Business Transition Strategist

Make banking a Fifth Third better®
We connect great people to great opportunities. Are you ready to take the next step? Discover a career in banking at Fifth Third Bank.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Business Transition Senior Strategist serves as the primary wealth planning expert for high-net-worth clients and prospects, with a specialized focus on business owners and closely held entities navigating ownership transition events. This role partners closely with Wealth Management Advisors (WMAs), Commercial Relationship Managers, and Investment Banking partners to lead discovery, develop integrated wealth and business transition strategies, and support implementation across pre- and post-transaction phases.

The role contributes directly to client acquisition, retention, and overall client experience by delivering comprehensive planning solutions that align business transition outcomes with personal wealth, estate, and tax objectives.

Please see below for specific responsibilities and requirements for this role.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:

The responsibilities for this role are below; you may support projects of varying complexity based on skill and organizational priorities.

• Client & Prospect Engagement: Partner with WMAs and One Bank partners to acquire and retain key client relationships by delivering comprehensive wealth strategies, with a focus on business owners and transition opportunities.

• Business Transition Discovery & Planning: Work directly with business owners to assess transition readiness, identify key risks and opportunities, and develop customized transition strategies spanning pre- and post-transaction phases.

• Integrated Wealth & Business Strategy: Align business transition plans with personal wealth strategies, including estate planning, tax optimization, liquidity planning, and legacy goals.

• Wealth Planning Strategy: Lead development of integrated wealth plans across estate, tax, investment, risk, insurance, and cash flow planning disciplines.

• Research & Modeling: Identify planning opportunities and model financial and tax implications of business transition scenarios, including sale, transfer, or recapitalization strategies.

• Client Deliverables & Oversight: Coordinate preparation and review of client deliverables, including transition plans, financial models, and presentations.

• Strategy Implementation: Present recommendations and coordinate execution of transition and wealth planning strategies in partnership with internal and external advisors.

• Partnership & One Bank Coordination: Lead a coordinated team approach across Wealth Management, Commercial, and Investment Banking partners to deliver a seamless client experience.

• Thought Leadership & Education: Educate internal partners and clients on business transition strategies, trends, and considerations through presentations, materials, and external engagement.

• Leadership & Talent Development: Coach and mentor Analysts and Strategists to build capabilities in advanced planning and business transition advisory.

• Risk & Compliance: Operate within the Bank’s risk framework and ensure adherence to policies and procedures while acting in the best interests of clients and colleagues.

• Other Duties: Performing other duties as assigned, adapting to new tasks or shifts in priorities as necessary to support your team’s and the company’s mission.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• 10+ years of experience in wealth planning, business advisory, investment banking, legal, accounting, or related professional services environment supporting business owners.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

Qualified candidates will possess an advanced degree of proficiency (typically from 10+ years of experience), in:

• Wealth & Transition Planning Expertise: Advanced knowledge of estate, tax, investment, and business transition planning concepts.

• Client Advisory Skills: Strong consultative approach with excellent communication and presentation capabilities.

• Business Owner Advisory: Ability to advise on complex transition scenarios including sale, succession, and liquidity events.

• Relationship Management: Ability to collaborate and influence across a matrixed, team-based environment.

• Analytical Thinking: Strong problem-solving and financial modeling capabilities.

SKILLS FOR SUCCESS:

Qualified candidates will possess an advanced degree of proficiency (typically from 10+ years of experience), across a suite of skills including, but not limited to:

• Professional Credentials: JD, CPA, CFP®, or equivalent credentials preferred.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to connect business transition outcomes with long-term wealth and legacy planning.

• Business Development Orientation: Demonstrated ability to contribute to pipeline development and growth initiatives.

• Influence & Communication: Ability to engage effectively with business owners, advisors, and senior partners.

• Industry Knowledge: Understanding of trends, market dynamics, and practices related to business transitions.

DOING THE RIGHT THING:

Our employees take pride in doing the right thing for customers and colleagues as well as being accountable for risk by openly exchanging ideas and opinions, elevating concerns, and following policies and procedures that protect all our valuable assets —including you.

At Fifth Third, we understand the importance of recognizing our employees for the role they play in improving the lives of our customers, communities and each other. Our Total Rewards include comprehensive benefits and differentiated compensation offerings to give each employee the opportunity to be their best every day.

The base salary for this position is reflective of the range of salary levels for all roles within this pay grade across the U.S. Individual salaries within this range will vary based on factors such as role, relevant skillset, relevant experience, education and geographic location. In addition to the base salary, this role is eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan, with any such payment based upon company, line of business and/or individual performance.

Our extensive benefits programs are designed to support the individual needs of our employees and their families, encompassing physical, financial, emotional and social well-being. You can learn more about those programs on our 53.com Careers page at: https://www.53.com/content/fifth-third/en/careers/benefits.html or by consulting with your talent acquisition partner. 

Attention search firms and staffing agencies: do not submit unsolicited resumes for this posting.  Fifth Third does not accept resumes from any agency that does not have an active agreement with Fifth Third.  Any unsolicited resumes – no matter how they are submitted – will be considered the property of Fifth Third and Fifth Third will not be responsible for any associated fee.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is proud to have an engaged and inclusive culture and to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity in all employment decisions regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other legally protected status.