Business Development Associate

Cerity Partners Management LLC; Odessa (TX); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with 4% match

Flexible PTO

Parental Leave

Education assistance

Community involvement

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Cerity Partners is seeking a Business Development Associate to support regional BDOs in Custodial Referral Programs and maintain pipeline momentum. The role focuses on coordinating branch meetings, handling FC inquiries, and propelling opportunities forward while BDOs are in the field.

You will help collect proposal materials, monitor onboarding with servicing advisors, and qualify opportunities to arrange introductory meetings between BDOs, FCs, or clients.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Finance, Business, Economics or related field.
• 1–4 years in related field or role.
• Experience supporting or participating in business development or a sales process.
• Ability to work full time in-office (3–4 days/week) and travel limited.
• Prior exposure to RIA, Broker Dealer or Custodial Platforms (e.g., Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing) a plus.

Responsibilities

• Act as extension of multiple BDOs in region to move sales processes forward.
• Coordinate branch meetings.
• Field initial inquiries from FCs when BDO is unavailable.
• Manage reporting and outreach on stale or hard-to-reach opportunities.
• Assist in collecting and organizing information for client proposals.
• Track onboarding with servicing advisor and provide support as needed.
• Ensure data integrity of active opportunities in CRM and core systems.
• Qualify opportunities and set up initial meetings between BDOs, FCs or clients.

Skills

Communication

Time management

Team collaboration

CRM proficiency

AI tools familiarity

Compliance adherence

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Position Summary:

The Business Development Associate role will support Cerity Partners business development efforts in Custodial Referral Programs, a key channel of organic growth for the firm. This role will support the regional Business Development Officers (BDOs) by serving as an in-office extension of the sales team, keeping opportunities moving forward while BDOs are active in the field. The Associate will be responsible for coordinating branch meetings, responding to initial inquiries from branch Financial Consultants (FCs), and managing outreach on stale or difficult-to-reach prospects to ensure pipeline momentum is maintained. They will also play a key role in the client onboarding experience by collecting and organizing proposal materials, monitoring the onboarding process alongside servicing advisors, and qualifying opportunities to facilitate introductory meetings between BDOs and FCs or prospective clients. This position is ideal for a detail-oriented professional who thrives in a fast-paced financial services environment and is eager to grow within a client-facing business development function.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Act as extension of multiple BDOs in the region assigned, moving sales processes forward while BDOs are in the field or traveling within a region.
• Coordinate branch meetings.
• Field initial inquiries from FCs when BDO is unavailable.
• Manage reporting and outreach on stale or hard to reach opportunities.
• Assist in collecting and organizing information required to prepare client proposals.
• Track client onboarding process with servicing advisor and provide support where necessary.
• Ensure data integrity of all active opportunities in CRM and other core systems.
• Engage with FCs or Clients to qualify the opportunity and set-up initial meeting between the BDO and FC or Client.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in Finance, Business, Economics or a related field.
• 1 - 4 years of work experience in a related field or role.
• Experience supporting or participating in business development or a sales process.
• Ability to work full time from a company location (3-4 days in office per week) and travel on a limited basis.
• Prior exposure to RIA, Broker Dealer or Custodial Platforms (e.g., Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing) a strong plus.

Preferred Qualifications:

Working towards or have secured Securities Industry Essential (SIE) Exam, Series 65 or other industry certifications

Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrate strong and effective communication, organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work in a team based/collaborative environment.
• Proficiency in CRM platforms (Salesforce preferred)
• Proficiency with, or the interest and aptitude to become proficient in using firm-enabled AI tools.
• Must accept and thrive in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Adherence to all compliance policies & procedures.
• Demonstrate the Cerity Partners culture.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Compensation Range:

$75,000 - $85,000

Why Cerity Partners:

Our people drive our success by working together to deliver exceptional service to our clients. Below is a glimpse of the key elements of our total rewards package:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance - day 1!
• 401(k) savings and investment plan options with 4% match
• Flexible PTO policy
• Parental Leave
• Financial assistance for advanced education and professional designations
• Opportunity to give back time to local communities
• Commuter benefits

Cerity Partners is committed to providing an environment where all individuals can be their authentic selves. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer who respects each individual and supports the diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences of our colleagues. We are dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.

Cerity Partners is committed to working with and providing accommodations to applicants with disabilities or special needs. For those needing accommodations, please reach out to [e-mail].

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Ultimately, outstanding wealth management is about people and relationships. Our people are the nucleus of Cerity Partners. Each colleague brings unique expertise, commitment and knowledge to the firm and it is by working together that we achieve our mission to have a positive impact on the financial well-being of our clients, colleagues and communities.

Our people drive our success by working together to deliver exceptional service to our clients. We truly care about what we do.

Cerity Partners is one of the nation's leading independent financial advisory firms. We serve high-net-worth individuals & their families, businesses, & their employees, and nonprofit organizations from our offices across the country. Our in-house specialists of tax advisors, financial planners, investment professionals, & retirement plan consultants are passionate about and committed to providing financial advice & oversight.

At Cerity Partners, we believe in the long view. We work with clients who appreciate our comprehensive and sustained approach to wealth management. We don't just look for short-term gains, we seek long-term growth. We have the same approach to our people. We look for experienced and credentialed wealth management colleagues who can keep pace with us. We manage over $190 billion in assets under management for our clients. We are routinely recognized as a Top RIA Firm by Barron's Advisor, Newsweek, USA Today, and more. The driving factor of our accelerated growth is our people. Located throughout the U.S., our teams consist of specialists who are helpful, knowledgeable, sincere, and have the perseverance and capability to go the extra mile for our clients.

We consider our firm a community that works together to serve one common goal: Finding diverse solutions to suit diverse financial needs.