Position Summary:
The Business Development Associate role will support Cerity Partners business development efforts in Custodial Referral Programs, a key channel of organic growth for the firm. This role will support the regional Business Development Officers (BDOs) by serving as an in-office extension of the sales team, keeping opportunities moving forward while BDOs are active in the field. The Associate will be responsible for coordinating branch meetings, responding to initial inquiries from branch Financial Consultants (FCs), and managing outreach on stale or difficult-to-reach prospects to ensure pipeline momentum is maintained. They will also play a key role in the client onboarding experience by collecting and organizing proposal materials, monitoring the onboarding process alongside servicing advisors, and qualifying opportunities to facilitate introductory meetings between BDOs and FCs or prospective clients. This position is ideal for a detail-oriented professional who thrives in a fast-paced financial services environment and is eager to grow within a client-facing business development function.
Primary Responsibilities
- Act as extension of multiple BDOs in the region assigned, moving sales processes forward while BDOs are in the field or traveling within a region.
- Coordinate branch meetings.
- Field initial inquiries from FCs when BDO is unavailable.
- Manage reporting and outreach on stale or hard to reach opportunities.
- Assist in collecting and organizing information required to prepare client proposals.
- Track client onboarding process with servicing advisor and provide support where necessary.
- Ensure data integrity of all active opportunities in CRM and other core systems.
- Engage with FCs or Clients to qualify the opportunity and set-up initial meeting between the BDO and FC or Client
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in Finance, Business, Economics or a related field.
- 1 – 4 years of work experience in a related field or role.
- Experience supporting or participating in business development or a sales process.
- Ability to work full time from a company location (3-4 days in office per week) and travel on a limited basis.
- Prior exposure to RIA, Broker Dealer or Custodial Platforms (e.g., Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing) a strong plus.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Working towards or have secured Securities Industry Essential (SIE) Exam, Series 65 or other industry certifications
Skills and Competencies:
- Demonstrate strong and effective communication, organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to work in a team based/collaborative environment.
- Proficiency in CRM platforms (Salesforce preferred)
- Proficiency with, or the interest and aptitude to become proficient in using firm-enabled AI tools.
- Must accept and thrive in a fast-paced, changing environment.
- Adherence to all compliance policies & procedures.
- Demonstrate the Cerity Partners culture.
Physical Requirements:
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
Compensation Range:
$75,000 - $85,000
Why Cerity Partners:
Our people drive our success by working together to deliver exceptional service to our clients. Below is a glimpse of the key elements of our total rewards package:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance – day 1!
- 401(k) savings and investment plan options with 4% match
- Flexible PTO policy
- Parental Leave
- Financial assistance for advanced education and professional designations
- Opportunity to give back time to local communities
- Commuter benefits
Cerity Partners is committed to providing an environment where all individuals can be their authentic selves. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer who respects each individual and supports the diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences of our colleagues. We are dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.
Cerity Partners is committed to working with and providing accommodations to applicants with disabilities or special needs. For those needing accommodations, please reach out to [email protected]. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree, preferably in Finance, Business, Economics, or a related field
- 1–4 years of work experience in a related field or role
- Experience supporting or participating in business development or a sales process
- Ability to work full time from a company location, 3–4 days per week in the office
- Ability to travel on a limited basis
- Prior exposure to RIA, broker-dealer, or custodial platforms such as Schwab, Fidelity, or Pershing
- Working toward or having secured the Securities Industry Essentials exam, Series 65, or other industry certifications
- Proficiency with CRM platforms, preferably Salesforce
- Authorization to work for any employer in the United States
Cerity Partners Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Cerity Partners and has not been reviewed or approved by Cerity Partners.
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Retirement Support — An employer 401(k) match is part of the package, supporting long-term savings. Feedback suggests retirement benefits are a consistent component across materials.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Flexible PTO, paid holidays, and paid parental leave are explicitly included, enabling time away when needed. Feedback suggests time-off policies are viewed as a strong element of the offering.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Hybrid work, commuter benefits, employee assistance resources, and optional spending accounts broaden the total rewards beyond base pay. Feedback suggests these perks contribute to perceived overall balance.
Cerity Partners Insights
What We Do
Our mission is to positively impact the financial well-being of our clients by delivering objective financial advice. We serve high-net-worth individuals and their families, businesses and their employees, and nonprofit organizations. Our advice, comprehensive oversight and fiduciary duties extend well beyond investments. We bring together all the experts necessary to address the various facets of a client’s financial life, including attorneys, tax advisors, financial planners and investment professionals. This approach to advice and service along with our private partnership business model have made us one of the premier investment advisers in the country, and a desired home for talented and passionate financial advisors who seek to serve clients the proper way. https://ceritypartners.com/award-disclosures Cerity Partners LLC reserves the right, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to retain and,monitor all electronic communications. Cerity Partners LLC is not responsible for content posted by third-parties, and does not accept any endorsement, recommendation, or like statement made by third-parties. Third-party content shared, liked, or commented on by Cerity Partners LLC should not be construed as a recommendation of any kind, and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as to its value, accuracy, or suitability with respect to any person. Statements and messages are subject to the following terms: https://ceritypartners.com/terms-and-conditions/.
