Director, Financial Institutions Group

Opportunity 

Brunswick Group is seeking a Director to join our growing Financial Institutions Group in New York, Dallas 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

• Deliver strategic advice to clients, drawing on specialist communications expertise and depth of professional advisory experience
• Demonstrate deep knowledge of business and strategic communications issues
• Influentially engage with key stakeholders
• Monitor level of account profitability and intervene as necessary

Communication Skills

• Write thoughtful, well-structured content, considering audience, style and tone for senior-level clients  
• Express a point of view in a thoughtful manner; analyze and distil complex information  
• Exhibit good judgement and exercise discretion  
• Question and challenge in a constructive way; present unpopular ideas confidently

Business Development

• Contribute to and assist with new business opportunities; apply knowledge and experience to lead new business development efforts (e.g., pitches, proposal development)
• Use deep knowledge of key sectors to promote new business approaches and ideas
• Identify new opportunities to deliver other Brunswick expertise to existing clients; actively pursue and secure extensions of client relationships  
• Build and maintain strong external networks in order to deliver valuable insight to clients and the Firm  

Team Management

• Actively and effectively manage account teams; drive the day-to-day account management
• Keep the partner and other team members informed of account and project status
• Foster development of team members’ skills and client handling ability by identifying new challenges and encouraging team to stretch where appropriate  
• Serve as a role model and mentor for junior team members, supporting the development of colleagues across the firm.

What We're Looking For

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 10-15+ years of experience advising financial institutions on strategic communications, corporate reputation, media relations, public affairs, issues management, or related stakeholder engagement matters. 
• Demonstrated experience developing communications strategies and managing media engagement for senior executives and organizations facing complex business, financial, regulatory or reputational issues. 
• Experience managing teams of five or more people  
• Experience gained in a communications consultancy, agency, corporate communications function, financial institution, or other advisory environment is welcome. 
• Strong existing network of financial institution and media contacts
• Proven ability to successfully interact with the media and external stakeholders in proactive and reactive situations  
• Strong work ethic, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail; client service-orientation  
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, client service environment
• Exceptional research, writing and communication skills  
• Ability to multitask and prioritize
• Ability to think strategically and creatively  
• Energetic team player  
• Exhibit discretion with confidential client and personnel matters  
• Entrepreneurial, collaborative and team-oriented - it’s a “roll your sleeves up environment”  
• Adept at navigating and succeeding within high-performance environments  
• High emotional intelligence and strong personal impact  
• Commercial acumen and professional polish  

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 team, a core services team, or starting out on your professional career journey, joining Brunswick unlocks a range of exceptional employee benefits to support your financial future, health and wellness, family and community and continuous professional development.

The successful applicant will be eligible for the following compensation and benefits package: 

Base Pay:  The annual base compensation range for this role is $190,000-$250,000. The base pay offered will be determined by factors including experience, skills, training, office location, certifications, and education.

Bonus Eligibility:  Annual discretionary bonus contingent upon individual and firm-wide performance.

Benefits:  Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance. Disability insurance. Employee assistance program. Flexible spending account. Health savings account. Life insurance. Commuter Benefits. Generous Paid Time Off: 25 vacation days and 10 days sick leave, as well as 11 paid company holidays. Firm-sponsored 401(k) Plan with 3% automatic company contribution of base and bonus with an additional 1.5% profit share- immediate vesting. Career training and development opportunities. Employee discounts.

Office Policy:  At Brunswick, our work is a craft that thrives in teaching environments - whether in our offices or on-site with clients - through real-time observation, collaboration, human connection, clear guidance and by challenging one another to keep getting better. Our policy is that our team members are in person - either in the office or on-site with clients - at least four days each week.

The firm will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants or employees, as defined by applicable law. In addition to the application, the process may include virtual and in-person interviews, as well as an assessment, which may be timed. To request an accommodation during our application and hiring process, email [email protected].

About Brunswick

Brunswick is a global advisory firm. We help companies tackle high-stakes issues, navigate complex stakeholder relationships, and deliver high-impact outcomes. 

Our clients value our ability to anticipate, shape, and respond to the key players and forces in the financial and investment arena, regulatory and geopolitical universe, NGO community, workforce and beyond. They rely on us for deep experience, fresh perspectives and original thinking. So, in Brunswick you will find an exceptional range of experience and talent with a rich mix of backgrounds. From the beginning, we have prioritized attracting, developing, and retaining the best professionals in the industry, united by a culture of inclusivity, excellence, and intellectual curiosity.

Founded in 1987 in London, the firm has organically grown to 27 offices in 18 countries across the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia. We operate as a “one-firm firm” with no individual profit centers. This allows us to assemble fully integrated, bespoke teams for each client, able to draw on the full resources of Brunswick anywhere in the world. 

Brunswick is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law. Please read our Global Privacy Notice to understand how your data is managed.