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Client Development Specialist - Holistic Investment Thesis

McKinsey & Company

Sales & Business Development

Austin, TX, USA · Charlotte, NC, USA · Cleveland, OH, USA · Columbus, OH, USA · Boston, MA, USA · Chicago, IL, USA · Atlanta, GA, USA · Multiple locations

USD 192k-192k / year

Posted on Jan 8, 2026

Consulting

Client Development Specialist - Holistic Investment Thesis

Job ID: 104451

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Do you want to work on complex and pressing challenges—the kind that bring together curious, ambitious, and determined leaders who strive to become better every day? If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place.

Your Impact

You will join the Holistic Investment Thesis (HIT) team, which is a firm strategic initiative co-led by Strategy & Corporate Finance (S&CF), McKinsey Transformations (MT) with contributions from Marketing & Sales (M&S), Sustainability, People & Organizational Performance, Operations and Digital and Analytics (DnA) practices.

The HIT team aims to expand on firm introductory capabilities and analytic distinctiveness through rapid delivery of actionable value creation recommendations derived from an in-depth understanding of the business fundamentals, enabling more effective strategic discussions at the CxO level.

You will participate in the delivery of the holistic investment thesis to senior client team leaders such as partners & senior partners, along with our external clients.

You will be expected to articulate the tangible actions the company should take to maximize shareholder value, specifically, operational actions that can be handed off to an executive with a PE owners’ mindset with a focus on impact. You will collaborate with other experts to ensure financial analyses are accurate and that operational levers are translated into financial impact and vice versa. You will lead quality control analyses supporting the thesis including underlying valuation model.

Client Development Advisors create and capture new client opportunities, working as a “force multiplier” for Partners and Client Service Teams (CSTs) within a Cell or Solution. They shape, syndicate and execute client development strategies (across white-space, scale-up and retention), build/maintain executive client relationships, develop pipelines, deliver expertise, and capture opportunities based on client needs and our capabilities; always managing client service risk.

As a Client Development Specialist in HIT you will learn to shape CEO-ready narratives that frame client companies' holistic value-creation agenda. You will apprentice with senior S&CF (Strategy & Corporate Finance) along with MT (McKinsey Transformation) leaders on how to translate narratives and agendas into actions for the client.

You will live coach on influencing client team leaders and clients to act. You will apprentice, using a shark-tank approach, fully owning the thesis generation, impact lever sizing, backup analyses and overall document.

You will build client-ready communications that highlight opportunities to drive holistic transformation discussions. You will articulate tangible actions the company should take to maximize shareholder value, specifically, operational actions that can be handed off to an executive with a PE owners’ mindset, focusing on impact.

You will collaborate with our experts to ensure financial analyses are accurate and that operational levers are translated into financial impact and vice versa. You will lead quality control of the analyses supporting the integrated thesis, including the underlying valuation model.

As a Client Development Specialist in HIT, you will:

Identify new opportunities at target clients based on understanding of client needs, market dynamics and our capabilities; buoyed by insight on what it takes to “win”
Work with the CST to orchestrate and help drive the client conversation, applying a proven HIT formula on what it takes to “win”. The essence of the role is to uncover new opportunities in a holistic, bold way and define clear off-ramps to support execution.
Estimate opportunities across multiple dimensions and collaborate with experts across the Firm to make them specific and actionable.
Take accountability to deliver highest quality output, to support CEO / CFO discussion, by leveraging deep expertise in corporate finance, combined with experience in investment banking and transformation.
Educate CSTs on how to develop a holistic agenda for a client, backed by a solid fact base.
Support execution of client development agenda, collaborating with Cell/Solutions/CST leaders and take primary accountability for results; managing pipeline and account plans
Work hand in hand with leadership to shape the agenda for the Sector (e.g., identify priority clients and strategic discussion points, develop materials, monitor progress, etc.)
Actively work with McKinsey leaders on engaging with clients in follow up discussions (after initial HIT discussion) to broaden client buy-in, keep momentum and tailor our proposals. Engage actively with McKinsey leaders and clients when new developments arise, especially when these could be a ‘critical moment’ opportunity to connect with clients (e.g., changes in share price / analyst sentiments, M&A activity, etc.)
Build and maintain a broad network and deep expertise in the sector.
Develop client relationships as part of HIT delivery and follow-up engagements with clients. Maintain client relationships built on expertise (e.g., with Finance, Controlling, MA, IR, etc. clients)

Your Growth

Driving lasting impact and building long-term capabilities with our clients is not easy work. You are the kind of person who thrives in a high performance/high reward culture - doing hard things, picking yourself up when you stumble, and having the resilience to try another way forward.

