US Business and Politics Correspondent

The role

The Financial Times is looking for a new US business and politics correspondent based in the Washington bureau to lead our coverage of big donors, fundraising and spending strategies shaping the 2024 presidential and congressional elections. As one of the world’s leading news organisations on money and power, the FT is looking to lead on this topic and the beat will be at the heart of our campaign coverage.

With the whittling away of contribution limits in the US, big money has played an even greater role in American politics, with some of the most active donors coming from the worlds of finance and business – Ken Griffin at Citadel, Robert and Rebekah Mercer at Renaissance, Peter Thiel of Palantir – that we are expert in. The successful candidate will be able to cover the traditional stories about which candidates are leading the “invisible primary” by winning over big contributors, as well as dig into efforts by megadonors to influence the broader political debate by seeding initiatives and “astroturf'' campaigns out of the public eye. 

The role will also involve coverage of the lobbyists and business groups influencing policy and legislation in Congress and the White House. In light of the growing rift between Republicans and corporate America, there could be big clashes over ESG, the debt ceiling and legislation targeting Wall Street and Big Tech. Meanwhile, Democrats and the White House have been increasingly vocal in criticising the energy and pharmaceutical industries. Changes to financial regulation have suddenly risen to the top of the agenda after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. 

What we are looking for

Given the volume of news in DC, the successful candidate will have to be a team player who has the capacity and range to cover other areas at the intersection of global economics, finance and politics when needed. A knowledge of finance and economics is preferred, given the successful candidate will pitch in coverage of the Federal Reserve, Treasury department,  regulatory agencies and international financial institutions.  

The position will require close collaboration with the US political correspondent, and the US data team in New York, which tracks political spending. The ideal candidate will be relentless in developing contacts and wanting to break news as well as write features and profiles to beat the competition on a core FT beat. It is likely to involve some campaign-related travel. 

 

Please submit your application by the end of the day, 6th April 2023. 

 

Salary range

A reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role is $80,000 to $120,000. To ensure pay fairness, the successful candidate will be offered a salary within the estimated salary range based on a number of considerations including but not limited to: skill set; experience and training; certifications; and other business and organisational needs. The disclosed range estimate is for our NYC office and has not been adjusted for other locations.

Benefits

Our benefits vary depending on location, but we are committed to providing best in class perks across all our offices as well as an inclusive environment to develop your career. Examples of our benefits include; generous annual leave allowances, flexible working (including working from home), medical cover, enhanced maternity & paternity packages, subsidised gym memberships and Giving Back opportunities. Full details of our benefits can be found here.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace

The FT is committed to providing an inclusive working environment for all. We are an equal opportunities employer who seeks to recruit and appoint the best talent regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We believe that a supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves at work and have the flexibility they need to meet their personal needs. 

Please let us know if you require any adjustments as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements, or have any questions, please contact a member of our HR team who will be happy to help. 

About the Financial Times

Across the FT Group, our people are united by a mission to deliver world-class information, news and services to our global audiences. Our global, award-winning editorial team represents the gold standard in journalism, seeking depth, originality and balance that differentiates us from the pack and engages our subscribers.

Further information

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