Senior Associate

Sodali & Co; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Sodali & Co, a leading capital markets advisory firm, invites a qualified candidate to join the US Corporate Governance Consulting team. You will work with senior members to support governance and executive compensation insights, manage engagements with clients, and provide guidance on governance matters to align with market expectations.

The role emphasizes identifying risks, offering strategic, practical advice, and collaborating across teams to deliver client-ready governance, compensation,

Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of corporate governance and executive compensation landscapes, incl. incentive plan design, equity plans, pay benchmarking.
• Experience reviewing or drafting proxy statements and understanding CD&A, plus proxy advisory firm reports.
• Familiarity with asset managers, asset owners, and proxy advisory firms on governance, compensation, sustainability.
• Previous consulting experience and ability to manage peak proxy-season demands.
• Experience conducting quantitative analysis of executive compensation is a plus.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills; capable of client engagement and multitasking during high-pressure periods.

Responsibilities

• Monitor governance and executive compensation developments and summarize impacts for clients; provide client-specific solutions.
• Develop investor outreach materials and high-quality engagement decks, talking points, and questions.
• Review client proxy statements with CD&A focus; advise on disclosures for Say on Pay and equity plans.
• Analyze proxy advisory firms' Say on Pay assessments and voting history.
• Support client response strategies to investor inquiries and shareholder proposals.
• Contribute as a topical expert in calls/meetings, assist with project management and deliverables.
• Support team members across multiple functions with ad-hoc client research.

Skills

Corporate governance

Executive compensation knowledge

Proxy statements review

Client engagement

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Microsoft 365 proficiency

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Microsoft 365

Job description

Sodali & Co is a recognized global capital markets stakeholder advisory firm, serving over 2,000 clients in more than 65 countries. The Firm advises a diverse and global client base including many of the world's largest companies. Formed by the mergers of several market-leading capital markets stakeholder engagement consultancies, Sodali is the largest global shareholder services firm in the world. The Firm operates out of three global headquarters in New York, London, and Sydney and is supported by 12 regional offices in major financial capitals around the world.

Sodali provides a full suite of shareholder, sustainability, and strategic communications advisory services that, together, enable the Firm to deliver clients differentiated insights, integrated expertise, and bespoke advice to address complex interconnected issues, identify and capitalize on strategic opportunities, and drive successful business outcomes.

Sodali's Services Include

• Shareholder Advisory services include M&A Advisory, Activism Preparation and Defense, Board Governance Services, Corporate Governance Advisory, Proxy Solicitation, Capital Markets Intelligence, Global Debt and Bondholder Services, and Stakeholder Research.
• Sustainability services include ESG Assessment, Strategy & Implementation, and Communications Advisory.
• Strategic Communications services include Corporate Communications, Financial and Transaction Communications, Investor Relations, Public Affairs and Campaigns, Crisis and Special Situations, and Research.

Our Shareholder Advisory practice supports teams on matters related to proxy solicitation services and M&A and Activism advisory. This includes working with public companies through some of their most critical moments - from annual and special shareholder meetings to mergers and acquisitions, proxy contests, tender offers, and other complex corporate events. Through shareholder monitoring, market surveillance, and strategic analysis, we help clients understand their ownership base, track market activity, and assess exposure to activism and governance risk.

The Opportunity

We currently are seeking a qualified candidate to join our US Corporate Governance Consulting team to work closely with senior members of the team to support the team’s work in delivering clients with insights and updates on governance and executive compensation matters. The candidate will also be responsible for managing certain engagements with clients directly. As part of its consulting engagements, the team provides guidance on the full range of corporate governance matters, anticipating potential challenges to minimize the risk of shareholder activism and alignment of clients' governance profiles with market expectations. Parallel to assessing potential risks from emerging trends, the team provides strategic, practical advice to help clients make informed decisions on corporate governance, board-related matters, executive compensation, and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor latest corporate governance and executive compensation developments, trends and shifts in views (investors, regulators, proxy advisors, activists and shareholder proponents, industry peers, etc.) and communicate relevant findings internally and externally to clients; assess, analyze, and prepare materials that summarize potential impact to clients/our services, and offer client-specific solutions
• Assist in developing investor outreach materials (during off-season and solicitation period) and in preparing high-quality engagement materials, including PowerPoint decks, talking points and potential investor questions
• Critically review client’s proxy statements (past filings and drafts) with a deep dive on the CD&A; provide recommendations on enhancing disclosures for optimal presentation and to navigate potential challenges with investors and proxy advisors on Say on Pay, equity plans, and other compensation-related proposals
• Review and analyze proxy advisory firms' Say on Pay assessments and institutional voting history
• Support client response strategy to investor inquiries and shareholder proposals
• Contribute to the client experience by participating in calls/meetings as topical expert, project management and developing/collaborating on client deliverables
• Support team members across multiple functions; conduct ad-hoc client research requests

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of corporate governance and executive compensation landscape, including an understanding of incentive plan design concepts, equity plans, pay benchmarking, employment contracts, and other compensation topics
• Experience in reviewing or drafting proxy statements, including in-depth understanding of the CD&A, as well as proxy advisory firm reports
• Working knowledge of industry trends and perspectives of asset managers, asset owners and proxy advisory firms on governance, compensation, and sustainability issues
• Prior consulting experience, with a clear understanding of time demands of peak proxy season a plus
• Experience in conducting quantitative analysis of executive compensation a plus
• Well-developed interpersonal skills with the ability to foster internal and external relationships, and to collaborate and thrive in a team environment
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft 365, particularly Excel and PowerPoint; AI proficiency a plus
• Experience in direct engagement with clients
• Exceptional project/time management and organizational skills with ability to prioritize multiple high-quality projects and meet competing deadlines
• Strong sense of accountability and ownership, with high level of attention to detail and accuracy

Sodali & Co is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to support candidates with disabilities or access needs throughout the recruitment process.