Summary
An Account Planner (Strategy) shapes built space — turning a client brief and a site into drawings, approvals and a finished project that people use every day. In India this work sits inside the Marketing and Advertising stream: students usually take Any stream in Class 11–12 (subject requirements vary by programme) in Class 11–12, qualify through Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject, and specialise later through work experience or a master's. The sections below set out the study route, the entrance exams, the leading institutes in India and abroad, and the day-to-day reality of the job.
Core skills
- Spatial imagination and drawing
- CAD, BIM and visualisation software
- Building codes and by-laws
- Client handling and coordination
Where you can work
- Architecture and design practices
- Real-estate developers and construction firms
- Urban local bodies and planning authorities
- Independent practice and consultancy
Professional Opportunities
Architecture and design practices
Real-estate developers and construction firms
Urban local bodies and planning authorities
Independent practice and consultancy
Career Path
| Stage | What you study | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| After Class 10 | Any stream in Class 11–12 (subject requirements vary by programme) | 2 years (Class 11–12) |
| Graduation | Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject | 3–4 years |
| After Graduation | Master's degree / PG diploma in a specialisation | 2 years |
| After Post-Graduation | M.Phil. / Ph.D. for research and teaching roles | 3–5 years (optional) |
Important Facts
- Entry qualification: Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject.
- Most institutes ask for 50–60% in the qualifying examination; reserved categories usually get a 5% relaxation.
- Admission is through the entrance exams listed below — national tests plus the state CET where applicable.
- Government and private institutes both offer this route; fee levels differ sharply between them.
- Scholarships listed on the HBK scholarships page apply to most of these programmes.
Leading Institutes in India
| # | Institute | Entrance / Category | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad | CAT | iima.ac.in |
| 2 | Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore | CAT | iimb.ac.in |
| 3 | Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta | CAT | iimcal.ac.in |
| 4 | MICA, Ahmedabad | MICAT | mica.ac.in |
| 5 | XLRI Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur | XAT | xlri.ac.in |
| 6 | Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi | IIMC Entrance | iimc.gov.in |
| 7 | Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai | NMAT | nmims.edu |
| 8 | Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune | SNAP / SET | simc.edu |
| 9 | Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), University of Delhi | CAT | fms.edu |
| 10 | Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai | CAT / MAH-CET | jbims.edu |
| 11 | Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad | CAT / XAT | imt.edu |
| 12 | SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai | CAT / XAT | spjimr.org |
| 13 | Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indore | CAT / IPMAT | iimidr.ac.in |
| 14 | Christ University, Bengaluru — School of Business | Christ Entrance | christuniversity.in |
| 15 | Nirma University — Institute of Management, Ahmedabad | CAT | nirmauni.ac.in |
| 16 | B. K. School of Professional and Management Studies, Gujarat University | CMAT | bkschool.org.in |
| 17 | Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai | XIC Entrance | xaviercomm.org |
| 18 | Amity School of Communication, Noida | Amity Test | amity.edu |
Institutions Abroad
| Institute | Country | Website |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | United Kingdom | www.ox.ac.uk/ |
| University of Cambridge | United Kingdom | www.cam.ac.uk/ |
| Harvard University | United States | www.harvard.edu/ |
| University of Toronto | Canada | www.utoronto.ca/ |
| University of Melbourne | Australia | www.unimelb.edu.au/ |
| National University of Singapore | Singapore | www.nus.edu.sg/ |
Entrance Exams
| Exam | Full name | What it admits you to | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT | Common Admission Test | MBA in Marketing at IIMs and top B-schools. | iimcat.ac.in |
| XAT | Xavier Aptitude Test | MBA/PGDM at XLRI and associate institutes. | xatonline.in |
| CUET-UG | Common University Entrance Test (UG) | BBA / B.Com in marketing and advertising. | cuet.nta.nic.in |
| IPMAT | Integrated Programme in Management Aptitude Test | Five-year integrated management programmes at IIMs. | iimidr.ac.in |
| MICAT | MICA Admission Test | PGDM in Communications Management at MICA. | mica.ac.in |
| NMAT | NMIMS Management Aptitude Test | MBA at NMIMS and partner schools. | mba.com/nmat |
| SNAP | Symbiosis National Aptitude Test | MBA at Symbiosis institutes. | snaptest.org |
| IIMC Entrance | Indian Institute of Mass Communication Entrance | PG diploma in advertising and public relations. | iimc.gov.in |
Work Description
- 01Study the site, the brief, the budget and the applicable development-control rules.
- 02Prepare concepts, drawings and 3D models, and revise them with the client.
- 03Prepare working drawings, specifications and municipal approval submissions.
- 04Coordinate with structural, services and landscape consultants.
- 05Visit site during construction to check quality against drawings.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Creative work with a permanent, visible result
- Licensed profession with independent-practice rights
- Wide scope from housing to public infrastructure
Cons
- Long five-year degree plus registration
- Project timelines and client changes cause pressure
- Income is uneven in the early practice years
Are you fit for this career?
Take the free HBK psychometric test and see how Account Planner (Strategy) matches your interests and aptitude.