Associate

About Brunswick

Brunswick is a strategic advisory firm focused on critical issues. Our purpose is to help the great value-creating organizations of the world play a more successful role in society.

We advise on critical issues at the center of business, politics and society, and help our clients – the leaders of large, complex organizations – understand and navigate these interconnected worlds.

Brunswick is one firm globally, operating as a single profit center. This allows us to respond seamlessly and effectively to clients’ needs wherever they are in the world.

Background

Founded in London in 1987, Brunswick’s global partnership has grown organically to 27 offices in 18 countries. We began as a M&A and financial communications firm and today provide expert advice to our clients on a range of business critical issues.

Brunswick in Japan

Brunswick has been advising on Japan-related issues for over a decade and today has a team of Japan specialists which spans Asia, Europe and the Americas. The firm helps many of Japan’s leading businesses to navigate critical situations such as crisis, M&A, activist campaigns, restructuring and litigation, bringing a multi-stakeholder approach to engage effectively with institutional investors, regulators, the media, employees, shareholder activists, NGOs and other key audiences. Brunswick also helps many multi-national corporates to engage effectively in high-stakes situations with key audiences and stakeholders in Japan.

Brunswick formally opened its Tokyo office in 2020. Today, we have around 10 multi-lingual consultants in Tokyo from diverse backgrounds. This team works with Japan specialists in overseas markets (New York, Washington D.C., London and Singapore) as well as our team of global experts to provide seamless, around-the-clock advice and support for clients in critical situations.

At a time when Japan’s role and influence in global markets and geopolitics is growing and evolving, and as global investors and businesses become re-energised around the opportunities in Japan, Brunswick serves as a bridge to enable Japanese companies to be successful outside the home market as well as global companies to successfully navigate in Japan.

Opportunity

Brunswick Group is seeking an Associate with strategic stakeholder expertise to join our growing Tokyo office. Associates are able to leverage their own specialized skills and backgrounds while operating in Brunswick’s generalist environment. 

Client Contribution & Handling

• Serve as an expert to clients on reputation, financial and crisis situations across multiple industries including Financial Institutions, Industrial & Infrastructure, Healthcare & Life Sciences and Energy & Resources
• Provide relevant insight, guidance and counsel to clients
• Play integral role in new business process; manage RFPs and participate in pitch preparation

Team Management

• Mentor and manage team members; work with Partner and Director on the day-to-day management of staff and client deliverables
• Oversee research and monitoring assignments; responsible for distilling a large amount of information into the most impactful and helpful points
• Manage the development of key client documents by playing a vital role in drafting, editing and routing throughout the internal process and external delivery
• Develop strategic  stakeholder engagement plan and documents including but not limited to talking points, Q&As, etc.

Networking

• Build and foster a network of advisors including bankers, lawyers, management consultants and journalist to understand business critical issues and priorities
• Proactively build a network locally to identify talent referrals, new business prospects and media contacts

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 7-10+ years of relevant work experience in a corporate/advisory role for strategy planning, business development, corporate reputation, financial and crisis situations
• Deep understanding of business in Japan; knowledge and experience in diverse financial, political and societal issues are a plus
• Fluent spoken and written English and Japanese (native level Japanese is preferred)
• Ability to operate effectively in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced environment
• Exceptional written and verbal communication ability
• Energetic team player with strong self-motivation
• Experience managing teams and passionate about mentoring junior staff
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, with strong problem-solving skills
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to multitask in high-pressure situations
• Exhibit discretion with confidential client matters
• Passionate to work in an international environment, strengthening Japan’s global engagement.

Ideal Candidate

• A rising advisor with experience counseling clients or leading in Japanese/international enterprises on business-critical issues (e.g. strategy planning/business development, crisis, M&A, financial situations, geopolitical, etc.). Comfortable to engage in front of the c-suite of large Japanese companies.
• Adept at navigating and succeeding within high-performance, entrepreneurial environments
• Excellent communicator with professional polish and strong emotional intelligence
• Entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit
• Desire to mentor and willingness to train junior staff

Brunswick Group Inclusion and Diversity Statement

Maintaining and strengthening a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace are pillars of Brunswick’s culture and key to our future success. Valuing and supporting every colleague as an individual while helping them reach their full potential is critical to attracting and developing our greatest strength – our people. By embracing our differences and diverse perspectives we create richer experiences within our firm and enhance the quality of the ideas and advice that we deliver to our clients.

More information about Brunswick’s approach to diversity and inclusion is available here.

Our Tokyo team includes colleagues from background in government, legal, consulting, and in-house roles in private corporations. 80%+ are native speakers of Japanese and around 50% of full time team members are female.