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.

At Grant Thornton, we believe in making business more personal and building trust into every result – for our clients and you. Here, we go beyond your expectations of a career in professional services by offering a career path with more: more opportunity, more flexibility, and more support. It’s what makes us different, and we think being different makes us better.

In the U.S., Grant Thornton delivers professional services through two specialized entities: Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed, certified public accounting (CPA) firm that provides audit and assurance services ― and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (not a licensed CPA firm), which exclusively provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services.

In 2025, Grant Thornton formed a multinational, multidisciplinary platform with Grant Thornton Ireland. The platform offers a premier Trans-Atlantic advisory and tax practice, as well as independent American and Irish audit practices. With $2.7 billion in revenues and more than 50 offices spanning the U.S., Ireland and other territories, the platform delivers a singular client experience that includes enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies and a roster of 12,000 quality-driven professionals enjoying exceptional career-growth opportunities and a distinctive cross-border culture.

Grant Thornton is part of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, which provides access to its member firms in more than 150 global markets.