Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for RT Account Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The RT Account Manager is the cornerstone of our client relationships and the engine of their success in the real-time advertising landscape. You will serve as a strategic partner and trusted advisor, guiding a dedicated portfolio of clients through the complexities of the programmatic ecosystem. Your primary mission is to deeply understand their unique business objectives and translate them into sophisticated, data-driven advertising campaigns. Success in this role means not only meeting and exceeding client KPIs but also proactively identifying opportunities for growth, ensuring client retention, and solidifying our position as an indispensable partner. You are the expert voice, the problem-solver, and the strategic visionary for your accounts.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Programmatic Campaign Manager
Digital Media Planner/Buyer
Ad Operations Specialist

Advancement To:

Senior Account Manager
Account Director
Client Services Team Lead

Lateral Moves:

Programmatic Strategist
Solutions Consultant
Sales Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Serve as the primary day-to-day point of contact for a dedicated portfolio of strategic client accounts, building and maintaining deep, long-term partnerships founded on trust and exceptional service.
Lead the complete end-to-end lifecycle of programmatic advertising campaigns, from initial strategy and planning to meticulous setup, trafficking, and quality assurance across various Demand-Side Platforms (DSPs).
Proactively monitor campaign performance in real-time, analyzing key metrics to execute data-driven optimizations to bidding strategies, audience targeting, creative assets, and inventory sources to exceed client KPIs.
Develop and deliver insightful, comprehensive performance reports, post-campaign analyses, and strategic Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) that translate complex data into actionable recommendations and compelling narratives of success.
Act as the first line of defense for technical issues, expertly troubleshooting campaign delivery discrepancies, tracking problems, pixel implementation, and creative rejections, collaborating with technical teams for swift resolution.
Identify and cultivate opportunities for account growth by strategically upselling and cross-selling new products, platform features, and expanded services that align with evolving client business objectives.
Educate clients on the programmatic landscape, real-time bidding (RTB) mechanics, and platform best practices, positioning yourself as a true subject matter expert and go-to advisor.
Collaborate seamlessly with internal teams, including Sales, Ad Operations, Product, and Analytics, to ensure a unified and effective approach to client success and satisfaction.
Structure, negotiate, and manage Private Marketplace (PMP) deals and Programmatic Guaranteed (PG) buys, securing premium inventory access and optimal performance for key clients.
Provide accurate and timely revenue forecasting and pacing updates for your book of business, maintaining clear visibility into account health and financial performance.
Lead the comprehensive onboarding process for new clients, ensuring a smooth transition, clear expectation setting, and a solid foundation for a successful long-term partnership.
Prepare for and confidently lead regular client status calls, strategy sessions, and performance reviews, presenting data, insights, and strategic recommendations with clarity and authority.
Maintain an expert-level understanding of industry trends, privacy updates, emerging technologies (like CTV and retail media), and the competitive landscape to provide forward-thinking guidance.
Act as the "voice of the customer" internally, gathering and channeling client feedback to Product and Engineering teams to inform future platform enhancements and roadmap priorities.
Oversee monthly billing and reconciliation processes for your accounts, ensuring accuracy and working with finance to resolve any client invoicing discrepancies in a timely manner.
Partner with the sales team during the pre-sales process, providing strategic insights and technical expertise to help close new business and set realistic expectations.
Advise clients on advanced audience segmentation strategies, leveraging first-party, second-party, and third-party data to reach the most relevant users at the right moment.
Manage the creative asset lifecycle, including submission, testing, and rotation, while providing clients with feedback on creative best practices to maximize engagement and performance.
Translate complex client business challenges and marketing objectives into sophisticated, full-funnel programmatic campaign strategies that drive measurable results.
Apply strong project management principles to manage multiple complex client campaigns simultaneously, ensuring all deadlines, budgets, and deliverables are met with precision.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to uncover new insights and opportunities for clients.
Contribute to the organization's knowledge base by documenting best practices, case studies, and client success stories.
Collaborate with the marketing team to provide insights for case studies, white papers, and other collateral.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within cross-functional project teams when required.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

DSP Proficiency: Extensive hands-on-keyboard experience with major Demand-Side Platforms (e.g., The Trade Desk, Google DV360, Xandr, Amazon DSP).
Data Analysis: Strong analytical skills with high proficiency in Microsoft Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs, Formulas); SQL knowledge is a major plus.
Ad Server Knowledge: Familiarity with third-party ad servers such as Google Campaign Manager 360 (CM360) for trafficking and reporting.
Tracking & Measurement: Deep understanding of ad tracking pixels, conversion funnels, attribution models, and verification partners (e.g., IAS, DoubleVerify, Moat).
Programmatic Deal Types: Experience setting up and managing PMPs, Programmatic Guaranteed (PG), and Auction Packages.
CRM Software: Experience using CRM platforms like Salesforce or HubSpot for managing client communication and account status.

Soft Skills

Client Relationship Management: A genuine passion for building rapport, earning trust, and becoming an indispensable partner to clients.
Strategic & Analytical Thinking: Ability to see the bigger picture, connect data points to business goals, and formulate forward-thinking strategies.
Exceptional Communication: Superior verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
Problem-Solving: A tenacious and resourceful troubleshooter who enjoys digging into complex issues to find a resolution.
Meticulous Attention to Detail: A commitment to accuracy in campaign setup, reporting, and client communications.
Prioritization & Time Management: Ability to flawlessly juggle multiple high-priority clients and campaigns in a fast-paced environment.
Adaptability & Resilience: Thrives in a dynamic, rapidly evolving industry and remains composed under pressure.
Collaborative Spirit: A proactive team player who excels at working cross-functionally to achieve common goals.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent practical experience in a client-facing, analytical role.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's or Master's Degree in a relevant field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Marketing & Advertising
Business Administration
Communications
Economics or Statistics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-5 years of relevant experience.

Preferred: 3+ years of direct, hands-on experience in a client-facing role within the programmatic advertising ecosystem (e.g., at an agency trading desk, technology platform/DSP, or a large publisher). A proven track record of managing and growing a book of business is highly desirable.