Associate Director, Advisory

Ashbury Communications Limited; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashbury Communications is seeking an Associate Director, Advisory based in Hong Kong or Singapore to lead senior client relationships and shape communications strategies for financial institutions across Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

You will guide cross-border media initiatives, develop strategic plans, and mentor junior staff while embedding AI tools for effective client work. Fluent English and regional network are essential, with additional Asian language skills a plus.

Qualifications

• Eight+ years in financial communications.
• International exposure across APAC and the Middle East.
• Strong network with financial media.
• Interest in sustainability and technology.
• Ability to lead and mentor junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Support clients across Asia Pacific and the Middle East by building and protecting reputations.
• Network with international and regional financial media.
• Represent clients in building and maintaining media relations across Asia; Middle East exposure a plus.
• Lead account management including profitability and resource planning.
• Identify new business opportunities and contribute to pitches.
• Advise junior team members and contribute to media training.

Skills

Financial communications

Media relations

Strategic counsel

C-suite advisory

Storytelling

English fluency

Cross-border experience

Education

University degree

Job description

Associate Director, Advisory
Based in Hong Kong or Singapore

Ashbury Communications, an award-winning strategic communications consultancy is looking for an outstanding individual who has a passion for telling compelling stories to join our team as an Associate Director, Advisory.

Key responsibilities
In this role, the candidate will:

• Support our growing portfolio of clients across Asia Pacific and the Middle East by building and protecting their reputations.
• Proactively network with international and regional financial media across Asia; with networking with international and regional media in the Middle East an added advantage.
• Represent clients in building and maintaining media relations across Asia; with Middle East an added advantage.
• Take ownership of senior client relationships and initiatives; counsel clients on communications strategy, from strategy development to day-to-day execution.
• Lead the account management of clients under his/ her portfolio, including profitability and resourcing, with support from the Head of Advisory as required.
• Identify new business opportunities with existing clients.
• Look out for potential new clients and contribute to new business ideas.
• Lead or contribute to new business pitches.
• Advise junior members of the team, providing direction, feedback and guidance.
• Support our Managing Partner or other senior members of the team in delivering media training.
• Embed the use of various AI tools in client work.
• Collaborate with the rest of the Advisory team and the Content team based in Hong Kong, Singapore, the UAE and the UK.

Key competencies
We’re looking for someone who embodies our values of curiosity, boldness and accountability – and who has a clear passion for doing great work with great clients. To succeed in this role, the candidate will have:

• At least eight years of financial communications experience.
• International exposure and cross-border business acumen.
• A strong network of relationships with international and regional financial media across Asia; with network with international and regional media in the Middle East an added advantage.
• A deep interest in the future of finance, especially sustainability and technology.
• Curiosity in the business of our clients.
• Outstanding client service delivery and key account management skills demonstrated by advising C-suite executives on communications strategy.
• The confidence to advance new ideas and enter into constructive debate with the team, senior clients and global media.
• An entrepreneurial and self-starting mentality.
• High attention to detail and passion for high quality.
• Ability to collaborate with others and lead junior members of the team.
• Excellent storytelling and analytical skills.
• Fluent written and spoken English, with Chinese or other Asian languages considered an advantage.

Background of candidates
We welcome candidates with:

• Background in in‑house financial communications, agency or financial media.
• University or post‑graduate qualification from any discipline of studies from a reputable university.
• The right to work in Hong Kong or Singapore preferred.

About Ashbury

At Ashbury Communications, we help clients build intelligent reputations.

Founded in 2020 by Adam Harper, a seasoned communications adviser with more than two decades of experience in financial media and strategic communications, we are an independent strategic communications consultancy built on credibility, rigour and insight.

We are built specifically for the finance sector, and we are recognised across Asia, the UK and the Middle East for advising global financial institutions. Our distinctive approach blends financial specialisation advisory and PR capabilities with original content creation, from podcast production to newsletter design. We specialise in translating complex financial and sustainability narratives into stories that resonate with investors, regulators, media and other stakeholders.

Our team of senior professionals bring diverse backgrounds in investment banking, in‑house corporate communications, financial journalism and creative content production. Together, we bring the discipline of an investment bank’s communications team, the analytical depth of a think‑tank and the agility of a newsroom. This breadth of experience allows us to advise clients with confidence, discretion and reliability — qualities that underpin our long‑term partnerships with banks, asset managers, private equity firms, family offices and corporates across Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

In 2025, we were listed among the Best Financial PR Agencies in the World and Best Agencies in Asia‑Pacific by PRovoke Media, citing our growth as “largely driven by its reputation for delivering high‑quality content and effective communication strategies tailored to the unique needs of the financial industry.”

In 2023, we were named Asia‑Pacific Financial Services PR Consultancy of the Year by PRovoke Media, and were shortlisted for the Global Financial PR Agency of the Year award. In 2021, a year after Ashbury was founded, PRovoke recognised Ashbury as the Asia‑Pacific New Consultancy of the year.