Managing Director - Wealth Management - Strategy and Operations

CliftonLarsonAllen; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

CLA is seeking a Managing Director to lead Wealth Strategy & Operations and partner with the Chief Wealth Officer to shape and advance CLA Wealth Advisory. This leader drives transformation, growth, profitability, advisor productivity, and scalability, turning complex business challenges into actionable solutions with measurable results.

The role emphasizes strategic leadership, cross-functional execution, and collaboration across tax, consulting, and other advisory services within CLA.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience required.
• Bachelor's degree required; combination of experience and education may be accepted.
• FINRA licenses 7/24/65 or CFP designation preferred

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with the Chief Wealth Officer to evaluate opportunities and drive CLA Wealth Advisory's strategic priorities.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives from assessment to adoption that support growth, profitability, and effectiveness.
• Develop business cases, financial analyses, and strategic recommendations.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on strategy, operating models, organizational design, client experience, and advisor productivity.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Executive collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Economics, or related field

Job description

CLA is currently seeking a Managing Director - Wealth Strategy & Operations

Why This Role Matters

The next era of Wealth Advisory at CLA is being built right now, and this role will help shape what comes next.

The Managing Director serves as a strategic advisor and operations partner to the Chief Wealth Officer, helping shape and advance the strategic priorities of CLA Wealth Advisory. This leader drives high-impact initiatives involving business transformation, growth, profitability, advisor effectiveness, and organizational scalability. Combining strategic thinking, executive influence, and operational discipline, this role turns complex business challenges into actionable solutions and measurable results.

What Makes the CLA Platform Distinctive

Unlike traditional RIAs, CLA's Wealth Advisory practice one of the nation's largest wealth management firms operating inside one of the largest accounting firms in the U.S., creating unique opportunities to collaborate across tax, consulting, outsourcing, valuation, and other advisory services while delivering comprehensive solutions to clients. This role will help shape and execute many of the initiatives that define the future of the business.

How Your Strategic Leadership & Execution is Impactful

• Partner closely with the Chief Wealth Officer to evaluate opportunities, solve complex business challenges, and drive the strategic priorities of CLA Wealth Advisory.

• Lead complex, cross-functional projects from assessment and recommendation through implementation and adoption that support growth, profitability, and organizational effectiveness.
• Develop business cases, financial analyses, and strategic recommendations
• Serve as a trusted advisor on issues related to business strategy, operating models, organizational design, client experience, advisor productivity, and growth initiatives.

Business Transformation & Growth

• Evaluate opportunities to improve client segmentation, service models, advisor effectiveness, pricing strategies, and operational scalability.
• Drive strategic growth, transformation, and acquisition integration efforts across the Wealth business.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, client outcomes, and advisor experience.

Strategic Leadership & Execution

• Lead high-impact strategic initiatives that drive growth, profitability, advisor effectiveness, organizational performance, and long-term scalability across the Wealth business.
• Develop business cases, recommendations, and execution plans while influencing and aligning stakeholders across the organization.
• Drive accountability, decision-making, and successful execution of complex, cross-functional initiatives, communicating progress and outcomes to executive leadership.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience required
• Bachelor's degree required. Combination of relevant experience, education, and training may be accepted in lieu of a degree (Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Economics, or a related field highly preferred).
• Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 7, 24, and 65 licenses required (or equivalent). Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation preferred

Highly Preferred:

• Leadership experience in Wealth Advisory, wealth management, or financial services, with a demonstrated record of transforming operations, and driving business growth and strategic outcomes highly preferred.
• Proven success leading complex strategic initiatives involving wealth advisory business transformation, operating model design, growth strategy, organizational effectiveness, or acquisition integration.
• Strong business, financial, analytical, and problem solving skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and drive change across an organization.
• Experience within an RIA, wealth management firm, broker-dealer, private wealth platform, or wealth advisory consulting firm; experience with client segmentation, pricing strategy, advisor productivity, and business transformation initiatives required.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive executive compensation and incentive opportunities, comprehensive benefits and retirement programs and Professional growth opportunities within a collaborative, client-focused culture.

Compensation Strategy:

Our approach to compensation emphasizes collaboration and career growth. We pay competitive wages and view compensation as an investment in our people. Factors such as geography, experience, education, skills, and knowledge may impact position of pay within the range.

The compensation range for this position in California is: $200,000 - $250,000. This role is also eligible for discretionary bonuses based on company performance and other factors.

The compensation range for this position in Minneapolis is: $200,000 - $250,000. This role is also eligible for discretionary bonuses based on company performance and other factors.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

Wellness at CLA

To support our CLA family members, we focus on their physical, financial, social, and emotional well-being and offer comprehensive benefit options that include health, dental, vision, 401k and much more.

To view a complete list of benefits,