Client Relationship Executive - Commercial

Grant Thornton•Appleton, WI

10d•$172,000 - $258,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Grant Thornton is seeking a Commercial Director Client Relationship Executive (CRE) to drive focused growth within Audit and Tax through relationship management, active prospecting, disciplined pipeline development, and strong collaboration across pursuit teams. This leader serves as a client growth strategist and commercial seller, opening new doors for the firm, translating client needs into actionable Audit and Tax pursuits, and identifying Advisory cross-sell opportunities where relevant. The role involves identifying client needs, creating new access to buyers, and advancing well-qualified opportunities by aligning client priorities to relevant Audit, Tax, and Advisory capabilities. The Commercial CRE operates at the intersection of solution strategy, pursuit leadership, executive relationship management, and cross-service line growth — shaping how capabilities are packaged, positioned, and activated in the market.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive experience in business development, Audit / Tax sales, complex solution selling, or enterprise transformation pursuits with C-suite/Board-level buyers
Demonstrated success building and expanding executive relationships and driving measurable growth outcomes in a matrixed professional services environment
Familiarity with Audit / Tax buying processes and the ability to identify Advisory cross-sell opportunities
Strong commercial acumen: qualification discipline, win strategy, pricing, negotiation, and executive storytelling
Proven ability to translate complex capabilities into clear value propositions and scalable pursuit narratives; comfort operating at the intersection of strategy and go-to-market
Working knowledge of Audit & Tax domains (e.g., Assurance, Attestation, Corporate Tax, Indirect Tax, International Tax, Partnership Tax, and related technology-enabled offerings, with the ability to identify relevant Advisory cross-sell opportunities)
Experience selling and structuring multi-year Audit & Tax engagements
Direct experience in professional services firms, with working knowledge of how partner-led, client-service organizations operate
Advanced communication and presentation skills (executive-level decks, whiteboarding, facilitating decision sessions)
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience required
Travel up to ~10%, variable by portfolio

Nice To Haves

MBA or other advanced degree preferred

Responsibilities

Conduct active, rigorous daily prospecting across assigned accounts, targets, and markets — originating new business through outbound calls, executive meetings, and relationship development
Meet sales production targets and goals with discipline and minimal oversight
Originate new sales opportunities by consistently and systematically initiating contacts; pursue prospects to secure meetings and win referrals
Lead Commercial account and pursuit strategies for priority clients and prospects, identifying new Audit and Tax opportunities and where Advisory cross-sell can expand client value.
Act as the deal/solution architect — shaping how GT brings capabilities together into clear value propositions, solution narratives, and commercially viable program structures
Partner with RMPs, Audit & Tax Growth Leaders, PMDs, and pursuit teams to align client needs to relevant capabilities.
Translate client needs into scalable, differentiated solutions; partner with offering and solution strategy leaders to ensure solutions are executable and repeatable
Lead cross-solution opportunity development by identifying where additional Audit, Tax, or Advisory capabilities may strengthen pursuit strategy.
Build deep relationships with relevant executives and buyers across client organizations to create new access and generate qualified commercial pipeline
Drive proposal strategies that emphasize measurable outcomes, defined governance, and practical implementation plans (not just scopes and hours)
Position GT's full-service approach — uniting data-driven insights, technology modernization, and shared services/outsourcing to deliver speed, efficiency, and ROI at scale
Champion responsible, practical AI adoption in pursuit narratives, coordinating with AI and risk leaders as needed
Maintain strong executive altitude in client conversations (Board/C-suite), aligning pursuits to growth, risk, profitability, and performance priorities
Identify winning strategies by deeply understanding client needs; coach pursuit teams through qualification, solutioning, pricing, and closing
Participate in Audit and Tax services sales presentations and executive working sessions; facilitate alignment across stakeholders
Negotiate and participate in pricing strategy to ensure GT is competitive while protecting value
Project executive presence; build effective relationships with senior Partners and C-Suite executives
Identify key decision makers at client and prospect organizations at the C-Suite and Board levels
Cultivate relationships across executive networks, industry forums, and alliances to build GT relevance
In partnership with marketing, activate events, campaigns, and thought leadership to build pipeline