Business Development Manager

Whitley Penn, one of the nation’s leading audit, tax, and advisory firms, is looking for a senior-level individual contributor to drive strategic revenue growth through proactive market development and consultative selling. The firm provides exceptional, personalized service across Audit, Tax, Advisory, and Consulting services, emphasizing collaboration, entrepreneurial thinking, and a high-growth culture.

About the role

In this role, you will work with firm leaders to identify new business, develop targeted outreach strategies, and advance complex sales opportunities in a new market. The position is fully in-office in Houston, with a general work schedule of Monday – Friday, 8 hours/day between 8am to 5pm, including overtime as needed. Regular in-market travel and occasional out-of-market travel are expected.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Head of Business Development to establish and build a business development function in a new market
• Work with local office, firm, service line, and industry team leaders to identify and target gaps in the market and key companies not currently served by the firm, converting opportunities into success
• Collaborate with the firm’s marketing team to develop effective, targeted outreach strategies and go-to-market plans
• Build and maintain a disciplined, high-quality pipeline aligned with growth targets
• Originate new sales opportunities by initiating sales calls and securing meetings
• Identify key decision makers at client and prospect organizations and lead executive-level discovery conversations to uncover business challenges, service capabilities, strategic priorities, and ROI drivers
• Develop and execute strategies to position the firm as a solution provider
• Control and execute the sales plan and process, coordinating internal and external resources to secure business
• Meet sales production targets and goals with minimal oversight
• Establish, build, and maintain effective and collaborative long-term client relationships with executives
• Support local office, firm, and industry team leaders in identifying and maximizing cross-selling opportunities to existing clients
• Represent the firm externally in a professional and relationship-driven manner
• Participate in professional organizations and informal networks to develop, build, and sustain robust professional relationships
• Leverage networking contacts, professional affiliations, industry groups, and other professional services relationships to identify opportunities
• Regularly and consistently use CRM system to ensure data reporting, customer information, and sales activity/pipeline are up to date

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree/MBA is a plus
• Minimum of 5+ years of business development or consultative sales experience in a professional services environment, with a strong emphasis on new market or territory build out
• Proven track record of originating net-new opportunities, generating revenue, and winning complex, multi-stakeholder sales cycles
• Strong business acumen and a fundamental understanding of accounting concepts; prior experience in Accounting or Finance is preferred
• Demonstrated ability to independently create pipeline, advance opportunities, and close business with minimum oversight
• Highly disciplined in pipeline management and follow-through
• Experience leveraging CRM tools for pipeline management, reporting, and sales execution
• Experience leveraging social media and digital platforms to proactively identify, access, and engage executive-level prospects
• Strong communication, presentation, influencing, and negotiation skills
• Executive presence, credibility, and professionalism in C-suite and Board-level conversations
• Entrepreneurial, self-directed, and results-oriented mindset with a strong bias towards action
• Relationship-driven with the ability to navigate ambiguity and influence across complex internal organizations
• Existing network of Boards of Directors and C-Suite Officers of mid-market companies, private equity decision makers, and other professional services relationships that can be activated to generate opportunities

Benefits

• Firm Paid Medical Insurance (Free Employee Only Coverage on 2 of 3 plans)
• Voluntary Dental and Vision Insurance
• 17 Annual Firm holidays, with extended breaks around July 4th and year end
• 20 days PTO
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 401(k) with Profit Sharing
• Discretionary Bonus Program
• Health & Wellness Program
• Pet Insurance