Senior Consultant, Financial Communications (Media Relations)

Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Consultant to join APCO's Financial Communications practice and help our clients tell sharp, credible, business-savvy stories in the financial and business media. This is a hands-on role for a strong writer and natural media operator who thinks like a reporter, knows what makes a business story land, and is building (or already maintaining) a real network of relationships across financial media.

You'll work across a portfolio of public companies, private companies, financial services firms, and sponsors on the moments that most materially shape their reputation and value, including IPOs and capital markets transactions, M&A, earnings, executive transitions, activist defense, and reputation work tied to financial performance. The work moves quickly, the stakes are high, and the situations are often material and non-public, so we're looking for candidates with strong advisory instincts and a bias for action.

This position can be based in APCO's New York, Washington D.C., Chicago or Raleigh office.

Responsibilities

• Supports a wide range of fast-moving financial communications mandates for high-profile, globally recognized clients across public companies, private companies, financial services, and sponsors
• Operates with a bias for action in time-pressured, high-stakes situations and brings advisory and consulting instincts to client interactions
• Leads day-to-day media relations: develops pitch angles, builds and works targeted media lists, drafts pitches and reactive statements, and places stories with top-tier financial and business reporters
• Builds and actively maintains relationships with top business and financial reporters and editors.
• Translates complex business, financial, and strategic information into clear, compelling stories for investors, employees, customers, and the broader media
• Drafts and edits press releases, talking points, Q&A documents, executive briefings, bylined thought leadership, social content, shareholder letters, and reactive statements
• Supports clients through earnings cycles, transaction announcements, executive transitions, and special situations, including spokesperson preparation and reactive media management
• Provides on-site support, as appropriate, during transactions, roadshows, contested situations, or other material events
• Collaborates with an APCO team spread across multiple offices, contributing to integrated programs that bring together communications, public affairs, regulatory, crisis, and digital workstreams
• Participates in new business efforts, including RFP responses, across APCO
• Maintains a deep understanding of capital markets dynamics, sector-specific issues, and the policy and regulatory backdrop affecting client accounts
• Supports several client projects at the same time

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in a related field. Graduate degree preferred.
• 4-6 years of relevant experience across financial communications, business journalism, investor relations, or a related capital markets-adjacent role. PR agency, in-house IR/comms, or business journalism transitioning into communications all considered.
• Demonstrated track record of either (a) placing stories with top-tier financial and business media as a communicator, or (b) breaking and owning a beat at a credible business news outlet as a journalist
• Strong news judgment and the ability to think like a reporter, including identifying what's actually a story, where it lives, and who would write it
• A growing rolodex of financial and business media contacts and the discipline to actively maintain it
• Working knowledge of public company disclosure, the earnings cycle, and the basics of M&A and capital markets transactions
• Advisory and consulting instincts; able to give clients clear recommendations, not just options
• Bias for action and composure under time pressure in high-stakes situations
• Sector expertise is a plus, with particular interest in candidates who have worked across defense, technology, financial services, healthcare, industrials, or energy and infrastructure
• Cross-border experience working with clients across U.S., U.K., or EU media markets is a plus
• Comfort contributing to integrated, multi-disciplinary teams that span communications, public affairs, regulatory, and digital
• Willingness to travel as client situations require
• References should be able to speak to your discretion in handling material non-public information
• Exceptional writing skills across press releases, executive communications, bylines, and reactive statements; the ability to translate complex financial information into plain-language storytelling
• Detail-oriented, quick learner, ability to work independently, responsive to a rapidly changing environment, work well under tight deadlines, manage multiple complex projects and priorities simultaneously, be a self-starter, take initiative, and set priorities
• Solid project management experience
• Strong presentation skills and the ability to communicate effectively at all levels
• Discretion and judgment appropriate to handling material non-public information
• Entrepreneurial spirit and collaborative team player

What Sets APCO's Financial Communications Practice Apart

• A strategic partner through the entire corporate and deal lifecycle. From IPOs and M&A to shareholder activism, restructurings, and financial litigation, we advise companies, investors, and institutions in the moments that matter most. Our experience spans legal, media, political, financial, and regulatory domains, giving us the agility and precision to manage sensitive, high-stakes situations.
• Integrated capabilities that go beyond traditional financial PR. Our work is backed by APCO's leadership in crisis and risk management, government affairs, regulatory, brand and digital strategy, ESG, and transformation consulting. Our acquisitions of Camarco and Gagen MacDonald deepen our C-suite advisory, capital markets counsel, and change management expertise, so clients get one integrated answer across communications, policy, and people.
• Real connectivity between Wall Street and Washington. Our public affairs heritage and bench of former regulators, policy advisors, and campaign strategists means we bring sophisticated counsel at a time when policy and regulation are shaping financial outcomes more than ever.
• Global reach with local impact. With professionals across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and MENA, we deliver local insights with global coordination. Our team includes former financial journalists, bankers, fund managers, equity sales professionals, sell-side analysts, regulators, policy advisors, and campaign strategists - a multidisciplinary bench built for dynamic environments.

Compensation Range:


The US base salary for this position ranges from $84,000/year to $101,000/year. Our compensation range for this role is inclusive of several US geographic markets. APCO targets an employee's pay within this range to be based on several factors, which include but are not limited to relevant education, skills, job-related knowledge, qualifications, work experience, credentials, internal equity and/or geographic location.


Careers at APCO


Through our recruitment, hiring and retention efforts, APCO is committed to building teams who bring the best possible expertise and robust perspectives to our clients. We embrace differences in experience, viewpoint and ideas, starting with our values and extending to our behaviors, policies and practices. We aim to create a positive work experience and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.


We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, national origin, citizenship, native language, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, religion, age, veteran status, neurodivergence, mental or physical disability, medical history, pregnancy, political belief or affiliation or any other characteristic protected by law.


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About Us

About APCO

APCO is a global advisory and advocacy firm helping leading corporations, foundations and governments navigate a complex world and create lasting impact.


Founded in 1984, with one woman's vision and bold action, APCO has grown into an independent, majority women-owned firm of more than 1,200 employees with work spanning 80 markets around the world.


Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO is comprised of strategic advisers, consultants and creators, working together across borders and functions, to provide services and expertise on financial, competitive, political and societal issues.


APCO is a trusted partner to bold purpose-led leaders, lawmakers, government officials, NGOs, the media and other stakeholders in the health, energy, technology, transportation & infrastructure and food & consumer products sectors. For 40 years, the firm has provided public affairs, crisis & reputation, impact, corporate reputation and global solutions services.


APCO is renowned for its ability to champion clients' interests and permission to operate, build their reputation and strengthen their standing. APCO's integrated approach and team of tenacious and empathic talent create connections and winning strategies that accelerate progress and deepen impact.


By bringing diverse people and ideas together, and working beyond traditional boundaries, APCO builds the un/common ground upon which progress is made.