We are the leading provider of professional services to the middle market globally, our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. Our exceptional people are the key to our unrivaled, culture and talent experience and our ability to be compelling to our clients. You’ll find an environment that inspires and empowers you to thrive both personally and professionally. There’s no one like you and that’s why there’s nowhere like RSM.
The Leadership Initiative Senior Associate for Markets provides project management, coordination, and leadership support to advance defined market and location priorities for the Bay Area and Los Angeles. The role independently manages assigned low- to moderate-risk projects and recurring leadership processes, prepares leadership-ready materials, coordinates stakeholders, tracks commitments, identifies risks, and escalates decisions or barriers appropriately. The position may coordinate executive support activities as needed and serves as a resource for established firm processes and tools.
1. Execute market and location priorities
· Translate defined priorities into workplans with clear outcomes, owners, milestones, dependencies, risks, and success measures.
· Independently coordinate assigned low- to moderate-risk projects and recurring workstreams through implementation and closeout.
· Maintain project documentation, action trackers, and follow-up routines; elevate barriers or decisions requiring leadership attention.
· Prepare accurate agendas, presentations, decision materials, status updates, and other leadership-ready deliverables.
2. Coordinate growth, relationships, and market opportunities
· Coordinate activity with Growth, Industry, Market Development, client-serving leaders, and other partners supporting priority relationships and opportunities.
· Connect alumni, professional organizations, community partnerships, sponsorships, employee network groups, and market events to defined objectives.
Gather and synthesize market, industry, talent, and community information into concise observations and potential opportunities.
3. Enable governance, communications, and meeting execution
· Coordinate leadership meetings, growth forums, all-hands sessions, owner or partner forums, and other strategic cadences.
· Manage invitations, logistics, materials, notes, decisions, action items, owners, due dates, and follow-through.
· Draft and proofread leader-ready communications, talking points, presentations, announcements, and executive summaries.
· Coordinate calendar or executive support activities when included in the aligned support model.
4. Support culture, talent, alumni, and community priorities
· Coordinate assigned culture, talent, alumni, community, and employee experience initiatives at leadership direction.
· Support plans, calendars, budgets, communications, and execution while maintaining alignment to defined market priorities.
· Gather participation, feedback, and outcome information and summarize themes through appropriate leadership channels.
5. Provide reporting and operational support
· Maintain dashboards, trackers, project plans, resource libraries, procedures, and collaboration workspaces.
· Prepare concise reporting on initiative status, risks, resource needs, dependencies, and recommended next actions.
· Identify process gaps, duplication, and repeatable practices; implement improvements within assigned scope.
6. Contribute knowledge and team capability
· Serve as a resource for established firm processes, systems, and tools and connect stakeholders with appropriate functional owners.
· Facilitate working sessions and coordinate contributors with differing priorities through influence and follow-through.
· Share practices and provide task-level guidance, training, or informal mentoring as assigned.
7. Perform other duties as assigned
· Provide flexible support for market, location, and leadership priorities consistent with the purpose and level of the role.
Education & Experience
· Associate degree or 2+ years of related experience; bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent relevant experience.
· 4+ years of relevant project management, market or location operations, leadership support, growth enablement, marketing, business development, employee experience, or related experience.
· 1 to 3 years managing multiple projects of low to moderate risk.
· Experience coordinating work across functions and interacting with multiple leadership levels.
Required Skills
· Strong project coordination, planning, documentation, milestone tracking, risk identification, and stakeholder management.
· Business acumen and ability to synthesize information into observations, recommendations, and next steps.
· Executive communication, presentation, proofreading, and advanced Microsoft 365 skills.
· Strong organization, prioritization, discretion, judgment, emotional intelligence, and attention to detail.
· Ability to build trust, influence without authority, work independently within defined scope, and adapt to changing priorities.
At RSM, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people. We offer flexibility in your schedule, empowering you to balance life’s demands, while also maintaining your ability to serve clients. Learn more about our total rewards at https://rsmus.com/careers/working-at-rsm/benefits.
All applicants will receive consideration for employment as RSM does not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment based on race; color; creed; sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances; sex (including pregnancy or disabilities related to nursing); gender; sexual orientation; HIV Status; national origin; ancestry; familial or marital status; age; physical or mental disability; citizenship; political affiliation; medical condition (including family and medical leave); domestic violence victim status; past, current or prospective service in the US uniformed service; US Military/Veteran status; pre-disposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process and/or employment/partnership. RSM is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the recruiting process, please call us at 800-274-3978 or send us an email at careers@rsmus.com.
