Senior Consultant - NWPS

An in-office, three-day-a-week hybrid schedule for a candidate local to one of our offices is preferred. A candidate who is not geographically close to one of our locations can be considered for fully remote work if this candidate has retirement plan administration expertise.

The Senior Consultant manages a select group of qualified and nonqualified retirement plans and serves as a trusted advisor to plan sponsors. This role is responsible for all aspects of plan consulting, administration oversight, compliance, client relationship management, and strategic plan design. The Senior Consultant leads client engagements, mentors analysts, and delivers high-quality consulting services across a broad range of retirement plan types, including 401(k), profit sharing, cash balance, defined benefit, and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Client Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary consultant and trusted advisor for a portfolio of retirement plan and ESOP clients.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with plan sponsors, executives, trustees, advisors, auditors, attorneys, and valuation firms.

• Lead client meetings, strategic reviews, fiduciary discussions, and educational sessions.

• Anticipate client needs and proactively develop solutions to complex retirement plan and ownership-transition challenges.

Retirement Plan Consulting

• Manage all aspects of qualified and nonqualified retirement plans.

• Consult with clients regarding plan design strategies, contribution allocation methods, compliance requirements, and fiduciary best practices.

• Oversee plan administration, annual compliance testing, Form 5500 preparation, trust accounting, participant notices, and plan document maintenance.

• Review and approve deliverables to ensure accuracy, quality, and regulatory compliance.

ESOP Consulting and Administration

• Serve as a subject matter expert for Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs).

• Consult with clients regarding ESOP plan design, implementation, governance, and ongoing administration.

• Coordinate with valuation firms, trustees, legal counsel, and corporate leadership regarding annual stock valuations and transaction activity.

• Oversee ESOP allocations, diversification elections, distribution processing, repurchase obligation considerations, and compliance testing.

• Advise clients on regulatory requirements related to ERISA, IRS, and Department of Labor guidance affecting ESOPs.

• Assist clients with ownership transition strategies, merger and acquisition transactions, recapitalizations, and ESOP sustainability planning.

• Review annual ESOP reporting and ensure operational compliance with governing plan documents and applicable regulations.

Leadership and Team Development

• Manage and mentor analysts and other consulting staff.

• Lead project teams and coordinate resources on client engagements.

• Provide technical training and guidance on retirement plan and ESOP topics.

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and exceptional client service.

Business Development

• Participate in prospective client meetings and proposal presentations.

• Support business development initiatives and client retention efforts.

• Identify opportunities to expand consulting services within existing relationships.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.

• Significant experience in retirement plan consulting and administration.

• Demonstrated expertise working with qualified retirement plans and compliance requirements.

• Strong knowledge of ERISA, IRS, and Department of Labor regulations.

• Proven ability to manage complex client relationships and lead strategic discussions.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong analytical, project management, and problem-solving abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience administering or consulting on Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs).

• Experience with ESOP transactions, annual valuations, repurchase obligation studies, and fiduciary governance.

• QKA, QPA, CPC, CEBS, or related professional designation.

• ESOP industry training or certification through The ESOP Association, NCEO, or equivalent organizations.

• Experience with retirement plan conversions, acquisitions, divestitures, and corporate transactions.

• Experience presenting to senior executives, boards of directors, trustees, and fiduciary committees.

Key Competencies

• Retirement Plan Consulting

• ESOP Administration and Consulting

• ERISA and Regulatory Compliance

• Fiduciary Governance

• Client Relationship Management

• Strategic Planning

• Leadership and Talent Development

• Business Development

• Project Management

• Executive Communication