Private Equity Director Client Relationship Executive

About the role

Grant Thornton is seeking a Private Equity Director Client Relationship Executive (CRE) to drive growth across private equity funds and portfolio companies through deep, trust-based executive relationships, high-impact solution orchestration, and active daily prospecting.

Responsibilities

• Active Prospecting & Business Origination
  • 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
• PE Growth Leadership & Account Strategy
  • Lead PE account and pursuit strategies across assigned PE funds and portfolio companies, identifying opportunities to deliver Commercial Due Diligence services as a core focus alongside other Advisory opportunities
  • Serve as the originator of new client relationships with PE funds, building relationships that open access to portfolio-wide opportunities
  • Act as the deal/solution architect — shaping how GT 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
  • 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 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 solution-specific 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
  • 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 GT relevance
• Operational Discipline & Firm Stewardship
  • Regularly (daily) and consistently use CRM/OneView to ensure activity, pipeline, and customer data are current and decision-useful
  • Participate in the Sales Verification Process (SVP) for all origination claims
  • Model GT's commitment to quality, integrity, and trust in all client interactions

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in professional services (commercial due diligence preferred), including experience working with private equity firms, portfolio companies, or PE-backed businesses, and experience in complex solution selling, or enterprise transformation pursuits with C-suite/Board-level buyers
• Demonstrated success building and expanding executive relationships with PE fund executives, 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
• Experience selling and structuring multi-year programs (including managed services / outsourcing / shared services models) preferred
• 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

Benefits

The base salary range for this position is between $185,000 and $278,000. 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.

At Grant Thornton, compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.