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Marketing & Advertising

Advertising Account Manager

View this career for different education levels:

Primary Secondary Post-16

An advertising account manager acts as the main link between an advertising agency and its clients. They are responsible for understanding the client’s needs and objectives, briefing the creative team, managing projects, and ensuring campaigns are delivered on time and within budget. Account managers also help develop strategies, pitch ideas, and maintain strong client relationships. The job involves a mix of creativity, organisation, and communication, and often requires working closely with designers, copywriters, and media planners.

Advertising Account Manager

📊 Statistics

Average Salary

Advertising account managers in the UK typically earn between £22,000 and £45,000 per year, with senior roles reaching up to £60,000.

Job Outlook

There are over 24,000 people employed in advertising and market research roles in the UK, with continued growth expected in digital advertising.

Typical Working Hours

Most advertising account managers work around 37 to 40 hours per week, often with occasional overtime to meet deadlines.

🚀 Careers in this path

Digital Advertising Account Executive

Works closely with clients to manage and develop digital advertising campaigns, focusing on online and social media platforms.

Media Planner

Plans the best media outlets and schedules for advertising campaigns, ensuring messages reach the right audience at the right time.

Brand Partnerships Manager

Builds and manages relationships between brands and external partners to create joint marketing campaigns and sponsorship opportunities.

Gain Relevant Qualifications

Complete Secondary Education

Achieve good GCSEs, especially in English and Maths, as these are often required by employers and for further study.

Strong communication and numeracy skills are essential in advertising, so focus on achieving high grades in English and Maths. Consider taking subjects such as Business Studies or Media Studies if available, as these can provide useful background knowledge.

Pursue Further Education

Take A-levels or equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Nationals in relevant subjects like Media, Business, or Marketing.

A-levels in subjects such as English, Business, or Media Studies are particularly relevant. Alternatively, a BTEC National Diploma in Business or Marketing can also provide a strong foundation for a career in advertising.

Obtain a Degree (Optional but Beneficial)

Consider completing a university degree in Advertising, Marketing, Business, or a related subject.

While not always essential, many employers look for candidates with a degree in a relevant field. Work placements or a sandwich course with a year in industry can greatly boost your CV and provide valuable experience.

Gain Relevant Experience

Seek Work Experience or Internships

Apply for internships or work experience placements at advertising agencies or marketing departments.

Hands-on experience is highly valued. Many agencies offer summer internships or short-term placements for students. These roles can help you build contacts, understand the industry, and develop practical skills.

Build a Portfolio

Compile examples of any campaigns, projects, or creative work you have contributed to.

A portfolio showcasing your involvement in advertising projects, even as a volunteer or through university assignments, will help demonstrate your understanding of the industry and your creativity to employers.

Start Your Career and Progress

Apply for Entry-Level Positions

Look for junior roles such as Account Executive or Trainee Account Manager at advertising agencies.

Entry-level roles are your opportunity to learn the ropes, work alongside experienced professionals, and prove yourself. These positions often involve supporting senior account managers, liaising with clients, and helping to organise campaigns.

Develop Client Management Skills

Focus on building strong relationships with clients and improving your organisational and communication skills.

Being able to communicate effectively, manage multiple projects, and handle client expectations is crucial for success. Look for feedback from colleagues and clients and seek out training or mentorship opportunities.

Progress to Account Manager

With experience, move up to become an Advertising Account Manager, taking on greater responsibility for accounts and campaigns.

As you gain experience and demonstrate your abilities, you can progress to managing your own client accounts, leading campaign strategy and execution, and possibly moving into senior management roles over time.

Available Apprenticeships

Please note that this may not be a comprehensive list of available apprenticeships. To view a more complete collection, visit the Find an apprenticeship service.

Click on any card to be redirected to their vacancy page.

Trade Supplier apprentice

EDA LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT LIMITED

( Added 14 May 2025 - 1 position available )

Trade Supplier Apprentice is required for a leading Electrical Wholesaler. The candidate will start in the Warehouse, build their knowledge and warehouse management and then move onto the sales counter and office. Duties will include; Managing stock in and out (to external clients) Picking and packing Store transfers & stock control.

Closing date: in 10 days

Possible start date: 01 Nov 2025

Customer Advisor/Assistant Apprentice

PSP INSURANCE & FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS LTD

( Added 02 Jul 2025 - 1 position available )

An exciting new role for an enthusiastic and reliable individual to assist a very busy customer/client-based service team. You will be responsible for liaising with existing and potential new clients to promote company products both face to face and over the phone.

Closing date: in 13 days

Possible start date: 03 Nov 2025

Trade Supplier apprentice

EDA LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT LIMITED

( Added 07 Jul 2025 - 1 position available )

A trade supplier apprentice is required for a leading electrical wholesaler. The candidate will start in the warehouse and learn all the products of warehouse management and then move to the sales counter and sales office. Fantastic career progression opportunity for the right candidate.

Closing date: in 9 days

Possible start date: 01 Nov 2025

Career Progressions

No career progressions found for

Sample Qualifications

An Advertising Account Manager and an Advertising Account Executive both work closely with clients and internal teams to plan and execute advertising campaigns. The primary difference lies in seniority and responsibility level, but they share similar skills in client communication, campaign management, and understanding marketing strategies.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • specialist courses run by professional bodies

University

You can get into advertising with a degree in any subject.

Some employers may prefer it if you have a degree in a subject like:

  • advertising and marketing
  • statistics or operational research
  • communication and media studies
  • business or management
  • psychology

With your degree you can apply for graduate training schemes in advertising companies.

Work experience during university

Employers value work experience so it's important to get as much as you can during your studies.

Your university careers service can help you find work experience, internship and placement opportunities.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

College

There is no set route to become an advertising account executive.

You might find it useful to do a Foundation Certificate in Professional Marketing.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

More Information

Apprenticeship

You may be able to get into this job by doing an advertising and media executive advanced apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You might be able to start in a junior position at a small advertising agency in a position like admin assistant.

You can then work your way up as your experience in advertising grows.

Volunteering

Experience will help you understand advertising and allow you to meet new people who may help you find paid work.

You could try:

  • work experience
  • internships
  • temporary jobs

You could contact agencies directly to ask about volunteering opportunities. You could also make contacts on social media channels like LinkedIn.

Other Routes

You could take the advertising Foundation Certificate to get some of the skills you need to get a paid job in advertising.

The course is offered by by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising and is open to anyone with less than one year of experience in an advertising, marketing or communications role.

More Information

Career tips

It's a good idea to have a presence on social networking sites. You could also show your creative and communication skills to employers through your own blog or website.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising to find training opportunities and make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find out more about a career in advertising from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising.

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