Director of Advisory Services

Director of Advisory Persona: Alex – The Advisory Practice Architect

Alex didn’t fall into advisory leadership by accident. They earned it by seeing what breaks when great CFOs operate without structure—and what’s possible when advisory work is intentional, repeatable, and well-led.

Early in their career, Alex was a high-performing CFO: trusted by founders, strong in the room, and sharp with strategy. But what caught their attention wasn’t just client outcomes—it was delivery variance. Some clients thrived because they had the “right” CFO. Others stalled because advisory lived in people’s heads instead of in systems. Alex realized the real leverage wasn’t being the smartest CFO in the room—it was building an advisory engine that made every CFO better.

Over time, Alex moved into leadership roles where they managed CFOs, standardized advisory offerings, and improved margins without diluting impact. They’ve seen what happens when advisory services sprawl—and they’ve fixed it. They know how to balance autonomy with accountability, judgment with process, and innovation with discipline.

Alex believes advisory is a craft, not a personality trait. Their job is to protect it, scale it, and make it sustainable.

How Alex Shows Up

• The builder of people, process, and standards
• A player-coach who leads while still delivering in the field – partially.
• Calm, credible, and unflappable under pressure
• Comfortable having hard conversations to protect clients, CFOs, and the firm
• Holds the line on quality—even when it’s uncomfortable
• Coaches CFOs to operate at a higher advisory altitude
• Thinks in systems, leverage, and outcomes
• Uses AI and automation to remove friction, not replace thinking
• Alex doesn’t micromanage—but they do expect excellence. They are deeply fair, relentlessly clear, and comfortable saying:

“This isn’t advisory yet—let’s elevate it.”

Core Strengths

• Advisory Leadership – Manages and develops CFOs into confident, consistent strategic advisors.
• Service Ownership – Designs, refines, and scales advisory offerings with clear outcomes and margins.
• Operational Discipline – Brings structure to delivery without killing judgment or nuance.
• AI & Automation Enablement – Embeds modern tools thoughtfully to speed insight and reduce waste.
• Quality Control – Maintains a direct billing requirement and leads by example in client work.

Passions

• Raising the Floor – Ensuring every client receives high-quality advisory, not heroics.
• People Development – Coaching CFOs and Advisors to think more strategically and lead more confidently.
• Sustainable Scale – Building advisory services that grow without burnout.
• Clarity Through Structure – Turning ambiguity into defined frameworks and playbooks.
• Staying in the Field – Remaining close to client work to stay sharp, relevant, and credible.
• Modern Advisory – Leveraging AI and automation to free CFOs for higher-value thinking.

What Others Say

• CFOs: “They make me better without making me smaller.”
• Integrator: “They bring solutions, not problems—and they execute.”
• Clients: “NLN feels consistent, prepared, and confident—no matter who we work with.”
• Peers: “The person who quietly makes the whole advisory machine run better.”

How Alex Partners Internally

• Reports to the Integrator, owns execution of CFOs and Advisors
• Translates Visionary direction into operating reality
• Leads as a player-coach, balancing internal leadership with client delivery
• Brings data, options, and recommendations—not noise
• Flags risks early and addresses them directly
• Treats metrics as tools for improvement, not punishment

Accountability & Ownership

• Owns advisory delivery outcomes across CFO and Advisory teams, including quality, utilization, and client confidence
• Holds CFOs accountable to advisory standards through feedback, coaching, and corrective action
• Makes staffing, escalation, and client reallocation decisions when delivery quality is at risk
• Ensures advisory metrics are met consistently—not just during strong quarters
• Maintains 2-3 clients.

What Success Looks Like to Alex

• CFOs spend more time strategically advising and less time preparing
• Advisory services are clearly defined, priced, and repeatable
• Clients experience consistency and confidence across the team
• Margins improve because waste is gone—not because corners were cut
• AI works quietly in the background, accelerating insight
• The advisory practice runs smoothly—even when Alex steps away
• Alex remains actively engaged in client work, setting the standard for what great advisory looks like

Who We’re Looking For (Alex Type)

We’re looking for a senior advisory leader who thrives at the intersection of people leadership, service ownership, and execution excellence. This is someone who understands advisory economics, believes in standards without rigidity, and knows how to elevate CFOs and Advisors without diminishing their judgment.

They are also someone who wants to stay in the field—who values direct client impact, carries a billing responsibility, and leads by example through their own advisory work. If you know someone who can manage CFOs, protect quality, improve margins, and thoughtfully integrate AI into advisory delivery while still showing up powerfully for clients, we want to meet them.

If you are someone who can balance autonomy with accountability, strategy with execution, and innovation with operational rigor, we want to meet you.

You must take the assessment prior to moving forward with your application.

https://assessment.predictiveindex.com/bo/1Mx/VPDirectorofAdvisory_Mar2026_124716

Salary:

• Base: $150,000 - $165,000
• Target Bonus: 20% paid Quarterly

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $150,000.00 - $165,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) 4% Match
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Why did you apply for this position?

Willingness to travel:

• 50% (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Beverly, MA 01915

Salary : $150,000 - $165,000