Senior Associate Director (SAD), Financial Services
APCO is looking for an SAD, with a focus on earned media, to join its growing Financial Services team
This position focuses on senior level account management, overall responsibility for building / maintaining strong client relationships, as well as initiating and developing new business opportunities.
You will have around 8+ years’ experience with a focus on the financial services sector, have a good understanding of financial statements and company valuation, and have significant experience advising clients across the sector, including private equity and asset management clients.
You should be an expert media handler and a naturally strategic and creative thinker. You will demonstrate outstanding client management skills, nurturing clients across every aspect of APCO’s work, including new business pitch preparation and delivery; client strategy development and forward planning; and collaborative day-to-day account management with your colleagues. You will also be a great team player and mentor, nurturing juniors to create opportunities for the team.
You will spend significant time on growing and cultivating a strong network of industry contacts, building your own status in the industry as a highly credible, expert and knowledgeable specialist communications advisor.
Responsibilities:
Clients:
- Responsible for delivering proactive account direction and expert senior counsel, including developing and refreshing client strategy / communications programmes;
- Manages and strengthens APCO’s client relationships and runs multiple work streams;
- Responsible for leading on accounts and projects with minimal oversight; ensuring Directors are appropriately kept up-to-date on significant developments and issues;
- Oversees all aspects of account delivery and high-quality of work, including approval of client materials often under tight deadlines, consulting with Directors where appropriate (e.g. strategy papers, press releases, op-eds, briefing notes, Q&As, agendas, meeting notes / actions, results statements and presentations etc.)
- Is a subject matter expert on the Financial Services sector, with a deep understanding of the financial media landscape
- Leads media relations efforts including cultivating relationships with journalists, commentators and other relevant third party influencers, establishing systematic media programs for clients, and handling sensitive or complex media enquiries
- Coaches clients on media engagement and being an effective executive spokesperson
- Working with more junior members of the team to create effective and efficient account structures, getting the most out the team to ensure regular proactive generation of new ideas for clients;
- Identifying and planning for opportunities to grow clients.
New business and networking:
- Developing media and industry contacts, introducing colleagues wherever possible to broaden APCO’s relationships;
- Generation of new business and marketing leads, working with colleagues to identify, approach and deliver potential new revenue opportunities from start to finish;
- Management of and strategic input into new business pitches;
- Writing proposal letters and presentations;
- Driving APCO’s marketing activity, developing new ideas and leading on initiatives (e.g. events, content, new product areas etc.).
Talent Development
- Mentoring and supporting colleagues; ensuring the management team is kept informed of any issues or team concerns;
- Assisting with team training, induction of new joiners and knowledge sharing initiatives;
- Assisting with recruitment;
- Maintain professionalism and lead by example at all times;
- Serve as an ambassador for APCO externally.
Qualifications:
- At least 8-12 years of experience working in business and financial media, ideally with a mix of experience in business journalism as well as in a media relations consultancy role
- Superior analytical skills and the ability to think creatively about media strategy and outlets
- Strong understanding of the media environment, including appreciation of news drivers at key print and broadcast organizations, and relationships with their reporters, at outlets such as CNBC, the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Fortune, Forbes, the Financial Times, Fast Company, Axios, Insider, Cheddar, etc.
- Established and trusted journalist relationships and an eagerness to build new relationships
- Experience working with third parties and influencers to help drive and shape coverage
- Experience leading communications around company earnings, IPOs, SPACs, ICOs, etc.
- Ability to integrate social / digital and paid campaigns with traditional media relations
- Exceptional writing skills, including the ability to write op-eds and owned media content
- Ability to present ideas to clients both strategically and persuasively in face-to-face meetings and written presentations, and deliver excellent work under tight deadlines
- Demonstrated ability to lead integrated client teams
- Experience working with organizations in the healthcare, technology, transportation, energy and/or financial services are particularly relevant to this position
- Solid project management experience and a proven ability to manage multiple projects and client initiatives and teams of both junior and senior colleagues in a fast-paced environment
Compensation Range
The US base salary for this position ranges from $110,000/year to $140,000/year. Our compensation range for this role is inclusive of several US geographic markets. APCO targets an employee's pay within this range to be based on several factors, which include but are not limited to relevant education, skills, job-related knowledge, qualifications, work experience, credentials, internal equity and/or geographic location.
Careers at APCO
Through our recruitment, hiring and retention efforts, APCO is committed to building teams who bring the best possible expertise and robust perspectives to our clients. We embrace differences in experience, viewpoint and ideas, starting with our values and extending to our behaviors, policies and practices. We aim to create a positive work experience and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, national origin, citizenship, native language, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, religion, age, veteran status, neurodivergence, mental or physical disability, medical history, pregnancy, political belief or affiliation or any other characteristic protected by law.


