Director, Advisory Leadership Team

Focus Financial Partners; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual cash bonus

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Focus Financial Partners is seeking a Director to lead the Advisory Leadership Team, aligning regional advisory teams with firm objectives and driving annual business planning and growth. This role partners with Wealth Advisors to deliver advisory-led client experiences and ensures strong compliance, resource planning, and team development across regions.

The position offers a hybrid work model with 3 days in office weekly and the possibility of remote work 2 days per week, plus travel

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required; CFP or CPA recommended but not required.
• 10+ years of work experience preferred in a relevant position.
• Proven leadership experience in financial services or wealth management.
• Strong strategic planning skills and experience developing and implementing high-level business objectives.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and collaborate with all levels of management and support teams.
• Experience in budget management, strategic planning, and team development.
• Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Responsibilities

• Adopt firm-wide vision and collaborate with senior leadership to align and execute on broad-scale goals and priorities.
• Execute and deliver business plans to regional advisory teams, tracking OKRs and annual goals.
• Lead the annual budget planning process for regional advisory teams, ensuring financial resource accountability.
• Champion regional growth initiatives to meet firm objectives.
• Develop action plans for consultative practice management, promoting continuous advisor and team development.
• Facilitate transition and succession planning alongside Transition Advisors for regional teams.
• Collaborate with the Onboarding, Integration, and Transactions teams to ensure smooth transitions for new firms.
• Conduct regular meetings with Wealth Advisors to track goals and ensure progress towards objectives.
• Ensure the promotion and adherence to strong compliance practices.
• Work closely with Managers on the Advisory Leadership Team on resource planning and workforce management.
• Coach and mentor advisors with timely and thoughtful feedback and guidance.
• Advocate for advisors and give voice and context to their diverse perspectives and experiences within the firm.
• Operate within a solutions-oriented framework to eliminate barriers for advisors, supporting exceptional client service and maximizing team efficiency and effectiveness.
• Lead the partnership with other departments to implement best practices and manage new firm rollouts.
• Connect advisors to available training and resources to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage their practice and stay aligned with the evolving firm.
• Participate actively within the Advisory Leadership Team as a collaborative, results-oriented leader.
• Develop and analyze meaningful practice metrics to help advisory teams achieve their goals.
• Cultivate a culture that reflects the firm's values, ensuring they are embraced within the advisory community.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Budget management

Communication

Team development

Diversity & inclusion

Education

Bachelor's Degree

CFP or CPA recommended

Job description

The Director, Advisory Leadership Team serves as a primary liaison between the overall business objectives and evidence-based service framework of Focus Partners Wealth, and the seamless execution of advisory-led client experiences. This role serves as a strategic and accountability partner to Wealth Advisors and their teams across regions, driving the delivery of annual business planning processes to establish foundational consistency, set goals, and define accountabilities. The Director plays a central role in achieving net organic growth targets and fostering the development of our advisory teams, aligning their goals with the firm’s strategic objectives and driving team effectiveness.

Focus provides team members the flexibility to work a hybrid schedule. Our hybrid model is defined as 3 days in office work required per week, while giving team members the option to work remotely 2 days per week, or as assigned by their team leader.

Primary Responsibilities

• Adopt firm-wide vision and collaborate with senior leadership to align and execute on broad-scale goals and priorities.
• Execute and deliver business plans to regional advisory teams, tracking OKRs and annual goals.
• Lead the annual budget planning process for regional advisory teams, ensuring financial resource accountability.
• Champion regional growth initiatives to meet firm objectives.
• Develop action plans for consultative practice management, promoting continuous advisor and team development.
• Facilitate transition and succession planning alongside Transition Advisors for regional teams.
• Collaborate with the Onboarding, Integration, and Transactions teams to ensure smooth transitions for new firms.
• Conduct regular meetings with Wealth Advisors to track goals and ensure progress towards objectives.
• Ensure the promotion and adherence to strong compliance practices.
• Work closely with Managers on the Advisory Leadership Team on resource planning and workforce management.
• Coach and mentor advisors with timely and thoughtful feedback and guidance.
• Advocate for advisors and give voice and context to their diverse perspectives and experiences within the firm.
• Operate within a solutions-oriented framework to eliminate barriers for advisors, supporting exceptional client service and maximizing team efficiency and effectiveness.
• Lead the partnership with other departments to implement best practices and manage new firm rollouts.
• Connect advisors to available training and resources to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage their practice and stay aligned with the evolving firm.
• Participate actively within the Advisory Leadership Team as a collaborative, results-oriented leader.
• Develop and analyze meaningful practice metrics to help advisory teams achieve their goals.
• Cultivate a culture that reflects the firm's values, ensuring they are embraced within the advisory community.
• Travel: Approximately 25%, with the possibility of additional travel depending on business needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• Advanced credentials such as CFP or CPA are recommended but not required
• 10+ years of work experience preferred in a relevant position
• Proven leadership experience in financial services or wealth management.
• Strong strategic planning skills and experience developing and implementing high-level business objectives.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and collaborate with all levels of management and support teams.
• Experience in budget management, strategic planning, and team development.
• Ability to solve complex problems, manage projects, and drive results in a dynamic environment.
• Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.

The Director, Advisory Leadership Team is an exempt position. The annualized base pay range for this role is expected to be between $180,000 - $200,000/year. Actual base pay could vary based on factors including but not limited to experience, subject matter expertise, geographic location where work will be performed, and the applicant's skill set. The base pay is just one component of the total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include an annual cash bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.

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About Focus Financial Partners

Focus is a leading financial services firm comprised of integrated wealth management, family office, and business management services. Blending deep expertise and expansive resources with a boutique, client-first fiduciary philosophy, Focus helps individuals, families, and institutions navigate complex financial situations with highly personalized solutions tailored to their unique needs. To learn more about Focus, visit www.focusfinancialpartners.com or follow the company on LinkedIn.

Focus is an equal opportunity employer and bases its employment decisions on the employee or candidate’s skillset, and without regard to an employee or candidate’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state and/or federal law. Focus complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail].

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For Rhode Island Applicants: Focus is subject to Chapters 29-38 of Title 28 of the General Laws of Rhode Island and is therefore covered by the state’s workers’ compensation law. If you willfully provide false information about your ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, you may be barred from filing a claim under the provisions of the Workers’ Compensation Act of the State of Rhode Island if the false information is directly related to the personal injury that is the basis for the new claim for compensation. The Company complies fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act.