Senior Associate (Stamford)

Senior Associate, Executive Search

Location: Stamford, CT area | Hybrid, 3 days in-office

About the Opportunity

An established, boutique executive search firm specializing in CFO and senior financial leadership appointments is looking to add an Associate or Senior Associate to its growing team.

This is an opportunity to join a high-touch, retained search environment working on senior-level mandates for a diverse client base, including private equity-backed businesses and established public and private companies.

The firm offers the opportunity to take ownership of complex executive searches while developing meaningful client relationships and contributing to the continued growth of the business. For an ambitious search professional, this position offers the potential to accelerate career progression and build a long-term path toward partnership.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute retained executive searches: Manage the search process for CFOs and senior finance leaders, including market mapping, candidate identification, outreach, assessment, and presentation.
• Develop market expertise: Build a deep understanding of the finance leadership talent market, including CFOs, Controllers, Heads of Finance, and other senior financial executives.
• Partner with clients: Work closely with senior stakeholders to understand hiring needs, advise on talent availability, and deliver high-quality search outcomes.
• Build client relationships: Gradually take on greater responsibility for client engagement, business development, and expanding existing relationships.
• Drive search strategy: Develop targeted research strategies, identify relevant talent pools, and provide market intelligence to clients throughout the search process.
• Contribute to practice growth: Play an active role in growing the firm's presence in the CFO and senior finance executive search market.

Ideal Background

• Experience in executive search, preferably within a retained search firm.
• Exposure to CFO, finance, accounting, or broader financial leadership mandates.
• A track record of managing search execution, candidate research, and senior-level candidate engagement.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage credibly with senior executives and clients.
• Commercial curiosity and an interest in developing client relationships and business development capabilities.
• An entrepreneurial mindset, with the ambition to take on increasing responsibility and build a long-term career in executive search.
• The ability to balance hands-on search execution with client-facing responsibilities.

What the Opportunity Offers

• High-quality search work: Exposure to senior-level CFO and finance leadership mandates within a retained search environment.
• Direct access to leadership: The opportunity to work closely with firm leadership and learn how to build and grow an executive search practice.
• Accelerated career progression: A potential path toward partnership for someone who demonstrates strong execution, commercial ability, and a commitment to growing the business.
• Greater earning potential: The opportunity to increase compensation as responsibilities, client relationships, and commercial contributions grow.
• Entrepreneurial environment: The ability to make a meaningful contribution to the firm's continued growth rather than simply operating within a large, established platform.
• Long-term ownership potential: An opportunity to develop the skills, relationships, and commercial experience required to progress toward a senior leadership position.