POSITION SUMMARY: The Account Director leads and grows strategic client relationships within Miller Zell's Banking & Financial Services vertical. This role serves as the advisor to senior client stakeholders, shaping programs that enhance customer experience, improve branch performance, and drive measurable business outcomes.
The Account Director owns client strategy, account growth, and client retention by partnering closely with internal program leaders responsible for execution. This is a consultative, commercially-driven role focused on building long-term partnerships and solving client business challenges and pain points-not managing day-to-day delivery.
This role is expected to proactively challenge client thinking, bring new ideas forward, and reinforce Miller Zell's position as a thought leader-not simply respond to stated needs.
How the Role Works- The Account Director owns the client relationship, strategy, and growth
- A Sr. Project Manager and/or Senior Project Manager owns execution and delivery
Success depends on a strong partnership across these roles and the ability to align internal teams around a clear client vision.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:Client Leadership & Strategic Advisory- Build and maintain relationships with senior client stakeholders across marketing, retail banking, brand, real estate, and operations
- Navigate complex client organizations, building relationships across multiple levels and functional silos
- Develop a deep understanding of each client's business, priorities, and competitive landscape
- Serve as a trusted advisor on branch experience, brand execution, and customer engagement
- Offer a clear, informed point of view to clients-representing both the client's interests and Miller Zell's expertise
- Reinforce Miller Zell's position as a strategic partner and thought leader through proactive ideas and perspective
Account Growth & Commercial Ownership- Own revenue growth, margin performance, and overall account health
- Identify and develop new opportunities across programs, services, and initiatives
- Lead proposal development, scope definition, and contract negotiations
- Build multi-year roadmaps that align Miller Zell capabilities to client objectives
- Ensure Miller Zell is positioned as a strategic partner, not a transactional vendor
Design & Experience Leadership- Bring comfort and fluency in design, branded environments, and customer experience strategy
- Critically evaluate creative and design output, providing clear, constructive feedback on behalf of the client
- Ensure solutions align with brand standards, customer behavior, and operational realities
- Collaborate with creative and strategy teams to elevate the quality and effectiveness of all deliverables
Financial & Analytical Rigor- Evaluate opportunities through a financial lens, including ROI, scalability, and profitability
- Partner with internal teams to develop business cases, success metrics, and performance reporting
- Translate data and insights into clear recommendations that drive client decisions
- Leverage advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills to analyze, structure, and present complex information clearly
Internal Leadership & Collaboration- Partner closely with Senior Project Managers to ensure successful execution
- Build strong relationships across shared services, including:
- Creative
- Engineering
- Production & Print
- Logistics & Installation
- IT and Marketing
- Align internal teams around client priorities and ensure clarity, speed, and accountability
POSITION REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:- 8-12+ years in account management, consulting, or client leadership (marketing/creative agency or similar environment preferred)
- Proven ability to grow complex client relationships
- Strong business and financial acumen-comfortable with budgets, ROI, and tradeoffs
- Experience navigating large, complex organizations and influencing diverse stakeholders
- Comfort with design, branding, and customer experience environments
- Ability to provide clear, confident feedback on creative and design output
- Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint
- Ability to influence without authority and lead through collaboration
- Excellent communication skills, including executive-level presentation
