Client Development Associate

Client Development Associate

• Remote (Latin America-based)

• Compensation: $2,000–$2,500 USD/month base + variable compensation

• Full-time, Contractor

• Tools: CRM/lead-tracking tools, Claude, ChatGPT/voice AI tools

At Near, we connect top talent in Latin America with exciting remote opportunities at U.S.-based companies. Our mission is to create better lives by fostering a remote work culture that transcends borders.

About the Company:

Our client is a fast-growing, New York City-based sell-side M&A advisory firm operating at the forefront of AI-enabled finance. The company helps business owners navigate the sale of their companies and connect with the right buyers, including private equity firms and strategic acquirers.

The team combines high-touch advisory work with AI-native tools and workflows. This is an opportunity to join early, work closely with the founder, and gain direct exposure to senior U.S. business leaders and live transactions.

About the Role:

We’re looking for a Client Development Associate to own the top of the client acquisition funnel.

This is a highly client-facing role for someone who can confidently lead introductory conversations with U.S. business owners, understand their needs, qualify opportunities, and move prospects toward a signed advisory engagement. You will be responsible for keeping the pipeline organized, ensuring timely follow-up, and making sure no qualified lead falls through the cracks.

The ideal candidate has a finance background, strong commercial instincts, and a proven ability to manage and advance client conversations.

You Will:

• Lead 1–3 introductory and discovery calls per day with prospective U.S.-based clients.

• Build rapport with business owners and senior decision-makers from the first interaction.

• Understand each prospect’s situation, business context, and potential fit for the advisory process.

• Qualify opportunities and move high-potential leads toward clear next steps.

• Manage and maintain the CRM, ensuring lead data, notes, statuses, tasks, and follow-ups are accurate and current.

• Own follow-up communication across the pipeline and ensure no conversation or opportunity is dropped.

• Support the founder in advancing qualified prospects toward signed client engagements.

• Use sound commercial judgment to prioritize opportunities and flag important leads.

• Help prepare materials and conduct research using AI-enabled tools, including Claude.

• Support buy-side activities, including buyer outreach and follow-up during active processes.

• Continuously improve client-development workflows as the company scales.

About You:

Your Background:

• Background in investment banking, M&A advisory, corporate finance, business development, sales, or another finance-focused, client-facing role, ideally from a boutique investment bank or a strong finance-focused university program. 

• Proven experience working directly with U.S.-based clients or business owners.

• Track record leading short-format (15 to 30 minute) discovery, introductory, sales, or qualification calls, including cold or early-stage outbound conversations. 

• Working knowledge of sell-side M&A mechanics and basic deal structuring, with comfort discussing valuation, process stages, and buyer/seller dynamics. 

• Experience using a CRM or lead-management system to manage pipeline activity, notes, and follow-ups, held to a disciplined, no-dropped-thread standard. 

• Demonstrated ability to advance opportunities and contribute to closing deals. Able to speak in specific detail about one recent deal, client engagement, or commercial win, including your role, the actions you took, and the outcome. 

• Strong spoken and written English, fluent enough for unscripted, polished conversations with senior U.S. stakeholders.

• Comfortable using AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, voice AI) as part of your daily workflow. The interview process includes a short mock call exercise using an AI voice tool.

Skills:

• Commercially minded, persuasive, and comfortable asking thoughtful questions.

• High energy, ambitious, and motivated by performance-based upside.

• Organized, disciplined, and rigorous about follow-through.

• Proactive and comfortable taking ownership in a small, fast-moving team.

• Confident navigating ambiguity and adapting as priorities evolve.

• Resilient, coachable, and able to learn quickly from feedback.

• Enjoys working directly with founders, senior leaders, and clients.

Nice to Have:

• Experience at a boutique investment bank, advisory firm, private equity firm, or high-growth B2B company.

• Prior sell-side M&A, deal origination, client acquisition, or transaction experience.

• Experience engaging with founders, CEOs, or business owners.

• Ability to travel to New York City for occasional onboarding or business needs.

• Dual citizenship, a U.S. visa, or eligibility for visa-free U.S. travel.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Compensation: $2,000–$2,500 USD/month base.

• Variable compensation with an on-target earnings of approximately $3,500–$4,000 USD/month based on performance.

• Potential fully paid 1–2 week onboarding trip to New York City.

• Direct exposure to senior U.S. business leaders, live transactions, and AI-enabled advisory workflows.