What are the responsibilities and job description for the US Banking Correspondent position at Financial Times?
About us
The Financial Times is one of the world's leading news organisations, globally recognised for its authority, integrity and accuracy, with a mission to deliver quality information and services worldwide.
At the FT, curiosity thrives and ambitious thinking is rewarded. Here, you're given the chance to reach millions, create work that matters and deliver impartial journalism in a polarised world.
In our warm, collaborative culture, you'll connect with a diverse community of experts who support your growth, career aspirations and wellbeing.
Your future at the FT will be filled with opportunities that challenge and inspire you. With no fixed path, you'll discover new skills and forge a career that can take you anywhere.
Build a newsworthy career at the FT.
Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
We believe in the power of unique perspectives and want all voices in our organisation to be heard, respected and valued. A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves and operate to their full potential. We are committed to removing barriers for everyone, with a focus on addressing those faced by underrepresented groups.
The role
The Financial Times has a vacancy on the New York financial services team covering some of the biggest and most important institutions in global finance.
The US banking correspondent will lead the FT's coverage of Citigroup at a time when the Wall Street bank is seeking to convince investors that a sweeping restructuring will boost its profitability. The correspondent will also lead reporting on Bank of America and Wells Fargo, while working with the US banking editor to cover Chase, JPMorgan's huge retail banking franchise.
The banking correspondent will also cover US credit-card companies and payments processing giants at a time when incumbents are being challenged by fintech rivals.
This is a highly competitive beat, and you will be expected to cover breaking news, generate scoops, snag big interviews and write analysis pieces. You will be able to translate banking jargon, balance sheets and income statements into normal language, while also zooming out to reveal how industry trends reflect broader economic shifts. A strong grasp of banking regulation and an ability to find stories in datasets is also a plus for the role.
Key responsibilities
- Cover the largest US banking institutions in partnership with the US banking editor, and the US insurance industry
- Develop sources within Wall Street banks and credit card companies, and their ecosystems, including lawyers, regulators, consultants
- Work closely with colleagues in London, Asia and other parts of the world where US banks have major operations
- Break news stories on US banks, insurers and other financial institutions like credit card issuers
- Snag interviews with high-profile executives
- Write Big Reads and other deeply reported pieces
- Participate in FT Live events and Special Reports
- Produce simple charts and identify opportunities to collaborate with visual and data journalism team, and consider presentation of story ideas across mediums
- Engage with our audience through social media
- Weekend shifts are required as part of the team rota
Who we are looking for
The successful candidate will be an energetic reporter with experience of covering busy beats, breaking stories and writing longer features. The ability to work as part of an international team is essential, as is basic competence in financial / corporate reporting. Experience in US financial services is desirable but not required.
Please submit your application by the end of the day, Wednesday 5th 2025.
Salary range
A reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role is $110,000 to $130,000. To ensure pay fairness, the successful candidate will be offered a salary within the estimated salary range based on a number of considerations including but not limited to : skill set; experience and training; certifications; and other business and organisational needs. This position is represented by the News Guild.
The use of AI
Original reporting, great writing and intelligent commentary lie at the heart of FT journalism. Our readers trust us to produce quality journalism that is accurate, fair and insightful. This is why FT editorial staff do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to write articles or create other reader-facing content. For specific and pre-approved cases, AI can be harnessed for certain tasks, such as assisting data research for investigations.
We expect applicants to the FT newsroom to refrain from using AI in their test submissions, and any written materials should be a genuine reflection of their own knowledge, skills and experiences. We encourage candidates only to employ AI as a tool to help with research and interview readiness for a role.
Candidates should be aware that the use of AI throughout the application process is monitored to ensure a fair and transparent hiring process for all.
What's in it for you? Our benefits
Our benefits vary by location but we are committed to providing best-in-class perks across all our offices. These include generous annual leave, medical cover, inclusive parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and opportunities to give back to the community. Full details of our benefits are available here.
We've embraced a 50% hybrid working model (averaging two to three days onsite) that fosters trust and remote adaptability while encouraging in-person camaraderie and peer learning. Additionally, we are open to accommodating specific flexible working pattern requests for all roles where feasible.
Accessibility
We are a disability confident employer and Valuable 500 signatory.
Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments / personalisation as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements or have any questions, email talent@ft.com and a member of our team will be happy to help.
Salary : $110,000 - $130,000
