successful our business will become. As an employee at Black Sun, you’ll have access to an extensive suite of training through our ‘Full Circle Talent Development Programme’ to help you develop the skills to progress your career and be successful in your role.

Group Life Assurance

On joining Black Sun you will be insured under our Group Life Assurance Scheme.

Group Personal Pension Plan

After three months’ at Black Sun, you will be enrolled on the Company’s group personal pension scheme. The Company will contribute 3% of salary to the pension scheme and you will need to contribute a minimum of 5%.

Employee Assistance Programme

You and your family will have access to a confidential 24/7 helpline, providing you with a range of services including bereavement counselling, financial/debt management, family and childcare advice.

Payroll Giving

Black Sun operates a Payroll Giving scheme which enables you to donate through your payroll to any charity or voluntary organisation within the UK. The donation is made from your gross pay, enabling the charity to benefit from Gift Aid.

 

And whilst we love our jobs, we also like to have some fun along the way. We have a continuous social programme throughout the year, either virtually or in person! But don’t take our word for it, come and see for yourself!