Private Equity Director Client Relationship Executive

Grant Thornton (US); Edison (NJ); On-site; USD 185,000 - 278,000; Full time

Job summary

Grant Thornton is seeking a Private Equity Director Client Relationship Executive to drive growth through trusted executive relationships across private equity funds and portfolio companies. The role centers on Commercial Due Diligence and expanding M&A opportunities, operating at the intersection of strategy, pursuit leadership, and relationship management.

Responsibilities include originating new business, leading account strategy, and shaping solutions for PE clients, with daily prospecting,

Qualifications

• 10+ years in professional services with PE exposure or PE-backed businesses.
• Proven ability to build executive-level relationships with PE fund leaders.
• Experience shaping multi-year programs and advisory solutions.

Responsibilities

• Active Prospecting & Business Origination with PE funds and portfolio companies.
• Lead account strategies focused on Commercial Due Diligence and advisory opportunities.
• Architect deals and solutions, translating client needs into repeatable programs.
• Drive pursuit leadership, pricing, and governance for measurable outcomes.
• Maintain executive presence with Board/C‑suite and senior partners.

Skills

Executive relationship management

PE/business development

Sales & origination

Solution selling

Negotiation

Executive storytelling

Strategic go-to-market

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

MBA preferred

Tools

CRM/OneView

MS Office/PowerPoint

Job description

Job Title: Private Equity Director Client Relationship Executive (CRE)

Overview

Grant Thornton is seeking a Private Equity Director Client Relationship Executive (CRE) to drive growth across private equity funds and portfolio companies through deep, trust‑based executive relationships, high‑impact solution orchestration, and active daily prospecting. The role centers on Commercial Due Diligence while identifying additional M&A‑related opportunities, operating at the intersection of solution strategy, pursuit leadership, and executive relationship management.

Key Responsibilities

• Active Prospecting & Business Origination
  • Conduct rigorous daily prospecting across assigned accounts, targets, and markets—originating new business through outbound calls, executive meetings, and relationship development.
  • Meet sales production targets and goals with minimal oversight.
  • Generate new sales opportunities by consistently and systematically initiating contacts; pursue prospects to secure meetings and win referrals.
• PE Growth Leadership & Account Strategy
  • Lead account and pursuit strategies across assigned PE funds and portfolio companies, focusing on Commercial Due Diligence and other Advisory opportunities.
  • Act as the originator of new client relationships with PE funds, building relationships that open access to portfolio‑wide opportunities.
  • Serve as deal/solution architect—shaping GT’s capabilities into clear value propositions, solution narratives, and commercially viable program structures.
  • Translate client needs into scalable, differentiated solutions; partner with offering and solution strategy leaders to ensure solutions are executable and repeatable.
  • Drive proposal strategies emphasizing measurable outcomes, defined governance, and practical implementation plans.
  • Position GT’s full‑service approach—unifying data‑driven insights, technology modernization, and shared services/outsourcing to deliver speed, efficiency, and ROI at scale.
  • Champion responsible, practical AI adoption in pursuit narratives, coordinating with AI and risk leaders as needed.
  • Maintain executive presence in client conversations (Board/C‑suite), aligning Advisory pursuits to growth, risk, profitability, and performance priorities.
• Pursuit Leadership & Win Strategy
  • Identify winning strategies by deeply understanding client needs; coach pursuit teams through qualification, solutioning, pricing, and closing.
  • Participate in solution‑specific sales presentations and executive working sessions; facilitate alignment across stakeholders.
  • Negotiate and participate in pricing strategy to ensure GT is competitive while protecting value.
• Market Presence & Executive Connectivity
  • Project executive presence; build effective relationships with senior partners and C‑suite executives.
  • Identify key decision makers at client and prospect organizations at the C‑suite and Board levels.
  • Cultivate relationships across executive networks, industry forums, and alliances to build GT relevance.
  • In partnership with marketing, activate events, campaigns, and thought leadership to build pipeline.
• Operational Discipline & Firm Stewardship
  • Use CRM/OneView daily to ensure activity, pipeline, and customer data are current and decision‑useful.
  • Participate in the Sales Verification Process (SVP) for all origination claims.
  • Model GT’s commitment to quality, integrity, and trust in all client interactions.

Technical Skills & Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in professional services (commercial due diligence preferred), including experience with private equity firms, portfolio companies, or PE‑backed businesses, and complex solution selling or enterprise transformation pursuits with C‑suite/Board‑level buyers.
• Demonstrated success building and expanding executive relationships with PE fund executives and driving measurable growth outcomes in a matrixed professional services environment.
• Ability to identify, coordinate, and advance commercial due diligence opportunities across PE funds and portfolio companies, in addition to other Advisory opportunities.
• Strong commercial acumen: qualification discipline, win strategy, pricing, negotiation, and executive storytelling.
• Proven ability to translate complex capabilities into clear value propositions and scalable pursuit narratives; comfortable operating at the intersection of strategy and go‑to‑market.
• Experience selling and structuring multi‑year programs (including managed services/outsourcing/shared services models) preferred.
• Direct experience in professional services firms, with working knowledge of partner‑led, client‑service organizations.
• Advanced communication and presentation skills (executive‑level decks, whiteboarding, facilitating decision sessions).
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience required; MBA or other advanced degree preferred.
• Travel up to 10% variable by portfolio.

Compensation

The base salary range for this position is between $185,000 and $278,000. Placement within the pay range is at Grant Thornton’s discretion, based on multiple factors, including job‑related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, progression within the role, geographic location, and internal equity.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Grant Thornton is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodation for qualified applicants or employees with disabilities, unless such accommodation would cause undue hardship. We do not require or administer lie detector tests as a condition of employment. All hiring decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital or civil union status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, veteran status, or disability characteristics protected by law.