Associate Director - Financial Services
What you'll do: Modern’s mission is to partner with the world’s leading organizations to reimagine and implement a modern approach to leadership and talent. Our unique ability to integrate who runs the organization (people and talent) with how it operates (structure, operating model, and roles)—while aligning both to the future leadership needed to drive change—delivers value for our clients. Our Financial Services Practice focuses on senior-level executive search engagements across banking, wealth management, asset management, insurance, and related sectors. We partner closely 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. This includes 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, with exposure to both candidate development and client interaction. As an Associate Director in the Financial Services Practice, your responsibilities will focus on three core areas: Execution: You will support and drive execution across multiple retained search engagements. This includes building market maps, identifying and engaging executive-level candidates, leading initial outreach and interviews, and developing candidate assessments. Your work will directly contribute to the quality and pace of search delivery. Quality: You will ensure rigor and consistency in research, candidate evaluation, and client deliverables. This includes synthesizing market and candidate insights into clear, structured updates and maintaining high standards of accuracy and detail across all aspects of search execution. Client Delivery: You will contribute to client interactions, including pipeline discussions and search updates. Working closely with senior team members, you will help shape sourcing strategies and provide insights that inform client decision-making. The ideal candidate will be comfortable operating in a fast-paced, execution-focused environment. They will bring strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality. They will be collaborative, proactive, and motivated to contribute to both team success and client outcomes. Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, social sciences, or a related field Competencies Attributes: Insightful: Able to interpret market and candidate information and draw meaningful conclusions Assured: Confident engaging with candidates and contributing to internal and client discussions Curiosity: Demonstrates interest in Financial Services markets, companies, and leadership trends Pace and flexibility: Works efficiently across multiple searches and adapts to shifting priorities Collaboration: Partners effectively with colleagues across levels and functions Accountability: Takes ownership of work and follows through on commitments Skills: Market Research & Mapping: Ability to conduct structured research across companies, sectors, and talent pools Candidate Engagement & Interviewing: Experience engaging candidates and conducting structured interviews Data Analysis & Synthesis: Ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative data and translate it into actionable insights Communication: Produces clear, concise, client-ready materials and communicates effectively with internal and external stakeholders Project Management: Manages multiple priorities and timelines across concurrent search engagements Experience Prior experience in executive search, recruiting, or talent acquisition is required 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 Experience in a client-facing or professional services environment Experience contributing to research, candidate development, and search execution Knowledge Understanding of executive search processes and talent identification strategies Familiarity with Financial Services industry structure, key players, and talent dynamics General commercial awareness and understanding of client needs within professional services Why Modern 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. Our Values Be Bold: Think strategically, seeing implications and creative paths. Innovates commercially – seeks to understand client perspective to drive impact. Innovates internally - seeks to improve processes, procedures, and technology used within and across their teams. Be Excellent: Deliver client ready work, with attention to detail, raising the bar of expectations within team and with data integrity to include the use of all company tools and systems. Motivated by excellence to the benefit of clients and our firm. Be United: Be an inclusive ‘team player,’ willing to support, develop and ‘go the extra mile’ to deliver impact with others. Proactively develops trusting relationships both within and outside our firm. Be Authentic: Demonstrate awareness, coachability and a desire to grow with continuous improvement. Motivated by a personal purpose aligned with our firm’s mission and values. Is accountable for delivery of client ready work. Modern Executive Solutions is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, religion, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, national origin, age, disability status, veteran or military status or care-giver status. 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