Burson | Account Manager, Japan

ACCOUNT MANAGER

About Burson

Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation. WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company—powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open—to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.

The Role

As an Account Manager, you are expected to support day-to-day client activities and provide guidance to junior team members through ongoing counsel and effective delegation. You will contribute to Burson’s performance by managing client relationships and integrated communication (IC) programs, satisfying and delighting clients, helping generate new business and growing existing accounts. You are required to support our corporate strategy and your practice or office to help ensure superior client service, a winning culture and profitability.

Core Job Responsibilities & Requirements

Client Service

• Stay current on your clients’ businesses, industries and competitors and use your knowledge to develop comprehensive, strategic and integrated communications programs that complement the client’s business objectives and deliver results.
• Be a source of creative ideas and effectively use Burson proprietary tools like Creative Catalyst Network and Digital Catalyst cards.
• Act as a day-to-day client leader and maintain a clear and consistent communication channel between the client and the account team.
• Be actively involved and oversee quality implementation for one or a group of accounts within time and budget constraints.
• Manage client relationships and be the client’s key contact, counselor and strategic thinker.
• Have strong verbal and written communication skills including development of various types of materials such as Q&A, key messages, holding statements, press releases, etc.
• Be able to support the senior managers and leaders in resolving client issues.
• Maintain a strong rapport with journalists, bloggers and media members who cover your clients’ industries and businesses to optimize channels.
• Help develop media strategies, write pitch letters and respond to media queries.
• Stay updated on social media channels, trends and analytical tools and make recommendations to strengthen our capabilities.
• Support the digital media strategy implementation.

Business Development

• Support the Directors and other senior leaders to identify new business opportunities within existing and potential clients.
• Be proactive during new business brainstorms and take ownership of portions of new business proposals under the guidance of Directors and senior leaders.

Talent Management

• Coach and mentor junior team members and help them grow within the organization and add value to the client and the team.
• Create an inclusive and welcoming environment that engages all individuals without bias and demonstrate flexibility in a changing work environment.
• Provide on-the-job training to new team members on day-to-day tasks, delegate tasks to junior team members with clarity and oversee quality implementation within specified timelines.
• Provide continuous constructive feedback and keep immediate superiors briefed on team member performance, ensuring recognition of good performance and resolution of concerns in a timely manner.

Financial Management

• Record time in Maconomy and make supervisors aware of your time spent so the business can be managed profitably.
• Ensure all activities carried out for clients are properly documented and budget and status reports are submitted.
• Follow agency procedures for client budgets, budget tracking, contract approval and billing rates and allocate resources for agency profitability.
• Manage vendor relationships, costs and invoicing.

Agency Responsibilities

• Use Burson’s intranet and resources; keep your profile updated.
• Be a brand ambassador and help in recruiting top talent by knowing our capabilities and network.
• Adhere to Burson’s confidentiality and disclosure agreements and code of ethics/conduct.

The job description is a summary of typical job functions and is not an exhaustive list of possible duties. The jobholder’s responsibilities and duties may differ from those outlined above. Other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job.

At Burson, diversity, equity and inclusion are not just values; they are strategic imperatives that fuel our future in an industry built on the art of understanding, connecting and developing relationships. We believe that a diverse workforce is essential for inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue and cultivating meaningful experiences that drive innovation and creativity. It also enables our agency to thrive and deliver brilliant work.

For more information, visit www.bursonglobal.com.

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