Demo

Business Development Advisor

Smith + Howard
Columbia, SC Full Time
POSTED ON 10/8/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 11/5/2026
Build Relationships. Create Opportunity. Drive Growth.

At Smith Howard, growth starts with relationships.

We are seeking an accomplished Business Development Advisor to accelerate growth and expand our presence across the South and North Carolina markets. This is a highly visible, revenue-generating role focused on developing strategic relationships, creating new business opportunities, and connecting prospective clients with the broad capabilities of the Smith Howard family of companies.

This is not a transactional or high-volume sales role. Success comes through market presence, executive-level relationships, strategic networking, disciplined pipeline development, and the ability to turn trusted relationships into long-term client engagements.

What You'll Do

Working closely with Partners, Principals, and firm leaders, you will:

  • Generate new business opportunities and revenue by identifying, developing, and advancing prospective client relationships.
  • Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of qualified opportunities aligned with firm growth objectives.
  • Develop trusted relationships with business owners, C-suite executives, financial leaders, referral partners, and other key decision-makers.
  • Leverage professional networks, market intelligence, and strategic introductions to create new opportunities.
  • Advance opportunities through the business development lifecycle, from initial relationship development through proposal, negotiation, and engagement.
  • Partner with firm leadership on pursuit strategies that improve conversion and support growth across assurance, tax, advisory, wealth management, and other firm capabilities.
  • Represent Smith Howard at industry events, conferences, associations, networking activities, and within the broader business community.
  • Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships by introducing additional firm capabilities.
  • Maintain disciplined pipeline and opportunity management through the firm's CRM platform, providing visibility into activity, progress, and results.
  • Collaborate with Marketing and firm leadership on targeted initiatives that strengthen market presence and generate opportunities.

What We're Looking For

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
  • 5 years of successful business development, sales, client development, or revenue-generation experience.
  • Demonstrated success building a qualified pipeline and converting relationships into measurable revenue.
  • Experience in public accounting, consulting, financial services, professional services, or another relationship-driven business environment strongly preferred.
  • Established professional network and credibility with business owners, executives, financial leaders, referral sources, and other decision-makers within the Carolinas.
  • Experience developing business for audit, tax, accounting, advisory, consulting, or other complex professional services is highly preferred.
  • Strong executive presence, business acumen, communication skills, and a consultative approach to business development.
  • Ability to manage multiple relationships and opportunities while maintaining consistent follow-through and accountability.
  • Entrepreneurial, self-directed mindset with a strong focus on results.

What Success Looks Like

Success means building relationships that create opportunities and converting those opportunities into sustainable growth. You will be expected to develop a strong pipeline, originate new client relationships and revenue, expand Smith Howard's visibility in key markets, and collaborate effectively with firm leadership to turn opportunities into long-term client engagements.

Just as importantly, how you achieve those results matters.

At Smith Howard, our values of PEOPLE, CLIENTS, EXCELLENCE, and INTEGRITY guide how we work, build relationships, and grow. We are looking for someone who shares those values and understands that the strongest business relationships are built on trust.

Why Smith Howard?

Smith Howard is a growing family of companies with expanding capabilities and national reach, while maintaining the relationships, accessibility, and entrepreneurial spirit that have defined our firm.

We are building for the future and looking for people who want to help shape it.

If you've built the network, earned the trust, and have a track record of turning relationships into results, we'd like to hear from you.

Location: Open to considering those located in Columbia, SC or Charlotte, NC, or surrounding areas.

Salary.com Estimation for Business Development Advisor in Columbia, SC
$78,577 to $100,179
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Business Development Advisor?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Business Development Advisor career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$106,109 - $140,344
Income Estimation: 
$143,727 - $183,807
Income Estimation: 
$121,487 - $157,064
Income Estimation: 
$77,000 - $101,611
Income Estimation: 
$106,109 - $140,344
Income Estimation: 
$121,487 - $157,064
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Smith + Howard

  • Smith + Howard Birmingham, AL
  • Do you want a career without limits? Do you want to shape your own future and be surrounded by people who listen? If so, we have the perfect opportunity fo... more
  • 15 Days Ago

  • Smith + Howard Chattanooga, TN
  • Tax Supervisor (Chattanooga Office) Do you want to shape your own future and be surrounded by people who listen? Are you looking for a rewarding career wit... more
  • 15 Days Ago

  • Smith + Howard Atlanta, GA
  • Do you want a career without limits? Do you want to shape your own future and be surrounded by people who listen? If so, we have the perfect opportunity fo... more
  • 5 Days Ago

  • Smith + Howard Atlanta, GA
  • Marketing Manger Do you want a career without limits? Do you want to shape your own future and be surrounded by people who listen? If so, we have the perfe... more
  • 5 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Business Development Advisor jobs in the Columbia, SC area that may be a better fit.

  • Hansen Talent Group (HTG) Columbia, SC
  • Job Title : Business Development Specialist About Hansen Talent Group Hansen Talent Group is a leading provider of technical staffing solutions, specializi... more
  • 15 Days Ago

  • Piedmont Door Solutions Columbia, SC
  • Currently Recruiting for Future Openings*** Piedmont Door Solutions has been the Southeast’s leading choice in pedestrian door and entrance solutions since... more
  • 17 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!