Intern - Client Services

About Rakuten International

Rakuten International is a division of Rakuten Group, Inc., a Japanese global technology leader in services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, with more than 4,000 employees worldwide, the Rakuten International business portfolio includes market leaders in e-commerce, digital marketing, advertising, communications and entertainment. We create products and services that provide exceptional value by aligning members and the businesses that want to engage them in a shared community.

Rakuten Advertising provides advertising technology and consumer insights to the world’s leading brands and retailers. Working with agencies and brands around the world, Rakuten Advertising unites technology, client strategy and consumer insights to deliver advertising experiences that drive increased brand awareness and marketing performance. With access to Rakuten’s diverse media properties and audiences, combined with an award-winning performance network and proprietary consumer research, Rakuten Advertising creates the right conditions to reach new customers and sustain long-lasting loyalty.

The Intern Experience

At Rakuten, we pride ourselves on giving interns a genuine, immersive experience that has a direct impact on company objectives. You will do meaningful work, and with us, you'll be a true member of the team. We are also invested in your growth as an individual and professional. That's why you can expect curated events such as professional development workshops, interactions with Rakuten leadership, and relationship building opportunities with other interns and professionals at the company. You can visit our company website and our Muse profile to learn more about Rakuten's culture and values, as well as hear from previous interns.

Job Summary: Intern - Client Services (Account Specialist)

As an Account Specialist, you will be a central figure in the success of our client partnerships. Working in a highly supportive environment with moderate guidance from your manager and team lead, you will serve as a key point of contact for both clients and their publisher networks. This role is a dynamic blend of operational execution, client relationship management, data analysis, and strategic support.

You will not only manage the day-to-day tactical needs of affiliate programs but also actively contribute to their strategic direction. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver and an aspiring strategist who is eager to develop their skills. You will be responsible for ensuring the flawless execution of campaigns, resolving client issues, analyzing performance data, and participating in client presentations. This position offers a unique opportunity to build a comprehensive skill set in affiliate marketing, client services, and business analytics, with a clear trajectory for professional growth within the company.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Management & Execution: Support Account Managers by executing assigned tasks related to client affiliate programs, including publisher communications, payment processing, and promotion management. Ensure all program deliverables are met in a timely and satisfactory manner.
• Client Relationship & Strategy: Actively participate in client calls to review performance trends and discuss strategy, with the opportunity to lead calls as appropriate. Develop a deep understanding of each client's business objectives, competitive landscape, and budget constraints to assist in customizing their affiliate marketing campaigns.
• Reporting & Analysis: With guidance, learn to interpret key performance reports, understand critical metrics, and identify actionable insights from the data to inform program strategy and client recommendations.
• Problem Resolution: Serve as a reliable point of contact for client issues, leveraging appropriate internal resources to solve problems effectively and ensure all concerns are resolved in a timely manner.
• Presentation & Communication: Assist in the development and facilitation of client-facing presentations, contributing to content creation, note-taking, and ensuring diligent follow-up on action items.
• Continuous Development: Proactively pursue continuous learning in client-facing skills, analytical thinking, and the affiliate marketing industry.
• Ad Hoc Projects: Demonstrate flexibility and a collaborative spirit by completing tasks related to ad hoc projects as needed.

Required Qualifications

Success in this role requires a unique combination of strong organizational skills, technical aptitude, and exceptional communication abilities. The Account Specialist is at the nexus of client strategy, campaign execution, and publisher relations, and must be able to manage multiple priorities with meticulous attention to detail. The ideal candidate will be a quick learner, comfortable working with data and proprietary software, and capable of building professional relationships both internally and externally. The following qualifications are essential for performing the duties of this position:

• Bachelor's Degree.
• 0-2 years of relevant professional work experience.
• Solid proficiency in Microsoft Excel (for reporting and data management) and PowerPoint (for building client-ready presentations).
• Exemplary written and oral communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly and professionally.
• A demonstrated ability to complete tasks efficiently and effectively with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• A collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across several teams and departments.
• The capacity to quickly learn and adapt to proprietary software and internal tools.

Five Principles for Success at Rakuten

Our worldwide practices describe specific behaviors that make Rakuten unique and united across the world. We expect Rakuten employees to model these 5 Shugi Principles of Success:

• Always improve, Always Advance - Only be satisfied with complete success - Kaizen
• Passionately Professional - Take an uncompromising approach to your work and be determined to be the best
• Hypothesize - Practice - Validate – Shikumika - Use the Rakuten Cycle to succeed in unknown territory
• Maximize Customer Satisfaction - The greatest satisfaction for our teams is seeing their customers smile
• Speed!! Speed!! Speed!! - Always be conscious of time - take charge, set clear goals, and engage your team

Key skills/competency

• Client Relationship Management
• Affiliate Marketing
• Data Analysis
• Program Management
• Communication Skills
• Problem Solving
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Project Execution
• Strategic Support