(Senior) Associate – Executive Search - Financial Services

Korn Ferry; Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Direct exposure to senior executives

International assignments

Clear development and promotion paths

Learning and development support

Job summary

Korn Ferry’s Amsterdam office handles executive search assignments across Financial Services, focusing on identifying senior leaders, C-suite executives, and board members. The role supports the full search lifecycle, collaborating with consultants and international teams to deliver high-quality search work.

The successful candidate will have experience in executive search within Financial Services, strong communication skills, and the ambition to build a long-term career at Korn Ferry.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience required.
• MBA or other advanced degree is an advantage.
• Strong research, analytical, and organisational skills.
• Fluent in English; Dutch is an advantage.
• Experience in executive search within Financial Services.
• Ability to work in an international environment.

Responsibilities

• Support the full executive search lifecycle from market mapping to candidate assessment.
• Maintain high standards of delivery across engagements.
• Collaborate with Consultants and cross-functional teams.
• Identify potential business development opportunities through search execution.

Skills

Executive search experience

Client engagement

Team collaboration

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

(Senior) Associate – Executive Search - Financial Services

Requisition ID

26012

Country Netherlands

Location type Onsite

State / Province Amsterdam

City Amsterdam

About Us

Korn Ferry is a global consulting firm that powers performance. We unlock the potential in your people and unleash transformation across your business - synchronizing strategy, operations, and talent to accelerate performance, fuel growth, and inspire a legacy of change. That’s why the world’s most forward-thinking companies across every major industry turn to us - for a shared commitment to lasting impact and the bold ambition to Be More Than.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, our over 9,000 colleagues globally serve clients in more than 50 countries. We offer five core capabilities that span the full talent lifecycle:

• Organizational Strategy
• Assessment and Succession
• Talent Acquisition
• Leadership Development
• Rewards and Benefits

The opportunity

Korn Ferry’s Talent Acquisition solutions include Executive Search, Professional Search, and Recruitment Process Outsourcing. This role sits within Executive Search, where we support organisations in identifying and attracting senior leaders, C‑suite executives, and Board members who make a real difference.

Korn Ferry is consistently recognised as the world’s leading executive search firm. Most recently, Forbes once again ranked Korn Ferry as the number one Executive Search firm, reflecting our long‑standing reputation for quality, integrity, and trusted client relationships at the most senior levels.

From our Amsterdam office, you will work in a diverse, collaborative, and international environment. You will be involved in local, regional, and global executive search assignments, working closely with colleagues across EMEA and beyond.

Within Executive Search, Korn Ferry continues to deepen its industry and functional expertise, with Financial Services as a key focus area. This role plays an important part in delivering high‑quality search work, building market knowledge, and developing long‑term relationships with both clients and candidates.

We strongly believe in developing our own talent. Many Associate vacancies arise because Senior Associates progress into Principal roles.

The role

As an Associate or Senior Associate within Financial Services Executive Search, you are a core member of the engagement team. You support the full search lifecycle, from market mapping and candidate identification through to assessment, client delivery, and business development support.

You work closely with Consultants and other search professionals and contribute directly to the quality and success of each assignment.

Key responsibilities

Your responsibilities focus on strong execution, sound judgment, and high‑quality market insight.

• Supporting the execution of executive search engagements from start to finish
• Managing key stages of the search process to ensure consistently high standards of delivery
• Identifying, qualifying, and developing senior candidate pipelines within Financial Services
• Engaging with candidates in a professional and credible manner, acting as a strong ambassador for Korn Ferry
• Maintaining accurate and high‑quality market, client, and candidate information in Korn Ferry systems
• Contributing market insight and intelligence to Consultants and engagement teams
• Identifying potential business development opportunities through search execution and sharing these with Consultants
• Supporting the preparation of client‑facing documentation and presentations

Development and progression at Korn Ferry

The Associate and Senior Associate role at Korn Ferry is intentionally designed as a developmental position with a clear and transparent career path.

As you build experience and capability, your level of responsibility increases over time.

At Associate level, you focus on developing strong foundations in research, market mapping, candidate identification, and search execution.

As a Senior Associate, you take greater ownership of assignments, candidate management, and direct interaction with clients.

High‑performing Senior Associates progress to Principal level, where they take on commercial responsibility and lead client relationships.

Throughout your development, you receive on‑the‑job learning, regular feedback, and exposure to senior colleagues, complex searches, and international collaboration.

What we offer our Associates

At Korn Ferry, Associates are viewed as future leaders of the firm.

You can expect:

• Direct exposure to senior executives, C‑suite leaders, and Boards within Financial Services
• Meaningful responsibility within search teams, rather than purely task‑based work
• Collaboration with colleagues across EMEA and participation in international assignments
• Clear development and promotion pathways, based on performance and capability
• A professional, collaborative, and low‑ego culture focused on quality and long‑term relationships
• Strong learning and development support, including exposure to Korn Ferry’s assessment and talent methodologies
• The opportunity to build deep and lasting expertise within Financial Services Executive Search

The successful candidate

You are motivated, intellectually curious, and comfortable working in a high‑quality professional services environment.

You bring:

• Executive search experience within Financial Services or a closely related sector
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with confidence interacting with senior professionals
• The ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively
• A proactive, detail‑oriented, and quality‑driven approach
• Sound judgment, professional integrity, and strong interpersonal skills
• Comfort working independently as well as collaboratively within a team
• The ambition to build a long‑term career in executive search

Education and skills

• An undergraduate degree or equivalent experience is required
• An MBA or other advanced degree is an advantage
• Strong research, analytical, and organisational skills
• Confidence working in an international environment
• Fluent in English; Dutch is an advantage

Are you ready to Be More Than?

Korn Ferry helps organisations align talent and strategy to drive real performance.
We offer an environment where people are supported, ideas are valued, and quality is recognised.

At Korn Ferry, talent thrives. So can you.

Korn Ferry may useAIas part of its recruitment process, but all hiring decisions are made byhumans.

Internal Mobility at Korn Ferry

If you currently work for Korn Ferry or one of our affiliates, you must be eligible to apply for a different position within Korn Ferry to use the Careers Site. If you accept such a position, your benefits programs and Human Resources policies may change. Please consult with your HR contact for the new position concerning application eligibility, including any immigration/visa needs, benefit programs, and HR policies applicable to that position.

Korn Ferry is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.