PR Associate Director

As an Associate Director, you will be responsible for the profitable performance of a portfolio of client accounts in the financial services, technology, and fintech sectors. This role is designed for accomplished professionals who will play a pivotal role in managing client relationships, driving strategic communications initiatives, and contributing to the growth and success of our agency.

This is a specialist role for someone with a strong background in financial services communications. Someone who understands how the financial ecosystem works and can operate credibly with sophisticated local and international clients.

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Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a senior-level client advisor, providing comprehensive strategic guidance and ensuring that both day-to-day contacts and senior stakeholders receive exceptional value from their client teams. Develop and implement sophisticated communications strategies that align with clients’ broader business objectives.
• Client Performance Management: Take comprehensive responsibility for client servicing, performance, profitability, resourcing, forecasting, billing, and account planning. Manage the delivery of client work profitably and ensure prompt and accurate billing.
• Team Leadership: Oversee account teams, providing strategic leadership and guidance to colleagues. Identify and develop talent, create meaningful training opportunities, and ensure team workloads are balanced, rewarding, and aligned with HR objectives.
• Communications Strategy: Shape and lead the strategic direction for clients’ engagement with internal and external audiences. Develop comprehensive communications programs that integrate seamlessly with clients’ marketing strategies, ensuring precise skill alignment and strategic execution.
• Crisis Management: Provide expert counsel during sensitive situations and crises, developing and implementing effective response strategies.
• Business Growth: Drive business expansion through growing existing client relationships, leading high-stakes business pitches, networking to generate new leads, developing opportunities to extend client engagements, and maintaining a robust pipeline of new business opportunities.
• Commercial Acumen: Develop and apply advanced managerial and commercial skills to drive long-term account retention, maximize account success, review monthly time allocation, manage team capacity, and optimize client servicing models.
• Revenue Generation: Proactively identify new revenue opportunities within existing client base, own the complete sales process, ensure account delivery is maximally profitable, and maintain accurate time records in the company system.
• Quality Assurance: Provide comprehensive oversight of business delivery, ensuring day-to-day client contacts are satisfied, senior client management receives exceptional service, marketing projects are delivered on time and within budget, and appropriate client approvals are secured.
• Process Improvement: Contribute to agency growth by developing enhanced service offerings, reviewing and improving business processes, and collaborating with leadership to refine working routines.
• Industry Leadership: Stay at the forefront of industry developments to ensure Cognito remains innovative, anticipate and respond to emerging industry trends, and maintain a competitive edge in service delivery.
• Agency Contribution: Actively contribute to local and global marketing efforts, resource management across the office, and overall sales and marketing strategy.

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Skills and Qualifications:

• Accomplished senior communications professional with extensive experience leading multiple account teams or practice areas; recognized for managing complex client portfolios, building senior client relationships, and driving business growth across business units and sectors.
• Deep, current understanding of the entire financial services ecosystem, including insurance, asset management, wealth, capital markets, fintech, technology, and climate/sustainability.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and advise on trends such as digital transformation, business model innovation, new regulatory priorities, funding cycles, consolidation, and market or sustainability-driven disruption
• Accomplished senior communications professional with extensive experience leading multiple account teams or practice areas; recognized for managing complex client portfolios, building senior client relationships, and driving business growth across business units and sectors.
• Deep, current understanding of the entire financial services ecosystem, including insurance, asset management, wealth, capital markets, fintech, technology, and climate/sustainability.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and advise on trends such as digital transformation, business model innovation, new regulatory priorities, funding cycles, consolidation, and market or sustainability-driven disruption.
• Advanced financial, commercial, and industry expertise; regularly advises clients and senior executives on sophisticated business and financial topics—including EBITDA, earnings, investment structure, funding, capital efficiency, M&A, IPOs, sustainability strategies, and public/regulatory reporting.
• Track record of developing long-term, high-trust partnerships with C-suite and board clients—acting as a valued strategic adviser for day-to-day counsel and for moments of business or reputational significance.
• Recognized collaborator who creates a high-performing, inclusive team climate, and is regularly sought out for guidance in resolving misalignments or building consensus among stakeholders.
• Proven success in business development, organic growth, and client retention; skilled presenter and relationship builder at senior levels.
• Demonstrated excellence in strategic planning, campaign leadership, and delivering clear, actionable communications that resonate across diverse audiences and markets.
• Advanced leadership and team management skills; successful at developing, mentoring, and retaining top talent, managing workload, and resolving challenges collaboratively.
• Experienced in leading global, pan-market, or cross-functional projects, and collaborating effectively across international offices.
• High market visibility through thought leadership, trade media, networking, and industry event participation; mentors others in raising their profile appropriately.
• Strong crisis and issues management capabilities; independently leads high-stakes or rapid-response communications and supports media engagement for clients across all sectors.
• Trusted, extensive network of financial, business, technology, sustainability, and specialist media and influencers.
• Regularly turns challenging negotiations or difficult market conversations into opportunities for deeper client and agency partnerships.