Global Assurance Communications and Engagement Leader - Associate Director in London

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The Brand, Marketing and Communications (BMC) function has an important role to play in helping to achieve EY’s ambition to create long-term value as the world’s most trusted, distinctive professional services organization. We work hand in hand with the business to take services and solutions to market; bring our purpose, building a better working world, to life for our people, clients and communities; engage our people and build a high performing culture; and to build the commercial value and emotional resonance of the EY brand.

Through the collective power of BMC, and the other teams and specialists we work with, we aim to build a better working world by driving commercial value through distinctive marketing and communications that deliver measurable market impact.

The opportunity EY Assurance (Assurance) is a global leader in audit and assurance services, building trust in the capital markets and supporting better business decisions. By leveraging top talent, innovative technology and continuous improvement, Assurance is transforming its offerings to deliver measurable impact for its stakeholders, its people and society, all in line with EY’s purpose of Building a better working world.

The Global Assurance Communications and Engagement Leader (CE Leader) plays a critical role within the Global Assurance BMC team. Together with the Global Assurance BMC Leader and the wider BMC team, the CE Leader will contribute to strengthening the global Service Line’s market position and understanding of how our professionals serve the public interest to help the world work better.

As a senior communicator in BMC, you will be expected to work closely with your peers to co-create and align behind our overall CE strategic direction and global planning. You will help to ensure consistency in how we deliver audience-centric, data-driven communications across EY, as part of our CE transformation ambitions.

This key position supports Global Assurance business objectives by developing and delivering effective internal communications that align with the service line’s priorities. Responsibilities include interacting with and advising Global Assurance leaders on communicating practice strategies and change management goals, leadership and operational communications and executing creative and inspiring messaging that increases and improves community engagement. This role is also responsible for planning and executing the communications and stakeholder engagement aspects of strategic projects and initiatives in tandem with Global Assurance brand and marketing, ensuring a seamless and aligned internal and external flow of communications.

Key to the role is the strategic oversight of an integrated communications plan; managing the cadence of communications/messages appropriately; and teaming with Assurance leaders throughout the global organization and stakeholders across the firm. You will be also expected to have, or to quickly establish, a strong internal network and will be required to work with and lead team members to inspire audiences, deliver on program goals and identify appropriate key performance indicators.

Success in this role will be demonstrated through the establishment of trusted advisor relationships with your Assurance executives; an ability to quickly and effectively deliver varied forms of communications on complex material, including conceptualizing presentations; analysing key audience needs; and maximizing the use of communications channels across the firm. In addition, expectations include delivering comprehensive reporting for programs and leading the CE team as they develop and execute an annual communications strategy.

Your key responsibilities include:

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge on BMC and Assurance issues, trends and long-term implications for EY’s brand strategy generally and its CE approach in particular.
• Develop strong ‘trusted advisor’ relationships with Global Assurance senior leadership.
• Lead and mentor the CE professionals within the Assurance BMC team.
• Build a well-connected network outside of Assurance, including across Client Service (other service lines and Clients & Industries) and Growth & Innovation (G&I), and working closely with BMC colleagues across our Regions in CE and Brand and Marketing to help ensure integrated activities across the business.
• Support awareness of Global CE priorities and practices within the Assurance CE team, facilitating aligned execution, learning and efficiencies.
• Develop ideas and share innovative and creative communication approaches to key projects.
• Oversee the development of global communications and engagement plans, messages and assets in support of the Global Assurance priorities, ensuring they are aligned as part of the Client Service ecosystem, and amplify our voice and impact internally with the EY organization and externally in the market, with clarity and consistency.
• Take an organizational-level view of implications: manage competing forces and drive understanding, motivation and stakeholder value.
• Enable all Assurance professionals to articulate, own and activate the compelling story and narrative behind the Assurance brand strategy, working closely with the BM Leader.
• Responsible for working with EY member firm CE Leaders to align and deploy BMC Assurance global programs to Regions, delivering greater impact.
• Have financial management responsibilities for all Global Assurance CE programs.

Skills and attributes for success:

• Must be able to communicate well with senior leaders and stakeholders, collaborate effectively, building consensus as a seasoned negotiator and diplomat.
• The ability to work successfully with diverse personalities and work styles is critical, as is working with urgency, as many initiatives are extremely time sensitive.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge, skills and abilities concerning global business fundamentals, business models, ethics, competitive analysis and cross-cultural/geographical sensitivities.
• Must be able to work effectively across geographic borders and time zones, managing complex global programs.
• Must be well organized, an excellent writer and storyteller, skilled listener, project manager and disciplined with time management.
• To deliver on Global Assurance and BMC strategic priorities, must learn to identify key practice priorities and revenue goals, and work to achieve the desired results.
• Must be able to influence, gain support and commitment, mobilize people and use creative approaches to execute work that will help meet Global Assurance and BMC strategic goals.
• Must help drive process and consistency where possible, developing appropriate project plans in alignment with BMC project management methodologies and professional standards.

To qualify for the role you must have:

• Bachelor’s degree with 10 years of experience (or equivalent area of study or experience); professional or higher qualification in Communications, Corporate Communications, Marketing Communications or Public Relations preferred.
• Significant strategic internal communications experience with proven track record in supporting executive teams in a high-performing Global environment.
• Strong verbal and written English.

Ideally, you’ll also:

• Working knowledge of EY, the professional services sector, or matrix organizations.
• Demonstrable track record in working with external creative agencies.
• Show initiative, coupled with accuracy and attention to detail; demonstrate reliability.
• Demonstrate the ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage several projects concurrently, through excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Be a strong self-starter and lateral thinker, comfortable working collaboratively, virtually and independently.
• Understand EY and the Assurance business; effectively navigate EY’s and BMC’s matrix organization to access, inform and engage the right people at the right time.
• Exercise the ability to look ahead and anticipate trends and issues that will affect clients' messages and strategies.
• Be prepared to travel to different locations as required.

What we offer you:

The compensation ranges below are provided in order to comply with United States pay transparency laws. Other geographies will follow their local salary guidelines, which may not be a direct conversion of published US salary ranges. At EY, we’ll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world-class experiences. We’ll empower you in a flexible environment, and fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to the business.

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today. EY accepts applications for this position on an on-going basis.

EY focuses on high-ethical standards and integrity among its employees and expects all candidates to demonstrate these qualities.

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