Client Relationship Executive - Commercial, Director

Grant Thornton is seeking a Client Relationship Executive – Commercial (Director) to join the team in Atlanta, GA. 

Grant Thornton is seeking a Commercial Director Client Relationship Executive (CRE) to drive focused growth within Audit and Tax through relationship management, active prospecting, disciplined pipeline development, and strong collaboration across pursuit teams. This leader serves as a client growth strategist and commercial seller, opening new doors for the firm, translating client needs into actionable Audit and Tax pursuits, and identifying Advisory cross-sell opportunities where relevant. identify client needs, create new access to buyers, and advance well-qualified opportunities by aligning client priorities to relevant Audit, Tax, and Advisory capabilities. The Commercial CRE operates at the intersection solution strategy, pursuit leadership, executive relationship management, and cross-service line growth — shaping how capabilities are packaged, positioned, and activated in the market. 

Your Day-to-Day May Include: 

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  

Commercial Growth Leadership & Account Strategy  

• 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. 
• Act as the deal/solution architect — shaping how GT brings capabilities together into clear value propositions, solution narratives, and commercially viable program structures  
• 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  
• Lead cross-solution opportunity development by identifying where additional Audit, Tax, or Advisory capabilities may strengthen pursuit strategy. 
• Build deep relationships with relevant executives and buyers across client organizations to create new access and generate qualified commercial pipeline 
• 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  
• 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  
• In partnership with marketing, activate events, campaigns, and thought leadership to build pipeline  

You Have the Following Technical Skills and Qualifications: 

• 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. 

• Travel up to ~10%, variable by portfolio  

The total compensation package for this role includes base salary and bonus. The base salary range for this position is between $172,000 and $258,000. 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.