Senior Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer

The Opportunity:

Mesirow is an independent, employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937. Headquartered in Chicago, with offices around the world, we serve clients through a personal, custom approach to reaching financial goals. With capabilities spanning Private Capital & Currency, Capital Markets & Investment Banking, and Advisory Services, we invest in what matters: our clients, our communities and our culture. We are proud of our employee-owned culture, built on collaboration and shared success, empowering our professionals to develop meaningful relationships, pursue growth opportunities and make a lasting impact for our clients and communities. Mesirow has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business multiple times and is one of Barron’s Top 100 RIA firms.

Based at our Chicago headquarters, the Senior Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer provides vital, high-level support to the firm’s CEO. As a trusted partner to the CEO, you will help ensure the CEO’s time, priorities, and communications are managed with precision. The position demands exceptional attention to detail, absolute discretion with confidential matters, sound independent judgment, and the ability to manage competing priorities and complex administrative operations. To learn more about Mesirow and the Company’s CEO, please click here: Mesirow announces Shawn Beber as Chief Executive Officer

Responsibilities:

• Provide comprehensive executive administrative support to the CEO, anticipating needs and acting proactively to keep the CEO’s priorities on track.
• Serve as a polished extension of the CEO’s office, exercising sound judgment and gravitas when interacting with the Board, senior leadership, employees, clients, and key external partners.
• Draft and manage correspondence on the CEO’s behalf, including professional emails, internal memos, and firmwide and leadership communications.
• Design and refine presentation materials in PowerPoint, building clean, high-impact slide decks, executive summaries, and meeting collateral for the CEO, including Board and leadership team presentations.
• Coordinate domestic and international travel for the CEO, including air, hotel, and ground transportation.
• Manage the CEO’s complex and demanding calendar, including scheduling, prioritizing meetings, and promptly notifying participants of changes.
• Create meeting invitations in Microsoft Outlook that include all relevant information, such as agenda, attendees, room details, prep materials, and video conferencing requirements.
• Lead the coordination and planning of firmwide events hosted by the CEO, including town halls and the annual stockholders meeting.
• Navigate the internal organization (formal and informal structures) and act as the CEO’s liaison among senior leaders, clients, and external contacts, discerning which issues are urgent and prioritizing accordingly.
• Take an active role in firmwide projects and strategic initiatives on the CEO’s behalf as requested.
• Assist with the implementation of corporate policies and procedures across the firm.
• Answer and screen phone calls on behalf of the CEO, communicating messages and information accurately and promptly.
• Prepare expense reports and supporting documentation in a timely manner.
• Coordinate webcasts, video conferences, and telephone conferences as needed.
• Complete other reasonable projects and tasks as requested.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience as an executive assistant supporting senior-level executives, ideally at the CEO or C-suite level and preferably within financial services. A distinguished track record of managing high-level engagements and delicate stakeholder relationships, with the utmost personal discretion and professional integrity.
• Experience in executive-level calendar management, meeting management, time management, strategic planning of tasks, complex travel management, expense processing, phone management, client handling, and event planning.
• Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to handle heavy demands efficiently, meet deadlines, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Advanced knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite, with a strong aptitude for learning new skills, systems, and processes.
• Experience analyzing and resolving office administrative and procedural issues.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to complete tasks with superior accuracy.
• Polished written and verbal communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.
• Self-starter who takes initiative and works with autonomy.
• Positive and approachable demeanor.
• Effectiveness in navigating the breadth of the firm to ensure tasks and responsibilities are achieved.
• Willingness to take on additional duties and responsibilities over time and develop in the role.

In accordance with the Illinois Pay Transparency Law, the anticipated hiring base salary for the role will be between $90,000 and $110,000 per year. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, also provides the opportunity for a bonus and the Mesirow benefit program.

EOE