In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we'll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities you need to become a stronger leader faster than you ever thought possible. Your colleagues—at all levels—will invest deeply in your development, just as much as they invest in delivering exceptional results for clients. Every day, you'll receive apprenticeship, coaching, and exposure that will accelerate your growth in ways you won’t find anywhere else.

When you join us, you will have:

Continuous learning: Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, is all about helping you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development. The real magic happens when you take the input from others to heart and embrace the fast-paced learning experience, owning your journey.
A voice that matters: From day one, we value your ideas and contributions. You’ll make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions, all while upholding our unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. We not only encourage diverse perspectives, but they are critical in driving us toward the best possible outcomes.
Global community: With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 different nationalities, our firm’s diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions for our clients. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
World-class benefits: On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package to enable holistic well-being for you and your family.

Your qualifications and skills

4-year degree required, advanced degree, preferably an MBA or master’s degree in a relevant field preferred
2+ years of consulting or industry experience in corporate finance, strategy or private equity. Prior experience as a consultant in a professional services firm preferred
Strong financial modeling skills
Comfort with conducting financial analyses and building a storyline that integrates multiple workstreams
Ability to build consensus for their ideas and help lead without formal line authority
Comfort with ambiguous, ever-changing situations
Excel, PPTX, story-lining, and synthesis skills
Ability to work collaboratively in a team and create an inclusive environment with people at all levels of an organization
Entrepreneurial approach, ability and desire to initiate the identification and pursuit of innovative ideas, complemented with great attention to details
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, in English and local office language(s)

Please review the additional requirements regarding essential job functions of McKinsey colleagues.

Our unwavering commitment to integrity drives everything we do, guiding us to always act in the best interests of our clients, our people, and the communities we serve.

Industries

Financial Services
Private Capital

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In accordance with Ontario law, this job posting is for an existing vacancy.

FOR U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Certain US and Canadian jurisdictions require McKinsey & Company to include a reasonable estimate of the salary for this role. For new joiners for this role in Canada and/or the United States, including all office locations where the job may be performed, a reasonable estimated range is $192,000 - $192,000 in USD and $200,000 - $200,000 in CAD — to help you understand what you can expect. This reflects our best estimate of the lowest to highest salary for this role at the time of this posting, ensuring you have a clear picture right from the start, though it's important to remember that actual salaries may vary. Factors like your office location, your unique blend of experience and skills, start date and our current organizational needs all play a part in determining the final figure. Certain roles are also eligible for bonuses, subject to McKinsey's discretion and based on factors such as individual and/or organizational performance.

Additionally, we provide a comprehensive benefits package that reflects our commitment to the wellness of our colleagues and their families. This includes medical, mental health, dental and vision coverage, telemedicine services, life, accident and disability insurance, parental leave and family planning benefits, caregiving resources, a generous retirement contributions program, financial guidance, and paid time off.

FOR NON-U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. For additional details regarding our global EEO policy and diversity initiatives, please visit our McKinsey Careers and Diversity & Inclusion sites.

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Job Skill Group - CSS Associate
Job Skill Code - CDS - Client Development Specialist
Function -
Industry - Financial Services;Private Capital
Post to LinkedIn - Yes
Posted to LinkedIn Date - Wed Jan 07 00:00:00 GMT 2026
LinkedIn Posting City - Boston
LinkedIn Posting State/Province - Massachusetts
LinkedIn Posting Country - United States
LinkedIn Job Title - Client Development Specialist - Holistic Investment Thesis
LinkedIn Function - Business Development;Finance
LinkedIn Industry - Financial Services;Investment Banking;Investment Management
LinkedIn Seniority Level - Associate

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