Client Relationship Director

Cherry Bekaert LLP; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 157,000 - 262,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision care

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plans

Paid care leave

Bonus opportunities

Job summary

Cherry Bekaert Recruitment and Staffing is seeking a seasoned business development leader to expand our professional search and staffing practice across growth markets. You will open doors, build trusted client relationships, and translate market insight into revenue with cross-selling opportunities in tax, advisory, and digital transformation services.

The role emphasizes a self-directed approach, extensive networking, and collaboration with Cherry Bekaert partners to win five to seven new

Qualifications

• Experienced staffing professional with 8–12+ years in business development or full-desk recruiting.
• Finance and accounting staffing experience preferred, portable network a plus.
• Strong relationship-building and consultative selling capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop new business opportunities in project staffing and permanent placement at manager, director, and executive levels.
• Build internal relationships with Cherry Bekaert partners to identify referral and cross-selling opportunities.
• Introduce clients to Cherry Bekaert capabilities (tax, advisory, digital transformation) when aligned with needs.
• Represent Recruiting and Staffing at industry events to strengthen brand visibility and market presence.
• Collaborate with recruiting and delivery teams to ensure client needs are understood and fulfilled.
• Lead client agreement discussions and support negotiation with operations and leadership.
• Maintain pipeline visibility, revenue forecasts, and long-term relationship plans.

Skills

Business development

Relationship building

Networking

Sales

Job description

Position Summary

Cherry Bekaert Recruiting and Staffing, a premier financial staffing and recruiting firm within the broader Cherry Bekaert platform, is seeking a seasoned, self-directed business development leader to expand our professional search and staffing practice. This individual will build new client relationships, deepen market presence, and create new business opportunities across key growth markets. This is an opportunity for an experienced staffing professional who knows how to open doors, develop trusted client relationships, and convert market insight into revenue. The ideal candidate will bring a proven sales playbook, strong relationship instincts, and the ability to collaborate effectively with Cherry Bekaert partners and client-facing teams to uncover cross-selling opportunities across tax, advisory, digital transformation, and related services.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop new business opportunities in project staffing and permanent placement, with a focus on manager, director, and executive-level roles.
• Build strong internal relationships with Cherry Bekaert partners and other client-facing professionals to identify referral, collaboration, and cross-selling opportunities.
• Introduce clients to complementary Cherry Bekaert capabilities, including tax, advisory, and digital transformation services, when those solutions align with client needs.
• Represent the Recruiting and Staffing practice at industry events, conferences, networking forums, and firm-sponsored gatherings to strengthen brand visibility and market presence.
• Partner closely with recruiting and delivery teams to ensure client needs are understood, prioritized, and fulfilled successfully.
• Manage client agreement discussions and support negotiation efforts in partnership with operations and leadership teams.
• Maintain accurate pipeline visibility, revenue forecasts, and relationship development plans while operating with a long-term, relationship-driven mindset.

What Success Looks Like

At 3-6 Months

• Establish active engagement with Cherry Bekaert partners and develop initial referral relationships.
• Acquire five to seven new clients.
• Identify and cultivate a minimum of two prospects for Cherry Bekaert services outside the Recruiting and Staffing service line.

At 6-9 Months

• Generate a consistent inflow of job requisitions from both new clients and Cherry Bekaert relationship channels.
• Deliver meaningful revenue contribution across permanent placement and temporary staffing engagements.
• Build a strong reputation with clients, internal stakeholders, and Cherry Bekaert partners.
• Maintain an active pipeline of client opportunities and referral-based growth across Recruiting and Staffing services, as well as broader Cherry Bekaert offerings.

Compensation

Competitive draw structure. Commission equal to 50% of gross profit on all placements. No caps and no accelerators-earnings are directly tied to performance. Full benefits, plus access to high-value events and networking platforms.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Experienced Staffing Professional: Brings 8-12+ years of business development or full-desk recruiting experience; finance and accounting staffing experience is preferred, and a portable network is a plus.
• Entrepreneurial Operator: Has a proven playbook, thrives with independence, and does not require rigid KPIs or micromanagement to perform.
• Relationship Builder: Takes a long-term view of client development and is a strong listener, connector, and trusted presence across client and internal teams.
• Creative Seller: Comfortable selling consultative solutions, combining permanent placement and project-based offerings, and adapting to evolving client priorities.
• Strategic Collaborator: Builds trust and influence with Cherry Bekaert partners by bringing insight, credibility, and value—not simply asking for leads.

What you can expect from us

• Our shared values that foster inclusion and belonging including uncompromising integrity, collaboration, trust, and mutual respect.
• The opportunity to innovate and do work that motivates and engages you.
• A collaborative environment focused on enabling you to further your career growth and continuous professional development.
• Competitive compensation and a total rewards package that focuses on all aspects of your wellbeing.
• Flexibility to do impactful work and the time to enjoy your life outside of work.
• Opportunities to connect and learn from professionals from different backgrounds and with different cultures.

Benefits Information

Cherry Bekaert cares about our people. We offer competitive compensation packages based on performance that recognize the value our people bring to our clients and our Firm. The salary range for this position is included below. Individual salaries within this range are determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education, knowledge, skills, and geographic location. In addition, we offer a comprehensive, high-quality benefits program which includes annual bonus, medical, dental, and vision care; disability and life insurance; generous Paid Time Off; retirement plans; Paid Care Leave; and other programs that are dedicated to enhancing your personal and work life and providing you and your family with a measure of financial protection.

Pay Range: Pay from: 90k to 262k (calculated pay may include salary, draws, and/or commissions)

Pay structure example:

• $100K recoverable draw with a ramp period. 1-3 months non-recoverable, participation in the commission plan (excluding the pool).
• 4-6 months 50% recoverable/50% non-recoverable, full participation in the commission plan.
• Fully recoverable draw after 6 months.

About Cherry Bekaert

Cherry Bekaert, ranked among the largest assurance, tax and advisory firms in the U.S., serves clients across industries in all 50 U.S. states and internationally. For more details, visit https://www.cbh.com/disclosure/

Equal Employment Opportunity

Cherry Bekaert provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, citizenship status, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. https://careers.cbh.com/legal-disclosures/ contains further information regarding the firm's compliance with federal, state and local recruitment and hiring laws.

Eligibility

This role is expected to accept applications for at least five calendar days and may continue to be posted until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled. Candidates must demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States. Cherry Bekaert will not provide work sponsorship for this position. Cherry Bekaert LLP and Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC are members of Allinial Global, an accountancy and business advisory global association.

Contact and Social

Visit us at https://careers.cbh.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. © 2026 Cherry Bekaert. All Rights Reserved. At Cherry Bekaert, your career is about you. With growing industry expertise, a strong support system, and our team’s shared values, we encourage you to choose your path. Join the Firm that acknowledges and recognizes the power of the individual.