Retirement Consultant

CIMA Consulting Group; Michigan; On-site; USD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

CIMA Consulting Group in Michigan seeks a Senior Manager for Retirement & Executive Compensation Consulting. You will own and lead complex client engagements, scope and deliver retirement plan design, executive compensation strategy, and related advisory services.

You will work with CFOs, CEOs, CHROs and boards, develop proposals, mentor teams, and contribute to business development, with a clear path to partnership.

Qualifications

• Experience leading retirement plan design projects and executive compensation strategy.
• Ability to advise senior leadership, compensation committees, and boards on retirement and executive pay.
• Strong understanding of 409A, SERPs, and related ERISA/tax regulations.
• Background in consulting, accounting, legal, tax, or related advisory services.
• Proven track record as a trusted advisor to executives.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead complex client engagements end-to-end, including scoping, analysis, recommendations, and delivery to executives.
• Advise on qualified and non-qualified retirement plan structures (401k/403b, deferred comp, SERPs).
• Present recommendations and guide decision-making with executive stakeholders and boards.
• Translate complex regulatory and tax concepts into actionable business guidance.
• Mentor and develop team members.
• Support business development through proposals and expanding client relationships.

Skills

Client advisory

Leadership

Communication

Relationship building

Mentoring

Business development

Education

Bachelor's degree

JD

Advanced degrees in Tax/Employee Benefits/Law

Job description

Retirement & Executive Compensation Consulting, Senior Manager

We’re working with a well-established accounting and consulting firm in Michigan to identify a Senior Manager for their Retirement & Executive Compensation Consulting practice. This is a full-time, direct hire opportunity with a clear path to Partner.

This is a high-impact, client-facing consulting role focused on retirement plan design, non-qualified plans, and executive compensation strategy. You’ll work directly with CFOs, CEOs, CHROs, compensation committees, and senior leadership teams, advising organizations ranging from mid-market companies to large, complex enterprises.

Ideal candidates bring experience in retirement plan design, executive compensation, employee benefits consulting, ERISA, tax, or legal advisory services. A JD is strongly preferred.

What You’ll Do

• Own and lead complex client engagements end-to-end, including scoping, analysis, recommendations, and executive-level delivery
• Advise clients on qualified and non-qualified retirement plan structures, including 401(k), 401(a), 403(b), deferred compensation plans, SERPs, and related executive benefit programs
• Present recommendations and guide decision-making with executive stakeholders, compensation committees, retirement committees, and boards
• Translate complex technical, regulatory, and tax concepts into clear, actionable business recommendations
• Mentor and develop team members
• Actively contribute to business development through relationship expansion, proposal development, and identification of new consulting opportunities within existing client relationships

What We’re Looking For

• Strong experience leading retirement plan design projects, including strategy, compliance considerations, and optimization of qualified and non-qualified plan structures
• Experience advising executive leadership teams, compensation committees, retirement committees, boards, or business owners on retirement and executive compensation strategy
• Ability to independently advise on executive compensation strategy, including 409A compliance, SERPs, deferred compensation plan design, executive benefit programs, and related ERISA and tax regulations
• Background in consulting, accounting, legal, tax, or professional advisory services
• Proven ability to work directly with executive leadership and serve as a trusted advisor
• Strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
• Solid technical foundation across retirement plan design, executive compensation, and employee benefits
• Experience within a consulting, accounting, legal, or advisory practice focused on retirement, executive compensation, employee benefits, or tax strategy is highly valued
• Bachelor’s degree required. JD strongly preferred. Advanced degrees in Tax, Employee Benefits, Law, or related disciplines are highly desirable

What Success Looks Like

• Deep expertise in retirement plan design, including both qualified and non-qualified plans
• Ability to advise on executive compensation strategies with confidence and independence
• Strong consulting mindset with the ability to lead client engagements
• Experience supporting business development and building long-term client relationships
• Comfortable working directly with C-level executives and senior decision-makers
• Ability to simplify complex concepts and present recommendations with clarity and authority

Important to Know

The strongest candidates for this role will have hands‑on experience advising clients on retirement plan design, executive compensation, and related employee benefits strategies.

This opportunity is best aligned with professionals from retirement consulting, executive compensation consulting, employee benefits consulting, tax, legal, or advisory backgrounds.

Professionals whose experience is primarily centered on wealth management, investment advisory, fiduciary services, participant services, recordkeeping, or financial planning are unlikely to align with the core consulting focus of this role.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.