Business relationship manager - outsourcing

CLA is a top 10 national professional services firm where our purpose is to create opportunities every day, for our clients, our people, and our communities through industry-focused wealth advisory, digital, audit, tax, consulting, and outsourcing services. Even with more than 8,500 people, 130 U.S. locations, and a global reach, we promise to know you and help you.

CLA is dedicated to building a culture that invites different beliefs and perspectives to the table, so we can truly know and help our clients, communities, and each other.

CLA is seeking a Business Relationship Manager focused on our Outsourcing practice (CAAS, Consulting, Deal Services, Talent, Valuation/Risk). This role serves as a strategic connection between Outsourcing business leadership and technology teams, helping ensure technology investments, capabilities, and partnerships support the evolving needs of the practice and the clients it serves.

How You'll Make an Impact

Outsourcing Business Partnership

• Build and maintain trusted, consultative relationships with Outsourcing leadership and key business stakeholders.
• Develop a strong understanding of Outsourcing services, business processes, technology needs, pain points, and strategic priorities.
• Serve as a strategic technology advisor to the Outsourcing practice, connecting business objectives with technology capabilities.
• Translate business needs into actionable technology initiatives aligned with CLA's broader technology strategy.
• Help identify opportunities where technology can improve efficiency, scalability, service delivery, and the client experience.

Technology Strategy & Innovation

• Evaluate emerging technologies and their potential application within Outsourcing services.
• Identify opportunities for automation, process improvement, digital enablement, and technology-driven transformation.
• Partner with business leaders to evaluate where technology investments can create meaningful business and client value.
• Bring forward strategic recommendations regarding new platforms, capabilities, tools, and technology solutions.
• Help leadership evaluate opportunities while balancing business value, feasibility, risk, and long-term technology strategy.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Represent the Outsourcing business perspective throughout the technology initiative lifecycle, from early discovery and intake through prioritization, implementation, and closeout.
• Collaborate across Solutions, IT portfolio, infrastructure, security, enterprise architecture, and other technology teams.
• Ensure technology initiatives remain aligned with Outsourcing priorities, business requirements, and expected outcomes.
• Serve as a conduit between business and technology teams, helping each side understand requirements, priorities, challenges, and dependencies.
• Help drive alignment and adoption as new technology capabilities are introduced into the business.

Vendor & External Partner Management

• Manage relationships with technology vendors supporting Outsourcing operations and service delivery.
• Evaluate vendor capabilities, performance, strategic fit, service levels, and alignment with business requirements.
• Participate in technology vendor evaluations, selections, contract renewals, and negotiations.
• Assess when external technology providers or partners can supplement internal capabilities or accelerate strategic initiatives.

Market & External Partnerships

• Maintain awareness of technologies, platforms, and capabilities emerging within the accounting, finance, professional services, and outsourced services marketplace.
• Identify technologies that could strengthen or expand CLA's Outsourcing capabilities.
• Provide leadership with recommendations regarding external solutions and potential partnerships.
• Build productive relationships with technology providers, consultants, and external partners that can expand organizational capabilities.
• Bring an outside-in perspective to CLA by identifying technology trends and opportunities that may influence the future of Outsourcing services.

What You'll Bring

Business & Technology Capabilities

• Strong understanding of technology strategy and technology enablement within an Outsourcing, accounting, finance, or professional services environment.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with senior business stakeholders and operate as a consultative technology partner.
• Understanding of accounting and finance business processes and the technology used to support those processes.
• Ability to evaluate emerging technologies and translate them into practical business opportunities.
• Experience assessing business processes and identifying opportunities for automation, standardization, integration, and technology-enabled improvement.
• Experience implementing or supporting business applications, platforms, and digital solutions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to navigate complex business and technology challenges.
• Ability to translate business requirements into technology needs and communicate technical concepts effectively to non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience collaborating across business, technology, security, architecture, and operational teams.
• Strong vendor management and external partnership skills.

Experience

• Seven (7) years of relevant experience required.
• Experience working at the intersection of technology and accounting, finance, outsourcing, or professional services.
• Experience with technology supporting accounting and finance business processes.
• Experience supporting Outsourcing, CAAS, client accounting, finance transformation, or similar professional services functions strongly preferred.
• Experience partnering directly with business leadership to define technology needs, priorities, and investment opportunities.
• Experience with technology vendors, business applications, digital platforms, and/or technology transformation initiatives preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

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Wellness at CLA

To support our CLA family members, we focus on their physical, financial, social, and emotional well-being and offer comprehensive benefit options that include health, dental, vision, 401k and much more.

To view a complete list of benefits, click here.