Manager, Client Services

Principal International; Northern (KY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

Principal Asset Management in the United States is seeking a Manager, Client Services on our Pension Actuarial Benefit Calculation Services team to lead and mentor a team of Retirement Benefit Analysts, ensuring high-quality, productive, and timely service to clients.

You will provide leadership, guidance, and consultation to staff, drive team performance, operational efficiency, and compliance with policies and regulations while supporting onboarding and development.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in client service, financial services, or retirement plan operations.
• 1+ year of leadership experience.
• Strong communication, coaching, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage day-to-day operations, prioritize workloads, and balance team assignments.
• Attention to detail and adherence to policies, procedures, and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day guidance and support to team members, ensuring adherence to service standards and operational processes.
• Deliver feedback and informal mentoring to colleagues to build skills and engagement.
• Handle moderately complex client inquiries and service requests; participate in client calls or meetings as needed.
• Support implementation of operational improvements and efficiency initiatives.
• Prepare and maintain team performance reports for Manager review.
• Participate in special projects or initiatives as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Client service

Mentoring

Operations management

Communication

Job description

What You'll Do

As aManager, Client Serviceson our Pension Actuarial Benefit Calculation Services team, you’ll lead and mentor a team of Retirement Benefit Analysts to ensure high quality, productive, and timely service, meeting customer expectations. Provides leadership, guidance, and consultation to staff while driving team performance, operational efficiency, financial accountability, and compliance with policies and regulations.

• Provide day-to-day guidance and support to team members, ensuring adherence to service standards and operational processes. Monitor team performance metrics and assist with workload balancing. Act as the first escalation point for routine client issues; resolve or redirect as appropriate. Coordinate schedules, assign tasks, and ensure timely completion of work.
• Deliver feedback and informal mentoring to colleagues to build skills and engagement. Support onboarding and training of new hires. Identify development needs and escalate to Manager for formal action plans.
• Handle moderately complex client inquiries and service requests. Participate in client calls or meetings as needed to support relationship management. Gather client feedback and share insights with Manager for process improvement.
• Support implementation of operational improvements and efficiency initiatives by coordinating tasks and tracking progress. Monitor adherence to policies and procedures, addressing issues and escalating concerns as needed. Recommend improvements to workflows and customer interactions based on observations and feedback.
• Prepare and maintain team performance reports for Manager review. Track attendance, productivity, and quality metrics.
• Participate in special projects or initiatives as assigned including process improvements and contributing to team and organizational goals.

Operating at the intersection of financial services and technology, Principal builds financial tools that help our customers live better lives. We take pride in being a purpose-led firm, motivated by our mission to make financial security accessible to all. Our mission, integrity, and customer focus have made us a trusted leader for more than 140 years!

Who You Are

• 5+ years of experience in client service, financial services, or retirement plan operations, or an equivalent combination of work experience, training, military service, and education.
• 1+ year of leadership experience (direct or indirect)
• Strong communication, coaching, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage day-to-day operations, prioritize workloads, and balance team assignments.
• Problem-solving and decision-making skills for operational and client issues.
• Basic financial or operational acumen (budget awareness, resource allocation, performance tracking).
• Attention to detail and adherence to policies, procedures, and compliance requirements.

Skills that will help you stand out:

• Experience with defined benefit (DB) pension plans, including benefit determinations, calculations, or retirement benefit administration.
• Knowledge of actuarial principles or experience working in partnership with actuarial teams.
• Exposure to retirement plan funding, pension operations, or related regulatory requirements.
• Experience leveraging AI tools and technologies to improve efficiency, enhance decision-making, or streamline operational processes.

Salary Range Information

Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

Salary Range (Non-Exempt expressed as hourly; Exempt expressed as yearly)

$84600 - $138400 / year

Salary Details

The following locations are examples of market-specific salary ranges across different geographies.

• Wichita, KS: $84,600 - $99,300 / year
• Des Moines, IA: $89,300 - $105,650 / year
• Charlotte, NC: $94,000 - $112,000 / year
• Chicago/Minneapolis: $103,400 - $125,700 / year
• Los Angeles/New York City: $112,800 - 138,400 / year

Time Off Program

Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short-term illness. Employees don’t accrue a bank of time off under FTO and there is no set number of days provided.

Pension Eligible

Yes

Work Environments

This role offers hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek) and remote work arrangements (only if residing more than 30 miles from Des Moines, IA). You’ll work with your leader to figure out which option may align best based on several factors.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

At this time, we're not considering applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links.

Nonimmigrant WorkersandGreen Card for Employment-Based Immigrants

Investment Code of Ethics

For Principal Asset Management positions, you’ll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.

Experience Principal

At Principal, we value connecting on both a personal and professional level. Together, we’re imagining a more purpose-led future for financial services – and that starts with you. Our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees. And we support our employees the same way we support our customers: with comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being. Check out ourcareers siteto learn more about our purpose, values and benefits.

Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Posting Window

We will accept applications for 3 full days following the Original Posting Date, after which the posting may remain open or be removed based upon applications received. If we choose to post the job again, we will accept additional applications for at least 1 full day following the Most Recently Posted Date. Please submit applications in a timely manner as there is no guarantee the posting will be available beyond the applicable deadline.

Original Posting Date

8/14/2026

Most Recently Posted Date

8/14/2026

Principal uses artificial intelligence tools to assist in reviewing and evaluating job applications, fraud prevention, and candidate matching and comparisons. These AI tools support our human recruiters in the initial review process but do not make final hiring decisions without human involvement. By submitting your application, you acknowledge this use of AI in our recruitment process. Please review ourWorkforce (U.S.) Privacy Noticefor more details on our practices and your data privacy rights.

LinkedIn Remote Hashtag

#LI-Remote