Client Relationship Executive - Commercial

Grant Thornton (US) · Portland, OR · 1 wk ago

HybridBusiness Development$190k–$300k/yrFull-time

About the role

The Commercial CRE will drive focused growth within Audit and Tax through relationship management, active prospecting, disciplined pipeline development, and strong collaboration across pursuit teams.

Responsibilities

Active Prospecting & Business Origination (Primary)
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
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
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
Pursuit Leadership & Win Strategy
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
Market Presence & Executive Connectivity
Project executive presence; build effective relationships with senior Partners and C-Suite executives
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

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; MBA or other advanced degree preferred

Qualifications