Strategic Initiatives Lead

Job Description Summary:
Strategic Initiatives Lead

Job Description:
ooummary

The 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+ 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.

Essential Job Duties & Responsibilities
Program & 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 Qualifications
Qualifications

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

Experience with M&A, strategy and growth and AI

MBA or CFA in progress or completed (preferred)

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.

ss 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.

Focus is a leading financial services firm comprised of integrated wealth management, family office, and business management services. Blending deep expertise and expansive resources with a boutique, client-first fiduciary philosophy, Focus helps individuals, families, and institutions navigate complex financial situations with highly personalized solutions tailored to their unique needs. To learn more about Focus, visit or follow the company on LinkedIn.

LI-KP1

Focus is a leading financial services firm comprised of integrated wealth management, family office, and business management services. Blending deep expertise and expansive resources with a boutique, client-first fiduciary philosophy, Focus helps individuals, families, and institutions navigate complex financial situations with highly personalized solutions tailored to their unique needs. To learn more about Focus, visit or follow the company on LinkedIn.

EEO Statement
Focus is an equal opportunity employer and bases its employment decisions on the employee or candidate's skillset, and without regard to an employee or candidate's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state and/or federal law.

Focus complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact View email address on manhattanjobs.com

The following language is for US based roles only
For California Applicants:
Information on your California privacy rights can be found here

For Indiana Applicants:
It is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee on the basis of status as a veteran by refusing to employ an applicant on the basis that they are a veteran of the armed forces of the United States, a member of the Indiana National Guard or a member of a reserve component.

For Maryland Applicants:
I UNDERSTAND THAT UNDER MARYLAND LAW, AN EMPLOYER MAY NOT REQUIRE OR DEMAND, AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT, PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYMENT OR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT, THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL SUBMIT TO OR TAKE A POLYGRAP OR SIMILAR TEST. AN EMPLOYER WHO VIOLATES THIS LAW IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND SUBJECT TO A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $100.

For Massachusetts Applicants:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

For Montana Applicants:
If hired, the employment relationship is governed by the Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act. Mont. Code Ann. Section 39-2-901.

For Rhode Island Applicants:
Focus is subject to Chapters 29-38 of Title 28 of the General Laws of Rhode Island and is therefore covered by the state's workers' compensation law. If you willfully provide false information about your ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, you may be barred from filing a claim under the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act of the State of Rhode Island if the false information is directly related to the personal injury that is the basis for the new claim for compensation. The Company complies fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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