Grant Thornton is collaborative, entrepreneurial and on the move. As part of a dynamic global organization of 30,000 people serving clients in more than 100 countries, we have the agility and focus it takes to be a leader.
CLIENT PORTAL MANAGER
Grant Thornton LLP seeks a talented business professional with proven business-to-business experience and strong digital chops to lead its client portal program.
Grant Thornton Client Portal
Grant Thornton’s secure, branded portals are custom-built for clients and support the firm’s ability to deliver distinctive service. Each portal:
•Includes Grant Thornton thought leadership and premium third-party content;
•Fosters stronger client relationships and more effective audit engagements; and
•Delivers proven results in terms of insights and better decision making.
Each new portal site is implemented with a hands-on training session performed face-to-face or via webcast.
Position summary
The client portal manager will work in Digital Marketing, part of Grant Thornton’s national marketing group in Chicago. The portal team drives demand for new portals and supports portal operations such as promoting client usage and renewals of existing portals. The manager will assist the team as needed, and will work with stakeholders to grow the program with new functionality and content. This person communicates directly with Grant Thornton partners and managers and client executives (CFOs, financial reporting and accounting personnel, and audit committee members). The portal manager reports to the head of content and digital strategy.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
•Drive portal acceptance/direct sales efforts - Increase demand for new client portals
•Work with service line, industry and geography leaders to prioritize clients, then educate partners and provide them with tools and guidance to introduce portals to those clients.
•Work with marketing professionals to integrate the portal into proposals.
•Market portal internally at Grant Thornton functions (Audit Conference, New Manager Seminar, etc.).
•Grow the program/implement new portals - Manage portal implementation for clients and prospects
•Engage in conversations with Grant Thornton partners and managers to help them determine if the portal is suited for their client or prospect. Articulate value and related costs.
•Supervise a team of two in the creation of portal sites.
•Identify relevant news and industry resources of interest to clients.
•Lead portal training presentations to clients and Grant Thornton teams in hands-on sessions (must become an expert at guiding people through Accounting Research Manager and other portal resources and tools).
•Perform quality audits and ensure follow-up is completed on items that arise during training.
•Maintain existing portals/engage portal audience - Support existing portal clients
•Author weekly portal Spotlight message by identifying and highlighting Grant Thornton thought leadership or other content of interest to primary audience on accounting, financial reporting, corporate governance, and tax subjects.
•Manage maintenance of custom portal software application database.
•Develop periodic email communications reinforce the portal’s value proposition to clients.
•Monitor portal usage and work with Grant Thornton teams to increase client usage.
•Supervise ongoing activities to keep content current and member information up-to-date.
•Improve value of portal/enhance quality – Expand functionality and add content
•Determine clients’ needs related to the portal interface and embedded tools.
•Work with technology contractor and applicable GT groups to develop new functionality.
•Identify new 3rd party value-added resources, determine cost/benefit, and work through approval process to get appropriate content added.
•Strategy and planning – Support portal program with strategic focus and documentation
•Assist with the development and execution of program marketing planning.
•Help to create strategic business plan and related budget analyses.
•Help to monitor and report on progress toward achieving plan.
•Manage portal operations – Support portal program in portal management activities
•Manage portal client billings to make sure amounts billed are appropriate and accurate.
•Responsible for program budget oversight.
•Manage 3rd party vendor invoicing to make sure amounts paid are appropriate and accurate.
•Work to continuously improve the processes of the portal program.
•Other – Digital Marketing integration and personal growth
•From time to time, provide support to others in Digital Marketing.
•Perform other job-related duties as necessary, sometimes on short notice.
•Adhere to the highest degree of professional standards and strict confidentiality in matters that require discretion.
•Attend professional development and training sessions on a regular basis.
Qualifications and Requirements
Required
•10 years’ experience, 5 in a professional services firm
•Knowledge of accounting and auditing topics
•Highly motivated, self-starter with the ability to plan, create and execute own ideas
•Strong project management skills and demonstrated leadership skills
•Ability to develop and apply both creative and sensible approaches to execution plans and problems/issues as they arise
•Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
•Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
•High level of comfort with ambiguity and uncertainty that comes with rapid growth and change.
•Strong, professional presence. Confidence and poise to lead internal and client presentations and working sessions.
•Ability to effectively work with personnel at all levels and in teams, and gain respect from top level management
•Ability to supervise and coach direct reports
•Strong time management skills
•Proficient with Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer/Web Browsers, E-mail and other personal technologies
•Ability to master new technology quickly
•Willing to travel for on-site portal training sessions
•Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, finance or other related business field
Preferred
•CPA Certification strongly preferred
•Experience managing a team and P&L
•Knowledge of public accounting firms’ service lines, industries and culture
•Knowledge of web-based portals, user interface design and usability testing
•Knowledge of HTML or JavaScript is a plus
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Travel Percentage: up to 20%
Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. Grant Thornton has revenues in excess of $1.3 billion and operates 57 offices across the U.S., with more than 500 partners and 6,000 employees.
Grant Thornton works with a broad range of publicly and privately held companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and civic and religious organizations. Core industries served include consumer and industrial products, financial services, not-for-profit, private equity, and technology. Grant Thornton focuses on serving dynamic organizations that pursue growth holistically — whether through revenue improvement, leadership, mission fulfillment or innovation.
It is Grant Thornton’s policy to promote equal employment opportunities. All personnel decisions, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits and termination, are made without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.
**Title:** *Client Experience Portal Manager*
**Location:** *IL-Chicago*
**Requisition ID:** *030263*