Business Development Manager

About Nichols Cauley

Nichols Cauley is a leading integrated financial services platform recognized among the Top 100 Firms by Inside Public Accounting. We are honored to be named one of Accounting Today's Best Firms to Work For and Best Firms for Young Accountants, reflecting our commitment to professional excellence, career development, and a collaborative, supportive culture. Through our Manage. Protect. Grow. approach, we provide clients with coordinated expertise across tax, assurance, outsourced accounting, risk and insurance services, group benefits, transaction advisory, and strategic consulting services. By strategically investing in technology, automation, and AI-driven innovation to enhance client service and empower our team members to do their best work. At Nichols Cauley, you'll find an environment where relationships matter, innovation is encouraged, and long-term success is a shared goal. If you're seeking a rewarding career with an organization dedicated to your growth, development, and future success, we encourage you to apply and join our team.

Position Summary

The Business Development Manager is responsible for generating new client relationships for Nichols Cauley across its full range of service lines — Audit, Tax, M&A/Transaction Advisory, Risk & Insurance Services, Group Benefits, CFO Advisory, and Client Accounting Services. This role focuses on building trusted relationships with Controllers, CFOs, and owners of small-to-midsize and closely held businesses, converting those relationships into new engagements for the firm. Working closely with service line partners, this person owns the front end of the growth process — prospecting, outreach, networking, and qualifying opportunities — and hands off warm, well-positioned introductions to the right subject matter experts across the firm.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, prospect, and cultivate relationships with Controllers, CFOs, and owners of small-to-midsize businesses across target industries.
• Build and manage a pipeline of prospective clients across the firm's service lines — Audit, Tax, M&A/Transaction Advisory, Risk & Insurance Services, Group Benefits, and Client Accounting Services, CFO Advisory.
• Develop and execute outbound outreach campaigns — LinkedIn, email, and phone — targeting financial decision-makers at small-to-midsize businesses.
• Represent Nichols Cauley at networking events, industry associations, chambers of commerce, and community organizations to build referral relationships.
• Partner with service line leaders and partners to understand their offerings and tailor outreach and pitches to prospect needs.
• Qualify inbound leads and schedule and facilitate introductory meetings between prospects and the appropriate service line partner.
• Develop and maintain relationships with referral sources such as attorneys, bankers, wealth managers, and other centers of influence.
• Track and report on pipeline activity, conversion rates, and new business generated using the firm's CRM.
• Collaborate with marketing on collateral, campaigns, and messaging that support business development efforts.
• Own the front end of the sales cycle from initial outreach through qualification and handoff, coordinating closely with service line partners through close.
• Set and track new-business targets in partnership with firm leadership, and report regularly on progress.
• Stay current on market trends, competitor offerings, and the needs of SMB Controllers, CFOs, and owners to continually refine messaging and targeting.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of business development, sales, or relationship management experience, ideally within professional or financial services.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• Demonstrated track record of generating new business and meeting or exceeding revenue targets.
• Comfort and credibility engaging with Controllers, CFOs, and business owners — able to speak knowledgeably about accounting, tax, and financial matters even without a direct accounting background.
• Strong prospecting, networking, and relationship-building skills, with a demonstrated ability to build a pipeline from scratch.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; a polished, confident presenter.
• Proficiency with CRM systems and outbound sales/marketing tools (e.g., LinkedIn Sales Navigator, email sequencing tools).
• Self-motivated and goal-oriented, comfortable working independently against new-business targets.
• Willingness to travel locally for client meetings, networking events, and community engagement.

Preferred

• Existing network of Controllers, CFOs, or SMB owners in the Georgia & Southeast markets.
• Experience selling or promoting multi-service offerings (e.g., audit, tax, M&A, insurance, outsourced accounting).
• Prior business development experience specifically within an accounting, CPA, or financial services firm.
• Familiarity with Zoho CRM or a similar platform.
• Experience partnering with subject matter experts (e.g., CPAs, attorneys) to close complex, consultative sales.

Nichols Cauley does not accept unsolicited resumes, candidate referrals, or applicant submissions from staffing agencies, recruiting firms, sourcing providers, or other third-party services. Any candidate information submitted without a valid, executed agreement between Nichols Cauley and the submitting party will be considered unsolicited and will become the property of Nichols Cauley. No fees, commissions, or other charges will be owed for such submissions.

For agencies with an active agreement in place, candidates may only be submitted for positions that have been specifically authorized by Nichols Cauley for external recruiting support. Any submissions made for unauthorized, unapproved, or closed positions will be considered unsolicited and will not be eligible for fees.

Talent Acquisition is the exclusive point of contact for all third-party recruiting activities. Agencies and recruiters who contact employees, partners, or other representatives of Nichols Cauley without the knowledge and approval of Talent Acquisition may be subject to termination of their agreement and removal from consideration for future business.