Account Assistant, Communications

Karla Otto is a renowned public relations and communications agency with offices across 14 locations in the UK, EMEA, US and Asia. Established in 1982 by Karla Otto herself, the agency has since grown to become a global leader in luxury brand PR and events.
With offices in major fashion capitals such as Milan, London, New York, and Los Angeles, Karla Otto represents some of the most prestigious fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands in the industry.
In 2017, Karla Otto and K2 merged to form The Independents, a global group of agencies for industry leaders across luxury and lifestyle. Currently this group comprises of Bureau Betak & Bureau Future, Karla Otto, K2, The Qode, Lefty, Prodject and CTZA, Atelier LUM, INCA Productions and Atelier Athem.
Our network of expert strategists, designers, planners and publicists work tirelessly to deliver exceptional results and establish long-term partnerships with our clients. We are passionate about the world of fashion, beauty, and luxury, with everyone bringing their unique expertise and insights to the table. We are driven by a shared commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of the ever-evolving industry landscape.
To help support our future growth as an agency, we are looking for an Account Assistant to join our team based in our London office.
Key Responsibilities
The Account Assistant role is the first step towards a successful career in PR and Communications. Whilst this is an entry level position, this role has a number of vital responsibilities relating to the movement of samples internally and externally (Sample Trafficking) that allow the wider team to deliver an exceptional client experience and results.
Key areas of responsibility are:
Sample Trafficking:
Actively involved in pitching samples to press, developing and writing pitches with creative flair
Support the signing-in process of samples at the beginning of the season
Monitor and control the movement of all client samples in and around the building
Responsible for the send out and returns process of samples to key contacts (editors, influencers, stylists etc.) and escalates any challenges to the send out process to senior team members
Loss prevention – maintains an organised approach to signing samples out of the building and identifies any concerns that creates risk to Karla Otto’s reputation or Karla Otto’s ability to provide exceptional client experience
Client services:
Maintain regular communication with the client specifically relating to samples
Prepare agendas, meeting minutes and media updates for client calls
Collaborate with the account team to identify opportunities to increase product/brand visibility.
Coverage & reporting
Compile and review editorial clippings to clients
Monitoring and sharing coverage across print, online and social media with clients
Compile client reports on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis that highlight success or opportunities against the agreed key performance indicators for individual clients
Events:
Build and cultivate relationships with members of press by supporting with showroom appointments, events and press meetings
Provide essential support at events, with projects and shows including evenings/weekend support as required
Business requirements:
Keeps up to date with developments in the media and social sphere and identifies opportunities to suggest suitable influencers for KO clients
Updating and maintaining contact database and industry moves
As part of your duties, you will be required to work on reception for a short period of time once per week, typically for a few hours, to assist with greeting visitors.
Key Attributes
Experience as public relations and/or communications, marketing intern
Interest in culture, arts, fashion and lifestyle
Strong communication skills (both written and oral), research, and organisation skills
Ability to work under pressure, to meet deadlines and prioritise in a fast paced environment
Confidence to make suggestions, bring ideas to the wider team that focuses on client experience and work as part of a team
You have experience in monitoring and tracking global media coverage and utilising tools to measure impact and report back to the business,
Positive attitude to challenging situations and a willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to complete a project accurately and on time
Highly motivated and enthusiastic
Strong work ethic
Must be efficient in Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint
At Karla Otto, we are always looking for personalities with positive charisma who are enthusiastic, self-motivated, and have a keen sense of aesthetics.
Karla Otto embraces and celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Karla Otto provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join our team!