Associate, Financial Institutions Group

Associate, Financial Institutions Group

Brunswick Group is seeking an Associate to join our growing Financial Institutions Group in New York or Washington, DC. 

Brunswick’s Financial Institutions Group advises the world’s leading financial services organizations on how to solve complex, multi-stakeholder challenges while navigating regulation across geographies in a highly scrutinized and volatile environment.

Drawing on our global expertise in media, capital markets, policy, law, research, and crisis and issues management, we develop communications strategies that build and protect corporate reputation over the long term, and through critical moments including mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, capital raisings, leadership changes, governance matters, and responses to activist shareholders.

 

About the Role:

Client Contribution & Handling

• Serve as an expert advisor to clients on reputation, financial and crisis situations
• Provide relevant insight, guidance and advice to clients
• Play an integral role in the new business process; manage RFPs and participate in pitch preparation

• Deliver strategic advice to clients, drawing on financial institutions communications expertise and depth of professional advisory experience - and contributing to formulation of advice on strategy and communications approach
• Represent the firm in discussions of complex situations with senior executives at client organizations
• Seve as the main point of contact for clients in day-to-day communications.
• Demonstrate deep knowledge of the clients’ businesses and strategic communications issues
• Monitor level of account profitability and intervening as necessary

Communication Skills

• Write thoughtful, well-structured content; considering audience in style and tone of communications
• Express a well-developed point of view; analyzing and distilling complex information
• Exhibit good judgment and exercising discretion
• Question and challenge in a constructive way; presenting unpopular ideas confidently

Team Management

• Manage and mentor team members; work with Partners and Directors on the day-to-day management of staff and client deliverables
• Manage the development of key client documents by playing a vital role in drafting, editing and routing throughout the internal process and external delivery
• Oversee research assignments; distill large volumes of information into the most impactful and helpful insights
• Plan and execute client announcements and events, managing:
• Preparation of strategic communications documents including talking points, Q&As, day-of rollouts, media backgrounders, etc.
• Media handling and approach
• Announcement or event logistics

Networking

• Foster a network of journalist contacts and relationships
• Develop relationships with the analyst and investor community to understand issues and priorities
• Proactively build a network locally to identify talent referrals, new business prospects and media contacts

                

What We're Looking For

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• 7-10+ years of relevant work experience in an advisory role focused on corporate reputation, financial and crisis situations
• Deep understanding of business and finance
• Ability to operate effectively in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced environment
• Exceptional written and verbal communication ability
• Energetic team player with strong self-motivation
• Experience managing teams and passionate about mentoring junior staff
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, with strong problem-solving skills
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to multitask in high-pressure situations
• Exhibit discretion with confidential client matters
• Knowledge of the media landscape
• Knowledge of Factiva, Bloomberg and other research resources

 

Ideal Candidate:

• A rising advisor with experience counseling financial institution clients on business-critical issues (e.g. crisis, M&A, financial situations, geopolitical, etc.)
• Adept at navigating and succeeding within high-performance, entrepreneurial environments
• Excellent communicator with professional polish and strong emotional intelligence
• Entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit
• Desire to mentor and willingness to train junior staff
• Terrific sense of humor

 

Why Join Us

Whether you are joining a client facing