What does an Advertising Account Executive do?

An advertising account executive serves as the clients' primary point of contact when coordinating with the advertising team. Mainly responsible for managing client accounts, an advertising account executive must identify the clients' advertising needs, answer inquiries, prepare and process documentation, review former campaigns, and coordinate with the clients to establish timelines, goals, and budgets. Furthermore, it is essential to assist clients every step of the way, ensuring smooth workflow and client satisfaction, all while adhering to the company's policies ad regulations.
Advertising account executive responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real advertising account executive resumes:
- Manage RFP responses for CPG and healthcare campaigns across various publishers (i.e.
- Manage the everyday activities of a team of 20- 30 account managers, paid search strategist and SEO specialists.
- Generate leads using a variety of sources, including the Internet, corporate CRM, industry publications and company publication library.
- Manage copywriting and spot production scheduling
- Manage and grow existing account list through maintaining agency relationships, increase ROI, and campaign optimization recommendations.
- Manage day-to-day activity of client relate projects including IP voice, MPLS infrastructures and CPE implementations in a deadline-orient high-pressure environment.
- Train to delegate with clients train to edit in photoshop
- Track all metrics on Facebook and website to ensure clients have up to date information.
- Maintain social networking sites and consult in SEO for clients to increase online presence and visibility.
- Present PowerPoint presentations to large ad agencies and groups to teach the strategy of media purchasing in a highly competitive market.
- Research and create PowerPoint presentations.
- Create and deliver presentations tailor to client needs while maintaining detail CRM information.
- Develop campaigns and implement marketing strategies to maximize billboard advertising effectiveness and ROI.
- Prepare, deliver and sell custom multi-media integrate cross promotion presentations to key decision makers at brand management and advertising agencies.
- Explore and pursue upselling opportunities with existing clients.
Advertising account executive skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Advertising Account Executives are proficient in Media Sales, CRM, and Client Relationships. They’re also known for soft skills such as Initiative, Self-confidence, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Advertising Account Executives that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Media Sales, 16%
Print and media sales, special projects and coop advertising
- CRM, 11%
Created and delivered presentations tailored to client needs while maintaining detailed CRM information.
- Client Relationships, 8%
Established and maintained client relationships by working with local businesses to determine and fulfill their advertising objectives.
- Cold Calls, 7%
Conducted lead generation and appointment setting through business to business cold calling in order to develop new business advertising revenue.
- PowerPoint, 7%
Researched and created PowerPoint presentations.
- Mobile Marketing, 7%
Provided traditional print advertising, online visibility and reputation management products, and mobile marketing solutions.
"media sales," "crm," and "client relationships" are among the most common skills that advertising account executives use at work. You can find even more advertising account executive responsibilities below, including:
Initiative. One of the key soft skills for an advertising account executive to have is initiative. You can see how this relates to what advertising account executives do because "advertising sales agents must actively seek new clients, keep in touch with current clients, and expand their client base, in order to meet sales quotas." Additionally, an advertising account executive resume shows how advertising account executives use initiative: "created and implemented marketing and promotional initiatives including direct marketing, cold calling, and customer presentations. "
Self-confidence. Many advertising account executive duties rely on self-confidence. "advertising sales agents should be confident when calling potential clients (making cold calls)," so an advertising account executive will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways advertising account executive responsibilities rely on self-confidence: "establish new account relationships, employing consultative sales techniques that engender trust and confidence. "
Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of advertising account executives is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday advertising account executive duties, as "advertising sales agents must be persuasive during sales calls." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "cultivated oral communication and client account management skills. "
Organizational skills. A big part of what advertising account executives do relies on "organizational skills." You can see how essential it is to advertising account executive responsibilities because "agents work with many clients, each of whom may be at a different stage in the sales process." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical advertising account executive tasks: "manage current client accounts, while maintaining a positive image and trustworthiness via excellent service and organizational skills. "
The three companies that hire the most advertising account executives are:
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Advertising account executive vs. New business development
New business development focuses on new business opportunities and new product innovation, including product design, business model design, and marketing. This includes a wide scope of responsibilities that includes marketing planning, strategic partnerships, and increased profitability. It is the responsibility of new business development agents to be aware of new market opportunities, possibilities for expansion, competitor product developments, and the company's current sources of revenue. This job can be summarized as the source of ideas, initiatives, and activities aimed in the direction of making a business better.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an advertising account executive are more likely to require skills like "media sales," "powerpoint," "mobile marketing," and "marketing campaigns." On the other hand, a job as a new business development requires skills like "senior level management," "business development," "java," and "product development." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
New business development tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $88,045. In contrast, advertising account executives make the biggest average salary, $70,702, in the telecommunication industry.The education levels that new business development earn slightly differ from advertising account executives. In particular, new business development are 4.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an advertising account executive. Additionally, they're 1.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Advertising account executive vs. Corporate account manager
The duties of a corporate account manager depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, they are responsible for building a company's client base by devising strategies to identify market opportunities, reaching out to clients through calls and correspondence, and securing sales by offering products and services. They may also resolve issues and concerns, answer inquiries, process payments, and create billing plans as necessary. Furthermore, as a corporate account manager, it is essential to lead and encourage team members, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, advertising account executive responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "media sales," "mobile marketing," "marketing campaigns," and "digital marketing." Meanwhile, a corporate account manager has duties that require skills in areas such as "healthcare," "gpo," "business reviews," and "business development." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
In general, corporate account managers achieve similar levels of education than advertising account executives. They're 2.7% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Advertising account executive vs. Account manager
Account managers are employees who act as the bridge between the company they represent and the client of the company. They are assigned to handle specific clients so that the company will be able to tailor-fit any product or service according to the clients' requirements. Account managers are responsible for maintaining a harmonious relationship between the two parties by ensuring that any agreement made is amenable to both the company and the client. They are also responsible for ensuring that the company will be able to provide the needs of the client within any limitation that the client may have. Account managers also ensure that the company's reputation and well-being are always considered in any dealings.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, advertising account executives are more likely to have skills like "client relationships," "mobile marketing," "marketing campaigns," and "digital marketing." But a account manager is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "healthcare," "product knowledge," and "work ethic."
Account managers earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $76,412. Comparatively, advertising account executives have the highest earning potential in the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $70,702.account managers typically earn similar educational levels compared to advertising account executives. Specifically, they're 1.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Advertising account executive vs. Sales account manager
The account sales manager is in charge of the retention of their customer relationship. They have to supervise the portfolio of existing clients, develop new business with them, and seek new sales opportunities. Account sales managers act as liaisons between the company and customer as well as build strong, long-lasting relationships by providing an improved customer experience. It is their responsibility to negotiate contracts and close deals to maximize sales profits. Also, they forecast track sales results and prepare reports on account status.
Types of advertising account executive
Updated January 8, 2025