One of the worst feelings, when you're in a role, is the feeling of being underpaid. Knowing that other people in your field are earning more money can make you feel unappreciated, and it can contribute to a loss of motivation. Compensation and benefits in a role often tell us how we are performing and how we are valued, and when that figure doesn't meet the averages, we can end up feeling as if we have no worth. DNA offers a wide range of Account Director jobs in London across the different marketing disciplines including Client Services, Digital, Social and Content, Experiential and Events, Planning and Strategy.
What an Account Director Does
Account directors head up a team of account managers, and they handle clients. They ensure that the clients remain satisfied, managing their existing accounts and developing new accounts, too. They'll take payments from clients, send out bills and process all payments, and they'll visit new clients regularly to grow new business. Working in marketing or branding also means helping them with their marketing strategies and handling reports about their competitors.
Account directors are required to have excellent communication skills, as they are responsible for maintaining the relationships between their clients and the rest of the business. It's also the job of the account director to manage a team of account managers and executives, developing their careers and ensuring that they are working together seamlessly. Account directors handle complaints and manage the communication between the team and clients, too.
Most account directors are required to have the experience, with a degree in marketing, PR or advertising to help them to remain abreast of the industry in which they work. Account directors will spend every day developing relationships with customers and clients, retaining revenue to keeping the business going. They'll be in charge of developing their department budget, too. It's a role that deserves to be paid correctly, so check out your salary below and find out if you are on the right track.
Client Services Salaries
The salary for a Group Account Director in the Client services field falls in the average range of £80,000 to £100,000 plus for permanent roles. Expect to command between £300 to £400 a day if you are freelancing. Senior Account Directors average salaries fall in the £60,000 to £70,000 range with freelance day rates varying between £250 and £350 per day. Lastly, if you are looking for client services account director job roles the average annual salary varies between £45,000 to £60,000. The day rate for freelancers falls between £200 and £300.
Experiential and Events Salaries
In recent years, it is clear the Experiential sector is growing which is good news as we can confirm the average salary for a Client Services Director is between £75,000 and £120,000 with freelance day rates falling between £350 and £450 a day. Expect to earn between £55,000 and £65,000 if you are Senior Account Director. Freelance day rates vary from £250 to £350.
Planning and Strategy Salaries
It’s no secret that there is a high demand for this type of specialist role, hence Planning Directors with over 12 year’s experience can command salaries of between £100,000 and £110,000. Freelance day rates are currently £600 plus. If your experience spans 10 to 12 years, you can expect to earn £85,000 to £110,000 and a day rate of a least £600. Lastly, the average salary for an Associate Planning Director is £80,000 to £85,000 with a freelance day rate of up to £500.
Digital Salaries
This is still the fastest growth area in Marketing following the continued switch of advertising and marketing budgets from offline print and media to online. Project Directors can expect to earn an annual salary of between £60,000 to £70,000. Freelancers day rates currently fall between £325 and £400 per day.
Social and Content Salaries
Last but not least Social and Content which is a subset of Digital and as a sector in its own right is rapidly growing in size as businesses tap into the audiences that use Social. Senior Social Account Directors are currently earning between £45,000 and £55,000. The freelance day rate is £280 to £320. Social Account Directors can command between £40,000 to £55,000 with day rates for freelancers falling between £250 and £280.
The Next Step
So, with that in mind, the best thing that you can do is ask for the salary that fits the average in the area you work. Asking for a raise shows your boss that you know what your skills are worth, and the worst that they can tell you is "no". You may not get that raise granted right away, but making noise about earning the salary that is average for an account director is the best way to ensure that you are paid for the skills that you have.
You can reinforce what you've accomplished and explain what you want for your future when you ask to earn your value, and if you keep getting handed added duties, you need to be paid accordingly. Being underpaid is demeaning and can make you want to leave your job; instead, let's talk about what an account manager does to earn that peak salary - so you know you're in the right bracket.
If you would like more information on average salaries across all 
job roles, please click here to request the DNA Salary Survey for 2019.
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