Director Account Lead APAC - Transaction Management

Who are we

At Knight Frank, we work responsibly in partnership to enhance people’s lives and environments. Founded in 1896 and headquartered in London, UK, Knight Frank is one of the world's leading independent real estate consultancies. After 128 years we are now located in over 50 Territories, 740+ Offices, 27,000+ People, with 1 Global Network.

At the heart of all we do are our Clients. A relationship built on trust is vital. As trusted partners in property, we act with integrity and care, understanding our clients’ unique needs and consistently thinking about the bigger picture to provide personalised, clear and considered advice across all areas of property. Through our deep understanding of key markets and sectors – both emerging and established – we are dedicated to meeting and exceeding their property goals.

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In 2021 we celebrated our 125th anniversary and set out Our Desired Future, cemented in three pillars: People Potential, Client Centricity and always Creating our Future, together. Learn more about what sets us apart here.

About The Role

Knight Frank is in the midst of a significant phase of growth and transformation phase within its Occupier business. Following key client wins and strategic recruitment, we are seeking a proven Occupier professional with strong leadership capabilities.

Director Account Lead APAC will be responsible for managing a key client account. This individual will focus on developing and implementing the overall account strategy in alignment with the client’s objectives, while leading and managing a team to ensure timely delivery of services. A critical aspect of the role will be maintaining and strengthening client relationships to drive retention and long-term partnership. Building on Knight Frank’s recent growth across the region, the role will also involve close collaboration with Occupier teams globally to ensure consistency and excellence in service delivery.

This is a senior appointment, with responsibility for leading a major client account across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The successful candidate will be accountable for overall account strategy, ensuring alignment with the client’s objectives, and delivering consistent, high-quality results across markets. This role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage complex client relationships while driving operational excellence and business growth.

Client Relationship & Account Management:

• Own the overall account strategy and serve as the primary client relationship lead
• Lead and manage a team to deliver best-in-class service
• Oversee account financials, including P&L management
• Lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), Client Relationship Management (CRM) initiatives, and reporting (internal and external)

Transaction Management:

• Develop and implement real estate strategies aligned with the client’s long-term business goals.
• Initiate and scope projects, prioritize assignments, and ensure timely delivery in line with client commitments.
• Coordinate field broker selection, subject matter experts, and business partners, facilitating client approvals where required.
• Prepare and review analyses, including market comparable, RFPs, proposal comparisons, letters of intent, and brokers’ opinions of value.
• Lead transaction strategies, including commercial negotiations, lease tracking, financial/non-financial comparisons, and coordination with legal teams when necessary.
• Monitor critical lease dates and ensure proactive transaction management across the portfolio.
• Partner with local brokers to ensure delivery standards are met consistently.
• Drive collaboration across service lines, including Analytics, Workplace Strategy, and other contracted services.
• Ensure in-country teams are trained and aligned with client procedures and processes.
• Track and improve KPIs, manage revenue forecasts, and ensure forecasting accuracy.
• Maintain real estate project tracking systems and prepare executive-level reporting and presentations.
• Undertake additional duties as required.

Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related discipline.

Experience:

• Minimum 8 years’ of experience in portfolio management, transaction management, or investment strategy, with significant exposure to the APAC region.
• Demonstrated success in managing complex accounts and leading high-performing teams.
• Extensive client relationship management experience at a senior level.

Skills & Competencies:

• Exceptional communication, influencing, and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proven commercial acumen, including account P&L management.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to prioritize and execute effectively under pressure.
• Multilingual fluency in an APAC language is highly desirable.

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Competitive salary

Please note: this is a Direct Search led by Knight Frank. Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted nor will fees be paid for unsolicited CVs, even if provided by PSL agencies.