Advisory Director Client Relationship Executive – Cyber & Risk

Grant Thornton is seeking an Advisory Director Client Relationship Executive to accelerate Cyber & Risk growth through deep, trust-based executive relationships, high-impact solution orchestration, and active daily prospecting. This leader serves as a client growth strategist and Advisory deal architect — translating complex client needs into integrated, market-facing Advisory solutions and mobilizing cross-functional teams to deliver measurable outcomes.

About the role

The Cyber & Risk Client Relationship Executive operates at the intersection of solution strategy, pursuit leadership, and executive relationship management — shaping how capabilities are packaged, positioned, and activated in the market. Embedded within the Cyber & Risk solution, this individual is focused on helping clients protect value and enable confident growth through cyber, privacy, compliance, controls, internal audit, and forensic solutions.

Responsibilities

• Active Prospecting & Business Origination (Primary)
  • 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.
• Advisory Growth Leadership & Account Strategy
  • Lead Advisory account strategies for a defined portfolio of priority clients and prospects, identifying "moments that matter," value levers, and multi-phase transformation roadmaps.
  • Act as the deal/solution architect — shaping how Grant Thornton brings capabilities together into clear value propositions, solution narratives, and commercially viable program structures.
  • Translate client needs into scalable, differentiated solutions; partner with offering and solution strategy leaders to ensure solutions are executable and repeatable.
  • Drive proposal strategies that emphasize measurable outcomes, defined governance, and practical implementation plans (not just scopes and hours).
  • Position Grant Thornton's full-service Advisory 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 Advisory pursuits to growth, risk, profitability, and performance priorities.
• Pursuit Leadership & Win Strategy
  • Identify winning strategies by deeply understanding client needs; coach pursuit teams through qualification, solutioning, pricing, and closing.
  • Participate in Advisory services sales presentations and executive working sessions; facilitate alignment across stakeholders.
  • Negotiate and participate in pricing strategy to ensure Grant Thornton is competitive while protecting value.
• Market Presence & Executive Connectivity
  • 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 Grant Thornton relevance.
  • In partnership with marketing, activate events, campaigns, and thought leadership to build pipeline.
• Solution-Specific Duties
  • Identify opportunities tied to regulatory complexity, cybersecurity risk, privacy, internal controls, compliance remediation, and forensic response.
  • Position integrated Cyber & Risk solutions that improve governance, strengthen resilience, and reduce exposure.
  • Partner with solution leaders across Cyber & Privacy, Regulatory Compliance & AML, Internal Audit & SOX, and Forensics to shape differentiated pursuit narratives.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive experience in Advisory/consulting 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.
• 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 modern Advisory domains (e.g., CFO Advisory, Business Consulting, Risk Advisory, Technology Modernization, Transactions, AI, Outsourcing).
• Experience selling and structuring multi-year programs (including managed services / outsourcing / shared services models) preferred.
• 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).
• Experience in risk consulting, cyber/privacy, compliance, internal audit / controls, or governance-related solution selling.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience required; MBA or other advanced degree preferred.

Travel up to ~25%, variable by portfolio.

Pay

The total compensation package for this role includes base salary and bonus. The base salary range for this position is between $190,000 and $300,000. Placement within the pay range is at Grant Thornton’s discretion, and it is based on multiple factors, including but not limited to, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, progression within the role, geographic location, and internal equity.

Benefits

Grant Thornton offers personalized and comprehensive benefits that recognize and empower all identities, roles, and aspirations. For an overview of benefit offerings, visit Grant Thornton’s benefits page.

About Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton delivers professional services through two specialized entities: Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed CPA firm providing audit and assurance services, and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (not a licensed CPA firm), which exclusively provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services. In 2025, Grant Thornton formed a multinational, multidisciplinary platform with Grant Thornton Ireland, offering a premier Trans-Atlantic advisory and tax practice, as well as independent American and Irish audit practices. With $2.7 billion in revenues and more than 50 offices spanning the U.S., Ireland, and other territories, the platform delivers enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies and a roster of 12,000 professionals.

Schedule

Consistent with the firm's hybrid work model, this position will require in-person attendance at least three days per week, either at a Grant Thornton office or client site.