Managing Director - Financial Communications

About the role

FTI Consulting, a global expert firm for organisations facing crisis and transformation, is looking for a Managing Director to join its South African team and lead Financial Communications. The role covers client engagements on M&A, IPOs, spin-offs, shareholder activism, C-suite transitions and business transformations, as well as ongoing Investor Relations advisory. The successful candidate will be a primary client contact for senior investor relations, corporate affairs and C-suite executives and will help shape the future of the Strategic Communications practice.

Key responsibilities

• Manage critical transactions and equity capital markets communications strategies, often as the primary client contact with a senior investor relations officer or C-suite executive
• Counsel clients on crises and complex events such as shareholder activism, and advise on the strategic aspects of investor relations programmes
• Oversee client accounts and engagements, including staffing, billing and client administration, and act as senior strategist to clients
• Manage client teams, drive meetings and strategy sessions, and run monthly and quarterly measurement and reporting
• Mentor mid- and junior-level employees and support business growth by keeping up with best practices and competitors
• Identify new business opportunities, build networks with corporate management teams, investment bankers and law firms, and pitch engagements directly
• Work with colleagues to produce pitch materials and sales presentations, and attend events and conferences to network

Required profile

• Ideally a Bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited university
• Proven senior experience in financial communications and capital markets (sell-side research, institutional money management, banking, etc.)
• Agency background in capital markets, corporate communications or investor relations is an advantage
• Demonstrated history of project management on major corporate events and ability to lead account teams and motivate staff
• Ability to generate and lead new business development, including direct client pitches

Required skills

• Advanced writing skills for complex documents such as proposals, press releases, op-eds and research reports
• Analytical skills to diagnose issues affecting a company's valuation, governance and reputation
• Excellent written and oral presentation skills
• Proficiency in Word, PowerPoint and Excel

The firm offers development programmes with coaching, and gives preference to candidates from designated groups under the Employment Equity Act.