Associate Director - Financial Services

Modern Executive Solutions

5h • Remote

About The Position

Modern's mission is to partner with the world's leading organizations to reimagine and implement a modern approach to leadership and talent. The company's unique ability to integrate people and talent with organizational structure, operating model, and roles, while aligning both to future leadership needs, delivers value for clients. The Financial Services Practice focuses on senior-level executive search engagements across banking, wealth management, asset management, insurance, and related sectors, partnering with executive leadership teams and boards to identify and attract talent for critical leadership roles. As an Associate Director, you will play a key role in executing retained executive search engagements, including developing market intelligence, building and engaging candidate pipelines, conducting early-stage interviews, and contributing to client delivery. You will work closely with Managing Directors and Partners, gaining exposure to both candidate development and client interaction. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, execution-focused environment, demonstrating strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality. They should be collaborative, proactive, and motivated to contribute to both team success and client outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, social sciences, or a related field
• Able to interpret market and candidate information and draw meaningful conclusions (Insightful)
• Confident engaging with candidates and contributing to internal and client discussions (Assured)
• Demonstrates interest in Financial Services markets, companies, and leadership trends (Curiosity)
• Works efficiently across multiple searches and adapts to shifting priorities (Pace and flexibility)
• Partners effectively with colleagues across levels and functions (Collaboration)
• Takes ownership of work and follows through on commitments (Accountability)
• Ability to conduct structured research across companies, sectors, and talent pools (Market Research & Mapping)
• Experience engaging candidates and conducting structured interviews (Candidate Engagement & Interviewing)
• Ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative data and translate it into actionable insights (Data Analysis & Synthesis)
• Produces clear, concise, client-ready materials and communicates effectively with internal and external stakeholders (Communication)
• Manages multiple priorities and timelines across concurrent search engagements (Project Management)
• Prior experience in executive search, recruiting, or talent acquisition is required
• Experience in a client-facing or professional services environment
• Experience contributing to research, candidate development, and search execution
• Understanding of executive search processes and talent identification strategies
• General commercial awareness and understanding of client needs within professional services

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting retained search engagements or senior-level hiring is strongly preferred
• Exposure to Financial Services sectors (e.g., banking, asset management, wealth, insurance, fintech) preferred
• Familiarity with Financial Services industry structure, key players, and talent dynamics

Responsibilities

• Support and drive execution across multiple retained search engagements
• Build market maps
• Identify and engage executive-level candidates
• Lead initial outreach and interviews
• Develop candidate assessments
• Ensure rigor and consistency in research, candidate evaluation, and client deliverables
• Synthesize market and candidate insights into clear, structured updates
• Maintain high standards of accuracy and detail across all aspects of search execution
• Contribute to client interactions, including pipeline discussions and search updates
• Help shape sourcing strategies
• Provide insights that inform client decision-making

Benefits

• Purpose-Driven Work: Join a team that is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and gives back to the community by donating 10% of annual profits to support underserved youth and educational opportunities
• Impactful Projects: Contribute to meaningful projects that positively impact clients’ organizations, communities, and the development of diverse leaders
• Professional Growth: Gain exposure to various aspects of the business, with opportunities for mentorship, leadership development, and career advancement
• Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy a robust benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, along with a 401(k) match
• Flexibility & Balance: Benefit from a flexible remote work environment, paid parental leave, and an office setup stipend to support your work-from-home needs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level