< Return to Member Resource Guides

Resource Guide:

Admin & Operations

Agency operations are changing in concert with rapidly evolving technology and accelerating client marketing expectations. The 4A’s provides members with the tools needed to manage that evolution and keep ahead of the curve.

Make sure to log in to access the information below.


Employee Benefits

The 4A’s produces a series of surveys called “About Employee Benefits Series: Prevailing Benefits in Agencies.” We update them as needed to reflect the ever-changing landscape of agency employee benefits. The series includes:

  • Employee Benefits Overview
  • Retirement Plans
  • Health Plans
  • Training in Agencies
  • Approaches to Employee Bonus Compensation
  • Holiday, Leave, Parental Benefits
Want more information about these reports? Get in touch with Helen Miranda.

4A’s Benefits

4A’s Benefits, a subsidiary of the 4A’s, has been offering business insurance, long-term savings programs, employee medical insurance, and other benefits to member agencies for more than 60 years. Because of our scale, we can, in many cases, offer better, more comprehensive benefits, at a more attractive price than you could obtain otherwise. We understand the advertising industry and make sure our benefits programs fit your specialized needs.

Get in touch for a free consultation, and read more here.


Other Human Resources-Related Information & Resources

Employee Job Descriptions

The 4A’s maintains a large collection of standardized agency job descriptions, representing roles common within our industry.

To better find the right talent to fill key agency positions, the 4A’s makes available to our members detailed agency job descriptions, organized by department/discipline. These descriptions have been compiled from actual member employment offerings, and have been modified to remove specific organizational references.

We also have additional job descriptions beyond those posted here. For additional information or requests for sample job descriptions, please contact the 4A’s Business Intelligence & Insight team at [email protected].

Sample Forms and Agency Policies

We have policies and forms on a variety if topics. Get in touch with Helen Miranda for more information.

Key Principles for Structuring Compensation for Agency Executives

We have vital information related to the analysis of agency costs. Get in touch with Sal Conte or Mark Piazza.


4A’s Legal Consultation Program

Members may call upon some of the country’s leading advertising and marketing communications law firms for answers to advertising-related questions, at no cost. All of the firms are highly regarded in the
advertising field and have established, long-term relationships with the 4A’s and our members. The questions must be specific, straight-forward and require no research by the attorney or the firm. If more lengthy, detailed analysis beyond the parameters of the 4A’s program is needed, you can make arrangements with the providers for a fee-based service.

For an updated list of contacts, please reach out to Sal Conte.


Custom Consultations

The Interchange

Interchanges are a great resource for any size agency, as they allow members to receive anonymous peer input on an issue, challenge, or question an agency is facing. Any 4A’s member can ask a question to be sent out as an anonymous survey to one or more of our media committees. We allow at least one week for responses to come back and then issue the responses after the agreed-upon end date. As referenced earlier, a member may anonymously survey any one of our committees (to see the list of committees, please visit our community guide).

If you would like an interchange to be sent out on your behalf, please email [email protected].

Business Intelligence & Insight Team Help

The team will advise members on questions they have and provide consultative advice as appropriate. If you have any questions, please reach out to the team at [email protected].


Contracts and Related Provisions

Agency must-haves to protect your business and your employees.

Provisions in Agency Client Agreements

A 4A’s publication developed to assist agencies and their advisors in putting together thoughtful, contemporary and comprehensive business agreements. Contact Sal Conte.

Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement Templates

Want more information? Contact Sal Conte.

Patent Risk l Indemnification and Limitations on Liability

A 4A’s Guidance Directive that addresses the risk for advertising agencies that operate under outdated client services agreements that do not account for patent infringement exposure


MSA Guidance

Agency operations are changing in concert with the rapidly evolving technology and accelerating client marketing expectations. The 4A’s Agency-Client MSA Provision Guidance Series includes information on important provisions of agency-client agreement provisions.

Recommended Resources


The Analysis of Agency Costs Survey Report

A highly confidential 4A’s study intended to assist senior management in overseeing the operations of their agencies. The survey breaks down the different costs within an agency as a percent of gross income.

If you want to know more, get in touch with Helen Miranda.

Digital Horizons Series: Agency Technology Infrastructure and Investment Guide

A members-only guide for agencies on industry trends in technology that offers guidance toward informed infrastructure planning and design. The latest in our Digital Horizons Series can be accessed here.

Check out Creative Technologies & Innovation for more Digital Horizons publications and more.


Project Management

Including Best Practice Guidance, Operations, Softwares, and more.

Project-by-Project Do’s & Don’ts | Agency Best Practice Guidance

As the project-by-project model becomes more & more prevalent in our industry, our Management Services team penned a guidance report to best navigate the new world order.

MPF 2019 Managing & Optimizing PxP (Project by Project) Relationships

Five agency leaders discuss varying models of project management in agencies. Recorded at the 2019 Management Practitioners Forum, this video gathers industry leaders to discuss the tools & methodology behind the best agency-focused, holistic project-based work; featuring

  • Neal Grossman (Chief Operating Officer, The Designory and eg+ Worldwide | Chief Compensation Officer, TBWA Worldwide)
  • Marisa Lieberman (Vice President–Director of Project Management, McCann Health New Jersey (MHNJ))
  • Dave Lubeck (Executive Vice President, Executive Director, Bernstein-Rein Advertising / Unbound)
  • Cathi Perkins (Business Optimization Manager, Butler/Till Media Services).

Agency Job Descriptions

The 4A’s maintains a large collection of standardized agency job descriptions, representing roles common within our industry.

To better find the right talent to fill key agency positions, the 4A’s makes available to our members detailed agency job descriptions, organized by department/discipline. These descriptions have been compiled from actual member employment offerings, and have been modified to remove specific organizational references.

We also have additional job descriptions beyond those posted here. For additional information or requests for sample job descriptions, please contact the 4A’s Business Intelligence & Insight team at [email protected].


Talent and Human Resources

The success of your business is only as good as your people. The 4A’s has development programs that can help. Visit the Managing Your Talent Resource Guide for the latest concerning Talent Equity & Inclusion.


Agency Benchmarking, Surveys & Reports

We incorporate member feedback to identify surveys across multiple areas, including 4 new surveys covering Search Consultants, Auditors, CCPA Cost Compliance, and Project Management Software Tools. 4A’s surveys address Salaries, Benefits, Financial Management Benchmarks, New Business, and Project Management, and so much more.

Available to 4A’s members only. Please reach out to Helen Miranda for more.


4A’s Member Discounts & Exclusive Offers

AAP Logo

This members-only program provides access to exclusive offers and benefits on leading products and services that support your daily business needs.

Whether you need information & resources for a new business pitch, data for a campaign, more office space, or tickets to a hot industry event, you’ll want to check out AAP first.

AAP is a one-stop shop for valuable offers from a broad, carefully selected array of partners, spanning categories like:

  • Market Research
  • Media Research
  • New Business Support
  • Workforce Support
  • Real Estate
  • Industry Events

And the list is growing daily.


Join the Member Community

The 4A’s oversees 30+ committees across all industry disciplines, from Project Management to Human Resources and everything in between. These committees meet nationally & regionally. In addition to meeting to discuss their business interests, 4A’s committee members help program regional & national events, author industry guidance, and provide their expertise to other members. Learn more here.

Have any questions?

Please get in touch with the Business Intelligence & Insight team

[email protected]