Financial Services Industry Leader (CPA/Advisory Firm) (New York City Metropolitan Area)

Our client is seeking an accomplished Financial Services leader to drive the continued growth and development of its Financial Services industry practice.

This individual will serve as a senior industry leader responsible for expanding client relationships, developing new business, shaping go-to-market strategy, and connecting clients with the full breadth of the firm’s capabilities.

The ideal candidate will have built their career on a strong foundation in Audit or Tax within the Financial Services sector, while evolving into a broader commercial and industry leadership role. This person should understand how financial services organizations operate, the challenges their executives face, and how to identify opportunities that extend well beyond a single service line.

Rather than functioning primarily as an Audit or Tax Partner, this leader will take an enterprise-wide view of client relationships and serve as a strategic connector across the firm.

Key Responsibilities

Industry Leadership & Strategy

• Provide strategic leadership for the firm’s Financial Services industry practice.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive growth strategy across key Financial Services markets and client segments.
• Identify emerging industry trends, regulatory developments, market disruptions, and client needs that create opportunities for the firm.
• Help establish the firm’s market positioning, messaging, thought leadership, and overall presence within the Financial Services sector.
• Work closely with senior firm leadership to establish growth priorities, target markets, investment opportunities, and strategic initiatives.

Business Development & Market Expansion

• Originate and develop new relationships with financial services organizations and senior executives.
• Build relationships with key decision-makers including CEOs, CFOs, CAOs, CROs, CIOs, boards, owners, investors, and other senior stakeholders.
• Develop relationships that extend beyond a single project or service line and create opportunities for broader, long-term client partnerships.
• Identify opportunities to introduce additional capabilities across the firm based on client needs.
• Lead strategic pursuits and coordinate multidisciplinary teams around complex client opportunities.
• Build and maintain a strong network of referral sources, industry contacts, financial sponsors, attorneys, bankers, technology providers, and other centers of influence.

Client Relationship Leadership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior executives within Financial Services organizations.
• Maintain a strong understanding of each client’s business strategy, operating environment, risk profile, growth objectives, and broader organizational challenges.
• Identify needs across areas such as Audit, Tax, Risk, Advisory, Technology, Cybersecurity, Transactions, Accounting, Finance Transformation, Outsourcing, Data, and other professional services.
• Bring together the appropriate subject matter experts across the firm to address client needs.
• Strengthen and expand existing client relationships through coordinated cross-functional account development.

Practice Collaboration

• Partner with leaders across Audit, Tax, Advisory, Consulting, Technology, Risk, and other service areas to deliver integrated solutions to Financial Services clients.
• Create greater coordination across existing Financial Services relationships throughout the firm.
• Help service-line leaders understand market opportunities and develop industry-specific offerings.
• Encourage a collaborative approach to client ownership and business development.
• Support the development of Financial Services professionals throughout the organization.

Market Presence

• Represent the firm externally within the Financial Services community.
• Participate in industry conferences, associations, executive forums, and other relevant market activities.
• Develop thought leadership around important issues affecting Financial Services organizations.
• Enhance the firm’s visibility and reputation among executives, investors, referral sources, and other industry stakeholders.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will bring a combination of technical credibility, Financial Services industry expertise, commercial leadership, and demonstrated business development success.

Ideal qualifications include:

• Significant professional services experience serving Financial Services clients.
• A strong career foundation in Audit or Tax, ideally at the Partner, Managing Director, or equivalent level.
• Demonstrated progression from technical or functional leadership into broader industry, market, or client leadership.
• Deep understanding of the Financial Services sector and the business issues affecting financial institutions and related organizations.
• Proven ability to originate and expand senior-level client relationships.
• Experience selling and delivering solutions beyond the candidate’s original technical discipline.
• Strong understanding of how to bring together multiple professional services capabilities around complex client needs.
• Demonstrated success leading large pursuits, developing strategic accounts, and generating significant new revenue.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to engage credibly with C-suite executives, boards, investors, and other senior stakeholders.
• A collaborative leadership style and the ability to influence professionals across multiple service lines and geographies.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong orientation toward growth, relationship development, and market creation.

Preferred Background

Candidates may currently hold titles such as:

• Financial Services Industry Leader
• Financial Institutions Practice Leader
• Financial Services Managing Partner
• Banking & Capital Markets Leader
• Financial Services Market Leader
• Regional Financial Services Leader
• Financial Services Audit Partner
• Financial Services Tax Partner

Candidates who currently sit within Audit or Tax should demonstrate a clear history of operating beyond their technical specialty and developing broader, multidisciplinary client relationships.

Leadership Attributes

Our client is particularly interested in leaders who:

• Think first about the client and industry rather than an individual service line.
• Naturally identify opportunities across a broad portfolio of capabilities.
• Are comfortable opening relationships and then bringing other specialists into the conversation.
• Combine technical credibility with strong commercial instincts.
• Operate effectively in entrepreneurial, growth-oriented environments.
• Build trust internally and externally.
• Can create structure, strategy, and momentum around a growing industry practice.
• Are motivated by the opportunity to build something significant rather than simply inherit an established book of business.