National Account Executive

POSITION PURPOSE/SUMMARY 

As National Account Executive, you will report directly to the National Account Director and be responsible for management, day-to-day communication and performance of assigned national account clients. The National Account Executive serves as a key liaison between national franchise clients and internal agency teams, coordinating campaign execution, project workflows, reporting, budget tracking and day-to-day account operations while ensuring client goals and agency deliverables remain aligned. 

DUTIES RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Cultivate strong and enduring relationships with national franchise clients through effective communication and personalized attention to the needs of key accounts at the national level. 
• Serve as a primary day-to-day point of contact for assigned client accounts, ensuring proactive communication, follow-up and resolution of requests. 
• Collaborate with Account Directors, Project Managers, Creative, Media, Web, CRM, Public Relations and Data Analytics teams to develop and execute integrated client strategies and campaigns. 
• Demonstrate active listening skills to understand clients' challenges, goals and feedback, and respond with empathy and professionalism while communicating in a clear, concise, and transparent manner that empowers informed decision-making. 
• Assist in defining project scopes and ensuring client requests remain aligned with approved statements of work and agency recommendations.  
• Leverage strong interpersonal skills, business acumen and strategic thinking to achieve client and agency goals. 
• Develop comprehensive project briefs and intake documentation that clearly communicate client objectives, requirements, deliverables and success metrics. 
• Lead meetings that represent client requests efficiently and with clear direction to ensure expectations, deadlines and deliverables are clearly understood. 
• Facilitate project kickoffs and maintain alignment among internal stakeholders throughout the lifecycle of client initiatives. 
• Consolidate client feedback and communicate priorities, revisions and recommendations to internal teams to support successful campaign execution. 
• Maintain accurate account records, project documentation and client communications within approved agency systems and tools. 
• Effectively manage client escalations and resolve issues or conflicts in a timely and satisfactory manner, demonstrating a commitment to customer satisfaction and retention. 
• Proactively engage with clients to anticipate their needs, identify opportunities for value creation and provide proactive recommendations and solutions. 
• Conduct research and gather market, competitive and performance insights to support client strategy development and business growth opportunities. 
• Drive agency revenue growth through upselling, cross-selling and expansion opportunities within existing accounts. 
• 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. 

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 and collaborate with Curious Jane media and data analysts to develop customized reports and actionable insights that drive business value and inform strategic decision-making. 
• Prepare and deliver client reporting and act as a strategic advisor to clients, providing performance updates and strategic recommendations that demonstrate progress toward client goals and return on investment.  
• Proactively identify performance trends, risks and opportunities, working collaboratively with internal teams and clients to develop solutions and optimization strategies. 
• Solicit feedback from clients on reporting and metrics and adjust as necessary to meet their evolving needs. 

PROCESS, SYSTEMS & TOOLS 

• Manage project intake, client requests and task coordination through approved agency systems and project management platforms. 
• Ensure all project documentation, briefs, meeting notes, timelines and deliverables are maintained accurately and updated consistently.  
• Support continuous improvement of account management processes by identifying opportunities to increase efficiency, collaboration and client satisfaction. 
• Follow communication, onboarding, project management and reporting processes established by the agency. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business or related field preferred. 
• Minimum 5 years of customer-facing account management experience in an agency environment preferred. 
• Franchise agency or franchise brand marketing experience preferred. 
• Experience managing multiple client accounts and cross-functional marketing initiatives. 
• Experience with project management software, CRM platforms, reporting tools and digital marketing environments. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat and DocuSign preferred. 
• Ability to interpret performance data and translate insights into actionable recommendations. 

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, utilizing active listening skills to understand clients' needs and concerns and build rapport and trust through effective communication. 
• Pays meticulous attention to detail, maintaining accurate records, preparing documentation and ensuring the quality of client deliverables. 
• Displays strong organizational and time management skills necessary for managing multiple tasks, deadlines and priorities efficiently, while maintaining a high level of productivity and effectiveness. 
• Demonstrates empathy, emotional intelligence and understanding toward clients' concerns, challenges and perspectives, fostering trust and rapport, advocating for solutions and enhancing the overall client experience. 
• Has a customer-centric mindset, prioritizing the needs and interests of clients and advocating for solutions that deliver tangible value and positive outcomes for them. 
• 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. 
• Can perform in a fast-paced environment, take clear instructions and execute proficiently. 
• Has curiosity to learn and identify ways to make things better. 

BENEFITS 

In addition to a competitive salary range, Curious Jane also provides the following benefits: 

• Wellness: Our comprehensive benefits package is one of the best in the business. That’s because we prioritize health in more ways than one. Health insurance begins in the first full month of employment, with Curious Jane covering up to 75% of your premium. In addition, we provide up to 1x of your salary Group Term Life & AD&D insurance.  
• Time for Yourself: Flexible PTO is all yours after your first year with us, but don’t worry, you get 10 days right away after your 90 days. Plus, we give generous holiday breaks, including Christmas through New Year’s. Celebrate your birthday (or a day of your choice) and take a community service day to give back.  
• Investing in You: For you (and your family’s) future. We offer a 401k contribution equal to 3% of your annual salary. You’ll also have access to a financial advisor and opportunities for professional development, including education and certifications. 

ABOUT CURIOUS JANE 

Curious Jane is the Ad Agency for Franchise BrandsTM. 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 twenty years. Curious Jane is a woman-owned business based in sunny Lakeland, Florida.  

We’re fun people who do serious work. That means we don’t need to separate working hard and playing hard. We love what we do, and we know you will, too. 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.