Account Executive - Corporate Affairs

Who we are:

Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation.

WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com 

For more information visit bursonglobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Burson’s Corporate Affairs team uses insight, creativity, and expertise to build and protect the reputations of some of the world’s most influential brands, companies and organisations. We are trusted advisers when the stakes are high — helping clients navigate today’s complex challenges, while anticipating tomorrow’s trends and issues.

Our clients span industries from financial services to technology, consumer goods to retail and automotive. Our teams bring together experts in Corporate Reputation, Crisis & Risk, Business Transformation and Employee Engagement, Leadership Communications— offering fully integrated solutions with precision and pace.

Corporate Affairs is home to agency natives, former journalists, and in-house leads. We prize rigour, quality and agility, and are true partners to our clients — but we also believe work should be collaborative, creative, and enjoyable.

What you'll do

• Client & Stakeholder Management: Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, building strong relationships and confidently advising senior stakeholders on sensitive reputational matters.


• Issues & Crisis Management: Proactively manage and mitigate reputational risks and crises for a diverse portfolio of B2B and/or B2C clients, spanning a wide range of complex issues from sustainability and cybercrime to D&I and corporate restructuring.


• Media Relations & Engagement: Act as a skilled media handler, proactively engaging with journalists, managing inquiries, and shaping narratives during critical and high-pressure situations.


• Strategic Problem Solving: Apply initiative, critical thinking, and a keen problem-solving ability to support the development and implementation of effective communication strategies that protect and enhance client reputations.


• Business Development Contribution: Actively participate in new business initiatives, contributing to pitches and proposals to expand the agency's issues and crisis management portfolio.


• Cross-Functional Collaboration: While specialising in issues and crisis, you will have opportunities to contribute across various practice elements, gaining broad exposure within a dynamic PR environment.


• Reputation Safeguarding: Be at the forefront of safeguarding client reputations, providing timely, strategic counsel and executing rapid response plans to navigate complex challenges.

Experience that contributes to success

• Strategic Acumen & Market Awareness: Demonstrated interest in and understanding of business issues, news, politics, and media, with the ability to identify trends and their implications for clients.


• Drive for Excellence: Possesses ambition, commitment to achieving outstanding results, and a proactive "can-do" attitude, consistently contributing to team success.


• Adaptability & Resilience: Proven ability to thrive in fast-paced, constantly evolving environments, adapting quickly to new challenges and priorities.


• Collaborative Learning & Initiative: Eager to learn from industry leaders, with the drive to actively engage and contribute to building and managing client corporate reputations.


• Core PR & Media Proficiency: Competence in foundational PR skills, including comprehensive earned media management, effective press office administration, and strong research capabilities.


• Digital Fluency: Expanding understanding of the digital and social media landscape, with the ability to utilise digital tools to enhance client service and campaign delivery.


• Operational Excellence: Demonstrated ability in high-quality, proactive account administration, efficient programme support, and accurate, timely reporting.


• Problem-Solving & Innovation: A strategic thinker with curiosity and a proactive approach to identifying solutions and supporting campaign objectives.


• Strategic thinker, able thrive in a fast paced and constantly changing environment, with curiosity and knowledge of the world we live in, the media agenda and how this applies to our clients.

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