Job Description Summary: Strategic Initiatives Lead
Job Description: ositioummaryThe Strategic Initiatives Lead is a high-impact, high-visibility role on Focus Financial Partners' Strategic Initiatives team - a small, senior team that functions as an internal strategy and transformation group for the firm. This role picks up the analytical and presentation work so the Director can focus on making strategic decisions, managing stakeholders, and directing the team.
The ideal candidate brings 2-5 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, or management consulting - a traditional finance skillset: financial modeling, business case development, competitive analysis, board prep, stakeholder materials, deal support. They are ready to trade deal-by-deal or engagement-by-engagement work for something with broader scope: supporting the highest-priority strategic initiatives at Focus, working directly with executive leadership, and doing the work that makes complex cross-functional decisions actually happen.
Primary Responsibilities
Essential Job Duties & ResponsibilitiesProgram & Project Execution- Own individual workstreams within the AI Strategy Program and other cross-functional initiatives - structure the work, drive to decisions, and deliver outputs on timeline.
- Build and maintain the operating infrastructure for complex projects: project trackers, decision logs, risk registers, governance frameworks, and meeting rhythms.
- Triage incoming requests and competing priorities across the team's portfolio; keep the team's attention on the highest-leverage work.
Analysis & Modeling- Build financial models, business cases, and ROI frameworks to support strategic decisions - clean, accurate, and built to be used, not just filed
- Conduct competitive intelligence and market research; synthesize findings into executive-ready summaries and recommendations.
- Support initiative tracking and KPI dashboards that connect strategic priorities to measurable outcomes.
Communication & Influence- Prepare board materials, executive presentations, and governance committee deliverables; own the quality of the narrative and the numbers.
- Represent the Strategic Initiatives team in cross-functional meetings; keep stakeholders aligned and accountable without positional authority.
- Translate complex, ambiguous situations into crisp problem statements and structured options for senior decision-makers.
AI Strategy Program Support- Support the execution of Focus's enterprise AI strategy, including vendor evaluations, use case intake process, governance committee operations, and pilot program management.
- Help develop and maintain the AI program's knowledge base, intake forms, risk frameworks, and operating cadences.
- Serve as a credible, hands-on user of AI tools; bring practical experience to conversations about where and how AI creates value at Focus.
Basic QualificationsQualifications- 2+ years of experience in investment banking, private equity, management consulting, or corporate strategy at a financial services firm
- Bachelor's degree in business, finance, economics, or related discipline
- MBA or CFA in progress or completed (prefered)
- Demonstrated ability to build and own structured work products - models, memos, slide decks - independently and under time pressure.
- Experience working in fast-paced environments with multiple concurrent priorities and senior stakeholder exposure.
- Exceptional financial modeling and Excel skills - builds from scratch, not template-dependent.
- Strong structured communication skills: can write a one-pager, build a five-slide deck, or lead a working session with equal command.
- Intellectually curious and comfortable operating in ambiguity; doesn't wait to be told what the answer should be.
- High personal accountability - owns their output, fixes their mistakes, and doesn't let things fall through the cracks.
- Collaborative by instinct but comfortable working independently; can operate with minimal supervision on defined workstreams.
- Familiarity with AI productivity tools (Claude, Notion AI, Copilot, etc.) and a willingness to be an early adopter. Experience building with AI is a plus but not required.
- Values truth over tradition; analytical bias toward action; not precious about the work.What Success Looks Like in Year One
This is an exempt position. The annualized base pay range for this role is expected to be between $85,000-$150,0000. Actual base pay could vary based on factors including but not limited to experience, subject matter expertise, geographic location where work will be performed, and the applicant's skill set. The base pay is just one component of the total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include an annual cash bonus and a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and 401(k). Please note that the job title is subject to change based on the selected candidate's experience and education.
#LI-KP1
