Public Affairs Executive (September 2026 Start)

Job Title: Public Affairs Executive

Reporting to (Job Title): Director, Public Affairs

Objective of role: Support the delivery of the public affairs strategy in a variety of areas, to ensure that the trust and reputation of the industry continues to grow amongst key stakeholders and that positive policies to support the competitiveness of UK based financial and related professional services are delivered.

Start date: w/c 21 September 2026

Closing Date: 5pm, 17 June 2026

We reserve the right to close an advert early if we identify suitable candidates.

First Round Interviews: w/c 29 June 2026

Key Activities & Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of TheCityUK’s programme of roundtable engagement, aligned to organisational and political priorities. This includes identifying interesting speakers, securing them for events and ensuring the events are delivered to a high standard.
• Leading on TheCityUK’s engagement with selected key stakeholders, or on policy campaigns, as allocated by the Director, Public Affairs.
• Supporting the work of TheCityUK’s Business Council, working closely with the Chair, Director, Public Affairs and MD for PAPR to deliver an interesting programme of meetings and speakers for the Group, and ensure feedback from this senior committee is reflected in the priorities of the PA team.
• Deliver our highest profile parliamentary events.
• Deliver TheCityUK’s programme of events, member dinners, fringe panels and a reception – during the party conference season, including by:
  
  

o Managing our relationship with our partner providersKey Relationships & Interfaces

• Securing speakers
• Providing all briefing materials required for speakers
• Provide briefings for TheCityUK CEO and senior team in advance of meetings with politicians.
• Work with teams across the organisation to advise on political engagement.
• Provide public affairs and parliamentary updates to relevant colleagues, highlighting key announcements and opportunities for TheCityUK to influence.
• Support the public affairs team in distributing reports and key messages to policymakers, including through mailings and briefings.
• Prepare agendas and papers for internal public affairs team meetings as required.
• Liaise with teams across the organisation to update on public affairs team activity and key external dates (liaising with internal teams and TheCityUK’s public affairs agency).
• Lead on taking notes and minutes at meetings and events and arrange follow-up actions, including drafting blogs, newsletters and thank you letters.
• Perform any other duties as required to fulfil the role and objectives of the PA team.
  
  

Internal

• TheCityUK Public Affairs team
• TheCityUK ExCo, Policy team, Events team and Member Insight team and other colleagues
• Chairs and members of key committees
  
  

External

• Policymakers, MPs, Lords,
• Advisers, civil servants and offices of key policymakers
• TheCityUK’s public affairs agency as required
• Key contacts within other member organisations and representatives
• Key industry bodies and individuals
  
  

Person Specification

• Experience of a public affairs environment
• Understanding of and interest in Westminster and UK politics, including an interest in UK parliament
• “Self-starting”/prioritising tasks/attention to detail/conscientious/takes responsibility and ownership
• Excellent influencing and communications skills
• A collaborative and collegiate style
• Experience of a client and/or member service environment
• Ability to network, develop relationships and work with senior individuals across a range of organisations
• Analytical and writing skills of a high calibre
• Ability to develop and learn as policy areas develop
• Good understanding of broader communications and stakeholder engagement skills
• Academic or career experience in relevant public policy areas
• Educated to Degree level/or equivalent experience
• Ability to use AI tools responsibly to support routine tasks and exercise judgement, where relevant
  
  

This role is based in London but may involve travel elsewhere in the UK as required. TheCityUK office is a small and close-knit team with a flexible approach to tasks and responsibilities. It is essential that the candidate appreciates and can work within these conditions.

Values at TheCityUK

These core set of values are essential for effective performance in our company and provides a common purpose as to how we deliver our work on a daily basis.

• We create value
• We embrace excellence
• We empower each other
• We act with agility
• We work as one team
  
  

To find out more about our values and the standards of behaviour, please visit our webpage www.thecityuk.com/careers/

About TheCityUK

TheCityUK is the industry-led body representing UK-based financial and related professional services. We champion and support the success of the ecosystem, and thereby our members, promoting policies in the UK and internationally that drive competitiveness, support job creation and enable long-term economic growth. The industry contributes over 12% of the UK’s total economic output and employs almost 2.5 million people – with two thirds of these jobs outside London across the country’s regions and nations. It pays more corporation tax than any other sector and is the largest net exporting industry. The industry plays an important role in enabling the transition to net zero and driving economic growth across the wider economy through its provision of capital, investment, professional advice and insurance. It also makes a real difference to people in their daily lives, helping them save for the future, buy a home, invest in a business and manage risk.

Equal Opportunity

TheCityUK is committed to equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or gender.

We are proud to be a disability confident committed employer and, as such, all disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the job as set out in the job description and person specification will be guaranteed an interview. Please advise at application stage or discuss in more detail at careers@thecityuk.com