Innovative Consultant -SMB Business Operations / Management Fall 2026

About the role

Manage a portfolio of 5–6 small business clients in a hybrid model. You’ll act as a financial firefighter and strategic coach, driving urgent change, real results, and lasting impact where it matters most. Cogent Analytics is seeking leaders ready to rescue and grow clients financially and organizationally. This is a hands-on, client-facing role for high-performance individuals who want to lead from the front, drive client performance, and improve client liquidity for small business owners across the US. You’ll start by mastering Cogent methodology and client approach, then quickly move to support our clients in driving financial improvement by executing proper operational and sales methods. As an Innovative Project Director, you'll act as Co-CEO, rolling up your sleeves to drive change with our clients and collaborating with your internal team (PATs, Accounting, Marketing, Recruiting, and BD PD). You will drive urgency with our clients to help drive behavior and organizational change, and will improve clients' businesses through monitoring KPIs and finances.

Responsibilities

• Deliver quantifiable and sustainable value for clients, impacting income statements, balance sheets, cash flow, and overall quality of life
• Lead the development, implementation, training, and evaluation of business solutions that address specific client challenges
• Identify, oversee, and clearly communicate the scope of work, timelines, and deliverables in coordination with the assigned Assistant Director or Senior Project Director
• Manage the full client relationship, from opportunity origination through project completion and review
• Ensure administrative duties, including invoicing and reporting, are completed accurately and on time

Qualifications

• Minimum 7–10 years of consulting or equivalent experience (such as business ownership, executive leadership, or multi-unit management), with a proven track record of delivering measurable results and driving operational and financial improvement
• Demonstrated experience managing projects and client relationships with strategic, financial, and operational accountability
• Strong financial literacy, including the ability to analyze and improve performance across P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow
• Ability to travel Sunday through Friday to client sites across the U.S.
• Authorized to work in the United States
• Advanced computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office, financial software, dashboards, CRMs, and project management tools
• Valid driver’s license and current auto insurance
• Preferred: Experience managing budgets of $10M+ and/or previous business ownership

Skills & Competencies

• Project Management and Client Engagement: The ability to utilize internal Project Management tools while integrating proper strategy with client management
• Problem Solving: Quickly identifies root causes; offers practical and effective solutions; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics