Senior Executive Assistant

Description

We are hiring an exceptional Senior Executive Assistant to partner directly with the Senior Country Officer (SCO) in Paris. This is not a traditional support role; it is a high-trust business partnership requiring outstanding judgement commercial awareness pace and executive maturity.
The SCO office will be central to a significant culture and leadership reset and to delivering a major transformation and growth agenda. Success will come from someone who brings sustained motivation energy and intensity - who creates momentum raises standards and keeps a complex agenda moving with calm control.

You will operate as an extension of the SCOs office - anticipating needs protecting time enabling decision-making and ensuring seamless orchestration of a high-profile agenda across internal leadership clients external organisations and key control/support partners. Youll need to be proactive solutions-led and unflappable under pressure handling sensitive matters with impeccable discretion.

This role is 5 days in the office and requires flexible working hours aligned to the SCOs schedule business priorities time-sensitive requests and occasional out-of-hours stakeholder needs.
Banking experience is preferred but not essential. We are hiring first and foremost for attitude discretion judgement and drive. We will consider:

• experienced Executive Assistants/Senior Assistants; and
• high-performing candidates from non-assistant roles seeking a career change into an Executive Assistant career path provided they demonstrate the maturity confidentiality and stakeholder skills required to operate at SCO level.
  Fluency in French and English (written and spoken) is required.

Job Responsibilities

• Strategic business partnership to the SCO
  • Operate as a true business partner: understand SCO priorities and proactively manage time access and follow-through to accelerate the France agenda.
  • Act as a trusted gatekeeper: triage requests protect focus and constructively challenge when needed to ensure time is used for highest-value outcomes.
  • Drive pace and momentum: anticipate issues remove obstacles and push actions to closure across multiple senior stakeholders with minimal direction.
  • Be a culture carrier: model high standards urgency and professionalism; help create the cadence and discipline required for transformation.
• Expert executive coordination (calendar inbox travel logistics)
  • Deliver advanced diary management across multiple time zones; orchestrate complex fast-changing schedules with speed and accuracy.
  • Manage high-volume email flow with sound judgement: triage draft responses where appropriate and escalate critical items quickly.
  • Coordinate complex travel end-to-end (flights accommodation ground transport check-ins visas/immigration documentation as required) in line with corporate policy; remain calm through last-minute changes.
  • Own end-to-end meeting logistics (in-person/virtual via Zoom/Teams): rooms materials attendee coordination transportation printing and tight turnaround changes.
  • Manage the SCOs driver/chauffeur relationship and scheduling where applicable ensuring real-time adjustments are handled seamlessly.
• Senior stakeholder engagement & communications
  • Interface confidently with senior internal leaders and high-profile external stakeholders with discretion professionalism and cultural fluency.
  • Apply diplomacy and emotional intelligence to navigate sensitive situations protect relationships and deliver outcomes.
  • Provide phone coverage and act as a reliable first point of contact when required.
  • Draft crisp executive-ready communications that reflect the SCOs voice and intent.
• Events forums and external engagement support
  • Partner with Marketing and business teams to coordinate high-profile client events and leadership engagements (calendar alignment invitations follow-ups attendee coordination).
  • Support offsites senior visitor programmes and external speaker logistics ensuring polished execution and policy compliance.
• Information management & executive readiness
  • Prepare briefing packs and meeting materials; ensure the SCO is decision-ready with the right context documents and actions.
  • Track actions and follow-ups across stakeholders; drive closure and accountability (including chasing reminders and status visibility).
  • Maintain disciplined information handling in a highly confidential environment.
• Operational excellence systems and governance
  • Process expenses reimbursements and reconciliations accurately and on time including any personal amounts owing where applicable.
  • Navigate internal systems and procedures effectively; maintain strong awareness of policy requirements (cross-border compliance security travel expenses).
  • Apply sound judgement within a regulated environment when coordinating sensitive matters.
• Teamwork leadership and resilience
  • Partner with assistants locally and internationally to ensure seamless coverage and consistent standards.
  • Act as a role model in professionalism ownership service mindset and get it done intensity.
  • Maintain composure and resilience amid constant change competing demands and time-sensitive requests.

Required Qualifications Capabilities & Skills

• Fluency in French and English (written and spoken).
• Significant experience in a high-trust high-discretion environment supporting senior stakeholders or clear evidence of equivalent executive-facing responsibility and confidentiality in another role (career changers welcomed).
• Demonstrated judgement: ability to prioritise protect executive time and handle sensitive information with absolute discretion.
• High motivation and energy/intensity: proven ability to drive pace create momentum and sustain high standards in a demanding environment.
• Proven capability managing complexity and ambiguity with structure speed and calm professionalism.
• Strong stakeholder management: confident engaging senior internal/external contacts with diplomacy and executive presence.
• Excellent organisational skills attention to detail and follow-through; consistently delivers high-quality outcomes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to craft concise professional messages.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office / M365 (Outlook Teams Word PowerPoint Excel).
• Willingness to work 5 days in the office with flexible working hours aligned to the demands of supporting senior leadership.

Preferred Qualifications Capabilities & Skills

• Experience supporting senior leaders in a fast-paced high-accountability environment with significant confidentiality and stakeholder complexity.
• Demonstrated executive presence judgement and discretion - able to act as a trusted gatekeeper and anticipate needs with minimal direction.
• Track record coordinating complex high-stakes diaries international travel and senior stakeholder engagement across multiple time zones and priorities.
• Experience running high-profile engagements (senior visitors external speakers leadership offsites client events/forums) end-to-end with polish and calm execution.
• Comfort operating within policy-driven / regulated settings and partnering effectively with control and support functions.
• Evidence of being a force multiplier in an executive office - raising tempo tightening execution and driving outcomes.
  

Required Experience:

Senior IC

Employment Type : Full-Time
Department / Functional Area: Administration
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1