Managing Director, Financial Communications | Strategic Communications

FTI Consulting•New York, NY

2d•$198,000 - $356,500•Hybrid

About The Position

FTI Consulting is seeking a Managing Director to join its Financial Communications team. This role involves developing and executing client engagements related to M&A, IPOs, spin-offs, SPACs, shareholder activism, C-suite transitions, business transformations, and ongoing Investor Relations (IR) advisory. The Managing Director will serve as a primary client contact for senior-level investor relations officers and C-suite executives, manage client teams, and participate in new business development, including pitching engagements and networking. The ideal candidate will be confident in an entrepreneurial environment, stay updated on industry developments, and contribute to innovating the firm's offerings. This role is crucial in shaping the future of the practice, particularly in North America, and requires an enthusiastic leader eager to pursue new opportunities and think creatively for growth in the era of stakeholder capitalism.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
10+ years of relevant experience in financial communications and capital markets (sell-side research, institutional money management, banking, etc.)
Travel required to clients and to FTI office(s).

Nice To Haves

Proven advanced writing skills, particularly with complex documents and persuasive messaging such as proposals, press releases, op-eds, research reports, etc.
Ability to concisely articulate and competently support a company’s equity story.
Analytical skills to identify and diagnose key issues, misperceptions and factors impacting a company’s valuation as well as the communications solutions to fix/mitigate them.
Excellent written and oral presentation skills – both in a large group and smaller meetings.
Ability to learn new concepts quickly and possess a service-oriented attitude.
Strong project management, quantitative and qualitative research skills.
Capacity to multi-task across client programs, firm initiatives and sales opportunities.
Ability to recognize, explore and use a broad range of ideas and practices, thinking logically and creatively without influence from personal bias.
Capacity to adjust behavior to meet client needs and personalities and to establish positive relationships with a wide variety of individuals both internally and externally.
Ability to direct a project from concept to conclusion and manage all levels of employees, including support staff, peers and senior managers.
Ability to generate and lead new business development efforts, including direct client pitches and networking with potential referral sources.
Ability to lead account teams on complex client communications challenges and actively manage, develop, inspire, and motivate staff to excel.
Strong organizational and time management skills.
Demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail.
Proficient skills in PowerPoint and excel.

Responsibilities

Manage critical transactions and equity capital markets communications strategies for client accounts, often serving as the primary client contact working with a senior level investor relations officer or C-suite executive.
Counsel clients on crises and other challenging events, such as shareholder activism, that are more complex and beyond the scope of standard communications programs.
Advise clients on strategic aspects of their investor relations program, and when appropriate, collaborate with colleagues in other practices to ensure the execution of a cohesive overall communications program.
Oversee client accounts and engagements, including staffing and teaming, billing and client administration, and serving as the senior strategist to clients.
Identify new business opportunities by recognizing areas for potential communications needs (financial/operational, IR, crisis, M&A, IPO, etc.).
Leverage prior – and build new – professional networking relationships with corporate management teams, investment bankers and specialized law firms to drive referrals.
Work with colleagues to produce business pitch materials, create tailored sales presentations, and attend new business pitches via conference call or in person.
Attend relevant events and conferences in order to network with potential referral sources or prospective clients.
Effectively manage client teams including driving "to do" meetings, strategy sessions and monthly and quarterly measurement and reporting.
Be a mentor to mid- and junior-level employees, providing constructive feedback on a continuous basis.
Support the development of the practice itself by being an enthusiastic partner, staying up to speed on emerging best practices, demonstrating creativity in how the team can evolve and helping the team stay informed on competitor activity.
Develop a full understanding of all of the Strategic Communications practice and FTI’s service offerings and be proficient enough to discuss them fluently.