Associate Director - Corporate & Financial Communications

London

About CDR Consultancy

For over 30 years, CDR has been at the forefront of communications in the asset management, private capital, and broader financial services sectors, both in the UK and across its global network. Financial services represent the firm’s largest sector by revenue, reflecting its deep expertise and trusted industry relationships.

CDR’s UK client portfolio spans a diverse range of financial services brands, including banks and credit card providers, personal and life insurers, wealth managers, corporate and fund service providers, and investment firms. The firm has extensive experience supporting clients through corporate positioning, media relations, crisis communications, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory affairs.

Role overview

Joining at Associate Director level, you’ll have the opportunity to lead and expand a portfolio of CDR UK’s financial services clients. A key priority is to drive strategic growth—retaining and expanding current accounts while identifying and securing new business opportunities. You will play a pivotal role in strengthening client relationships and leveraging CDR’s global network to extend mandates across international markets.

The day to day

• Client Leadership: Manage high-profile accounts, delivering best-in-class communications programmes for CDR UK’s asset & wealth management and financial services clients. Drive business growth by identifying new opportunities within existing mandates.
• Strategic & Hands-On Execution: Take a proactive, hands-on approach to both strategy and execution, ensuring high-quality delivery across all aspects of client work.
• Media & Stakeholder Engagement: Leverage an extensive media network to generate impactful coverage across national, trade, and consumer media. Execute media campaigns that resonate and drive brand recognition.
• Commercial Acumen: Run accounts with a strong focus on commercial performance - optimising service levels, maintaining profitability, and managing resourcing effectively.
• Event Management: Oversee large-scale media awards and stakeholder events, delivering high-impact experiences that enhance brand visibility.
• Business Development: Identify and develop new business opportunities, crafting compelling proposals and delivering pitch presentations alongside colleagues.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Guide and mentor junior team members, fostering professional development and strengthening the firm’s financial services expertise.

About you

• Minimum 6 years’ experience in communications, primarily within a consultancy environment.
• Strong expertise in UK and international financial services, covering:
• Banking, credit, and lending markets, including corporate, retail, and digital banking.
• Insurance, wealth management, and financial technology.
• Private capital, investment firms, and alternative asset classes.
• Strong understanding of financial services trends, enabling strategic adaptation to evolving industry dynamics.
• Extensive network of media contacts across financial services at both national and trade levels.
• Proven ability to craft near-final communications content (press releases, articles, social media, website copy, etc.).
• Expertise in delivering multi-channel communication programmes, spanning earned, owned, and shared media.
• Experience in thought leadership campaigns, including working with third-party research firms to create and promote white papers.
• Strong event management skills, particularly in coordinating cross-border media and stakeholder events.
• Track record in new business development, from prospect meetings to proposal drafting and senior-level pitch presentations.
• Leadership capabilities, with experience managing and motivating account teams and junior colleagues.
• Confident presentation skills and the ability to influence key stakeholders.

At CDR, we recognise that to deliver the best work for our clients, we need a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to ensuring best practice approaches to a diverse and inclusive recruitment process and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.