Senior Associate - Strategic Markets & Account Support, CoE 80-100% in Zurich or Berne

Job description

At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence. We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go. Join EY and help to build a better working world. The opportunity: your next adventure awaits We are seeking a proactive and commercially minded Senior Associate to join our Account Management Center of Excellence (CoE), supporting our Government & Public Sector (GPS) and Private Equity (PE) portfolio. In this role, you will help drive account excellence, market activation and growth initiatives by connecting account teams, client leaders and key stakeholders across EY Switzerland. As part of Core Business Services (CBS), the CoE supports business development, account governance, stakeholder coordination, market insights, client experience and AI-enabled ways of working. You will work within a collaborative and multicultural team, translating market and client insights into actionable recommendations, maintaining high-quality account documentation and supporting initiatives that help EY teams grow and serve clients effectively. Your key responsibilities Account & Market Strategy Development Support Global Client Service Partners (GCSPs), Client Service Partners (CSPs), account teams and Market Segment Leaders in translating account, sector and market priorities into clear activation plans, governance routines and practical next steps. Coordinate account and market activation across priority stakeholders — including account teams, Global Account Managers (GAMs), Commercial Managers, Brand, Marketing and Communications (BMC), Alliances, Big Bets and industry communities — while contributing to account plans, sector planning and Big Bet visibility through structured documentation, action tracking and stakeholder alignment. Help identify and escalate growth opportunities, relationship signals, account risks and market development ideas using our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, EY’s Account Management Frameworks (AMF), LinkedIn Sales Navigator, client intelligence and EY-approved Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. Market Intelligence & Reporting Generate, synthesise and communicate client, stakeholder, industry and market insights that support account discussions, sector priorities and leadership decision-making. Prepare sector intelligence updates, performance reviews, pipeline snapshots, account briefings and leadership-ready reporting covering trends, growth areas, strategic pursuits and activation progress, while maintaining visibility of strategic opportunities, funding activities, campaign actions and client feedback themes. Apply data-driven practices to support pipeline hygiene, CRM discipline, opportunity follow-up and transparent reporting across assigned accounts and market segments. Cross-functional Collaboration & Teaming Act as a reliable coordination point across the CoE, GCSPs, CSPs, account teams, Market Segment Leaders, BMC, Alliances, Commercial Managers and other internal stakeholders, keeping actions, owners, timelines, materials and account repositories organised, up to date and easy to access. Contribute to the CoE’s ‘We are One Team’ spirit by supporting knowledge-sharing, training, collaboration sessions and peer learning across the team. Support community, campaign and relationship-building activities by facilitating introductions, capturing outcomes and following up on agreed actions. Client Relationship & Coordination Maintain stakeholder maps, relationship intelligence and account visibility to support more targeted client engagement and stronger account connectivity. Support Client Experience (CX) activities — including Assessment of Service Quality (ASQ), Engagement Service Quality (ESQ), LENS client feedback, Win/Loss Reviews and feedback discussions — ensuring actions and outcomes are captured, tracked and translated into practical recommendations, improvement actions and activation opportunities. Coordinate high-quality communication between client-facing teams and internal stakeholders to help ensure aligned messaging, timely follow-up and consistent delivery quality. Project & Quality Management Coordinate assigned account plans, governance activities, activation initiatives, reporting cycles and documentation with a strong focus on quality, completeness and timely delivery. Maintain account repositories, Teams environments, briefing materials, dashboards and reusable assets in line with CoE standards, and support quarterly account, sector and pipeline reviews by preparing materials, tracking decisions and ensuring agreed follow-up actions are visible and documented. Work in line with EY quality, compliance, Independence, the LEAD performance and leadership framework, Responsible AI and sustainable performance expectations, including consistent timesheet and working time discipline. AI & Innovation Use EY-approved AI solutions to strengthen client insights, account excellence, sector reporting, briefing preparation, opportunity activation and productivity. Identify and implement AI-enabled automation, process improvements or Account Management Framework (AMF) enhancements that improve consistency, speed, transparency and quality of delivery, and contribute to AI best practices, use cases and reusable approaches across the CoE. Support innovation-led client opportunities, including AI Hub Basel, wavespace, funding and activation activities, by tracking actions, outcomes and follow-ups. Skills and attributes for success Strong communication skills combined with commercial curiosity and analytical thinking, with the ability to connect client intelligence, market trends, pipeline data and stakeholder signals into concise, actionable recommendations for internal stakeholders and leadership. High level of ownership, reliability and attention to detail — especially in account documentation, reporting, CRM hygiene, action tracking and delivery quality — paired with a collaborative mindset and strong stakeholder management skills across matrixed teams, geographies, service lines and functions. Proactive learning attitude and openness to feedback, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment while staying structured, pragmatic and focused on shared outcomes, continuous improvement, AI adoption and sustainable performance. What we look for Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications, economics or a related field (or equivalent professional experience), with relevant experience in account coordination, business development support, project coordination, market research, reporting or stakeholder management in a professional services or client-centric environment. Fluent German and English language skills combined with strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite — especially PowerPoint, Excel, Teams and SharePoint — with confidence in maintaining structured documentation and reporting outputs and working knowledge of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, business research tools or AI-enabled productivity solutions as an advantage. Enthusiastic about learning new tools and technologies, including EY-specific tools such as LENS and EY-specific account management frameworks, and committed to EY quality, compliance, Independence, the LEAD performance and leadership framework, Responsible AI and continuous learning expectations. 2–4 years of experience in a dynamic, global, client-centric environment, with the agility to respond to evolving client and market demands and the proven ability to engage with senior executives in a matrixed, collaborative organisational structure. A strong track record of leveraging business research and data analysis to uncover insights that support strategic decision-making and account development. Exposure to or a keen interest in the Government & Public Sector (GPS) and the Private Equity (PE) Portfolio, and familiarity with AI-powered platforms for enhancing business analysis, messaging strategies and informed decision-making. What’s in it for you Here at EY, you’ll have the chance to build a truly exceptional experience. We’ll empower you with the latest technology and surround you with high-performing teams. Through our coaching and training programs, you’ll develop the skills you need - all while building a network of colleagues, mentors, and leaders who will be on the journey with you at EY and beyond. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone has equal access to opportunities. If you require any accommodation during the recruitment process, we are happy to support you. Click here to find out more about our benefits and corporate social responsibility. Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today. EY | Building a better working world EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets. Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow. EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.