ESOP New Business Consultant I

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Where Technical Expertise Meets Purpose-Driven Impact
Use your ESOP knowledge to help employees across the country build financial independence.

At Blue Ridge Associates, we don’t just administer retirement plans — we help people build lasting financial security . Through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and 401(k) services, we empower employees across the country to take ownership of their financial futures. We are proud to be nationally ranked among the top two providers of ESOP recordkeeping and administration services and among the top three providers of retirement plan administration and consulting services, which includes 401(k), defined benefit (DB), cash balance (CB), and other qualified retirement plans.

Whether remote or based in one of our seven offices across the country, our team members work together with a shared mission: to make it easy for retirement plan professionals and sponsors to provide wealth-building benefits to business owners and their employees.

That’s Where You Come in as an ESOP New Business Consultant I

The ESOP New Business Consultant I is a key member of the New Business Team and is responsible for managing the onboarding and implementation of both new ESOP plans and takeovers from prior service providers. This role ensures a smooth transition from initial client engagement through full system setup, supporting accuracy, timeliness, and a positive client experience. The ideal candidate brings strong implementation or project management experience and is comfortable working with complex plan designs and data.

Essential Functions

• Manage the onboarding process from the initial welcome call with the plan sponsor through completion of setup of the plan in our ESOP recordkeeping system.
• Ensure a smooth and timely setup process for both new ESOP plans and takeovers of existing plans from other service providers. This includes coordinating with Plan Sponsors and prior providers to collect necessary plan records and legal documentation and attending ongoing status calls as needed.
• For takeover plans, reconcile asset records to recordkeeping reports and the plan’s annual Form 5500, and establish plan specifications and participant data within the recordkeeping system.
• Follow up with prior service providers to obtain missing details and demonstrate the ability to prepare calculations of required plan records when prior providers are unable to supply them.
• Review, validate, and maintain accurate onboarding documentation and participant data
• Utilize advanced Excel functions to organize, analyze, and reconcile data
• Partner cross-functionally with internal teams to ensure timely completion of onboarding tasks
• Track onboarding progress and proactively identify and resolve discrepancies or issues
• Communicate professionally with clients, stakeholders, and internal partners regarding onboarding timelines and requirements
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and regulatory standards
• Maintain detailed records and provide status updates as needed
• Adapt quickly to changing priorities, processes, and client needs in an agile work environment
• Identify opportunities to improve onboarding workflows and operational efficiency

Skills / Abilities

• Demonstrated hands-on experience working with ESOP plan administration and onboarding, including interpreting plan documents, amendments, and eligibility provisions.
• Proven ability to manage full-cycle implementations or plan takeovers, including coordinating data collection, tracking deliverables, and meeting defined timelines.
• Strong working knowledge of Form 5500 reporting, plan reconciliation, and participant-level data validation.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to:

o Perform data reconciliations across multiple sources

o Utilize formulas (e.g., VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH), pivot tables, and basic data analysis

o Identify and resolve data discrepancies independently

• Demonstrated ability to analyze incomplete or inconsistent data and proactively follow up to resolve gaps.
• Strong project management capability, including:

o Managing multiple implementations simultaneously

o Communicating status updates to stakeholders

o Escalating risks or delays proactively

• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with minimal supervision.
• Strong client-facing communication skills with the ability to explain technical ESOP concepts clearly and professionally.
• High level of attention to detail, particularly in data accuracy and compliance-driven work.

Core Competencies

• Attention to Detail
• Analytical Thinking
• Excel & Data Reconciliation
• Implementation & Project Ownership
• Problem-Solving
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Client Service Orientation

Education & Experience

• 1-2 years of direct ESOP experience with hands-on responsibility in plan administration, onboarding, or implementation functions.
• Experience must include at least one of the following:

o Leading or supporting ESOP plan takeovers or new plan implementations

o Performing plan-level reconciliations (e.g., trust vs recordkeeping vs Form 5500)

o Managing participant data setup and validation

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience required.
• ASPPA credential (e.g., QKA, QPA) is strongly preferred.

Why You’ll Love Working Here as an ESOP New Business Consultant I

You’ll join a company that works hard and supports one another — while doing work that truly matters.

We offer:

• Remote-first work culture with in-office options (VA, MD, OH, CA, MN)
• Competitive salary & comprehensive benefits (medical, dental, vision, life, disability)
• 401(k) with company match + HSA with contribution
• Generous PTO for parental leave, vacation and holiday time
• Support for certifications, association dues, and professional growth
• Company culture built on community: happy hours, social events, committee opportunities, and volunteer opportunities to make a difference

Join Us as We Build Wealth for Generations

Everything we do is driven by our vision. We see a future where more people achieve financial independence, enjoy meaningful retirement, and leave a legacy.

To get there, we live by our values every day:

• Precision – Accurate records, timely and error-free service.
• Efficacy – We ensure compliance, support communication, and guide participants toward retirement readiness.
• Advocacy – We champion regulatory and legislative change that benefits employers and employees.
• Collaboration – Trusted partners to clients, advisors, and teammates alike.
• Excellence – We bring personalized, proactive, high-touch service to everything we do.

This is more than a job. It’s your chance to create lasting impact — for your career, for your clients, and for the people whose futures you work to shape every day.

Blue Ridge is committed to equal pay and pay transparency.

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $60,000–$70,000 annually. Compensation may vary based on geographic location, relevant experience, education and training, key skills, internal equity, and business needs. The full salary range for this role is $60,000–$105,000 annually.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Must be authorized to work in the US.