Senior Associate, Strategic Accounts (Intermediary Distribution)

William Blair•Chicago, IL

10d•$85,000 - $123,500

About The Position

Take a lead role in supporting the Intermediary team's client relationship management and business development efforts, with a focus on complex client needs and high-priority initiatives. Support client relationship goals by providing excellent customer service in all interactions with clients and prospects, including professionalism in communication, timely response to inquiries, and proactive follow-up and follow-through. Mentor junior staff and serve as a subject matter resource for complicated or atypical requests.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required; Finance, Accounting, or Business preferred.
5–7 years of experience in asset management or comparable industry (investment consulting, plan sponsor, intermediary distribution, etc.) required.
SIE, Series 7 and Series 66 (or Series 63 and Series 65) licenses required or must be obtained within 90 days of start date.
Deep understanding of the investment business, intermediary distribution landscape, and the firm's products and services.
Highly organized with strong attention to detail; able to prioritize and manage high-profile projects under tight deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Progress toward MBA, CFA, or advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead client and prospect engagement — Interact directly with clients and prospects to address complex inquiries; customize and produce reports tailored to specific audiences to best highlight the firm's investment capabilities and offerings.
Drive the RFP and presentation process — Take ownership of tailoring RFP responses, preparing custom presentation materials, and developing competitive analysis and background information for high-profile client and prospect meetings.
Manage CRM and client data integrity — Maintain comprehensive and accurate electronic records of client/prospect data in Salesforce; serve as a resource for CRM best practices and data standards within the team.
Oversee day-to-day communications — Manage and prioritize incoming requests for information from clients and prospects, ensuring timely, accurate, and audience-appropriate responses with a sense of urgency.
Partner cross-functionally — Maintain strong working relationships and coordinate with internal investment professionals, Portfolio Specialists, marketing support teams, and other internal groups to ensure seamless delivery against client and prospect needs.
Contribute to sales and marketing strategy — Proactively provide input into the development of marketing campaigns and contribute sales ideas to better position investment capabilities, enhance the firm's brand, and educate external audiences about offerings.
Maintain deep product expertise — Maintain extensive knowledge and records of all firm products and services, including investment objectives, product differentiators, fee schedules, and competitive positioning. Serve as a go-to resource for junior team members on product and platform knowledge.
Mentor and support junior staff — Serve as a resource and mentor to junior associates on complicated transactions, escalated inquiries, and workflow processes.
Additional responsibilities as requested.