RSM does not intend to hire entry level candidates who will require sponsorship now OR in the future (i.e. F-1 visa holders). If you are a recent U.S. college / university graduate possessing 1-2 years of progressive and relevant work experience in a same or similar role to the one for which you are applying, excluding internships, you may be eligible for hire as an experienced associate.
RSM will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records. For those living in California or applying to a position in California, please click here for additional information.
At RSM, an employee’s pay at any point in their career is intended to reflect their experiences, performance, and skills for their current role. The salary range (or starting rate for interns and associates) for this role represents numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, education, skills, work experience, certifications, location, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.
Compensation Range: $77,700 - $128,200Individuals selected for this role will be eligible for a discretionary bonus based on firm and individual performance.
About RSM
RSM is a leading global network of assurance, tax and consulting advisors focused on helping businesses navigate change and realize their full potential. With more than 56,000 professionals across more than 120 countries, RSM combines global reach with a distinctly client-centric approach, taking the time to understand each organization’s unique challenges, ambitions and opportunities.
At the heart of RSM’s model is a simple belief: clients need more than technical expertise. They need advisors who understand their business, anticipate what’s ahead and help them move forward with confidence. This commitment to delivering a personalized experience, grounded in deep industry and business knowledge, is reflected in RSM’s promise to instill confidence in a world of change.
RSM US LLP, a member of the global RSM network, brings this approach to the U.S. middle market. As the fifth-largest accounting firm in the United States, RSM US has grown from its founding in 1926 to more than 21,000 professionals serving clients across 119 locations in the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland with additional offices across its international footprint.
Together, RSM’s scale, specialized expertise and understanding of the middle market position the firm to help clients address today’s most pressing challenges while building for what comes next.
Military Support
VALOR (Veterans and Allies Leading Outreach) is RSM’s employee network group dedicated to strengthening the recruitment, retention, development and success of veterans, active and reserve military members, military spouses, families and allies. Through connection, advocacy and professional development, VALOR creates a community where military-connected professionals can build meaningful relationships, advance their careers and bring the unique skills and experiences gained through service to RSM and its clients.
VALOR champions the continued growth and success of its members by connecting them to resources, mentorship, networking and leadership opportunities across RSM. Members share career and military-related resources, advocate for one another and provide a strong network of support, including for colleagues continuing to serve when military commitments or deployments take them away from the workplace.
Beyond RSM, VALOR extends its impact into local communities and the broader military-connected ecosystem through regional and national strategic business alliances, events and initiatives. These efforts create opportunities for professional development, leadership growth, networking, business development and community engagement, while helping RSM attract and retain exceptional military-connected talent.
At its core, VALOR is about turning the strengths of military service into lasting impact for our people, our clients and the communities we serve.
Internships and RSM Excellence Academy
At RSM, you’ll be valued as an individual while interning with our firm. We recognize your accomplishments and unique potential, and mentor you as a future leader. By working directly with RSM professionals and leaders, you’ll move quickly along the learning curve to jump-start your career in accounting, consulting, tax, or operations.
Internships include orientation and training where interns will be prepared to work in client service through a combination of formal and informal training. Interns will receive hands-on experience working with a variety of clients, while teaming up with RSM colleagues and leaders. RSM will provide interns with lunch-and-learn workshops, sporting events, and community service projects. Interns will gather with their peers and co-workers to develop both personally and professionally. Interns will be paired with both a navigator and a career advisor to help transition into their new role. The navigator is a peer aligned with you to help with questions. The career advisor ensures your experience meets your expectations and that you’re doing the right things to work toward that job offer.
The RSM Excellence Academy consists of a three-day summer leadership conference with a stipend and the opportunity to participate in an internship with RSM during the following summer. The Excellence Academy is open to all qualified students who are three years from graduation. The Excellence Academy is designed to align with RSM’s strategic pillar of driving an unrivaled, inclusive culture and talent experience. We recognize efforts of inclusivity and intend to develop outstanding business, accounting, and technology students for internships and full-time employment. Participants will have an opportunity to build relationships that will assist them in their educational and career development. We hope that this experience will provide students with an overall understanding of the professional services industry, RSM’s culture, and the advantages of working in the middle market.