Senior Associate, Client Service Onboarding Manager - Pension Risk Transfer

What You'll Do

As a Senior Associate, Client Service Onboarding Manager, you'll manage the onboarding of assigned Pension Risk Transfer clients, acting as the main liaison throughout the process. This role combines detailed oversight and validation of participant information with direct client and partner interaction. You'll guide clients through onboarding, help ensure participant records are complete and accurate, resolve data issues, and coordinate activities through transition to ongoing administration while maintaining service standards and company policies.

• Client Support & Communication: Manage onboarding for an assigned portfolio or block of business, serving as the primary point of contact. Guide plan sponsors, internal teams, distribution partners, and other stakeholders through onboarding by providing expert support, timely communication, and clear direction. Communicate data requirements, outstanding information, discrepancies, and onboarding status, working across stakeholders to drive issues to resolution. Collaborate with senior COMs and internal partners as needed to resolve complex issues, set expectations, and deliver a smooth onboarding experience.
• Data Oversight & Verification: Manage participant data throughout the onboarding process by reviewing, validating, balancing, and updating participant records with minimal oversight. Identify and resolve discrepancies involving information such as dates of birth, addresses, and other participant-level data. Use available resources and established procedures to evaluate conflicting or incomplete information, determine appropriate next steps, and help ensure data integrity before records are loaded into internal systems.
• Onboarding & Technical Processing: Lead onboarding for assigned clients. Review and prepare data files. Maintain and balance client and participant records. Assist with accurate data transfer within internal platforms. Manage applicable transactions and onboarding setup activities in alignment with internal procedures and regulatory requirements. Lead internal contract and plan/policy-level coding as applicable and serve as a resource for troubleshooting and process improvement.
• Compliance & Risk Management: Accurately process onboarding transactions following regulatory and procedural guidelines (e.g., ERISA, IRS rules, state insurance regulations). Identify potential risks proactively and recommend solutions. Support internal audits by maintaining thorough records and documentation.
• Operational Excellence & Collaboration: Independently manage onboarding processes with careful precision and timeliness. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve routine issues and ensure smooth handoffs. Identify minor inefficiencies and suggest improvements within own workflow.
• Perform other job-related duties and special projects as the need arises.

Operating at the intersection of financial services and technology, Principal builds financial tools that help our customers live better lives. We take pride in being a purpose-led firm, motivated by our mission to make financial security accessible to all. Our mission, integrity, and customer focus have made us a trusted leader for more than 140 years!

Who You Are

• 2+ years of experience in client service, financial services, or plan/policy operations or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education.
• Working knowledge of plan/policy administration and financial concepts, with the ability to apply procedures accurately and efficiently.
• Ability to lead client onboarding engagements, serve as the primary point of contact, and build trust through clear communication and timely issue resolution.
• Exposure with retirement products and services such as 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit arrangements, pension risk transfer group annuity contracts, or other defined contribution offerings preferred but not required.
• Ability to communicate effectively and guide clients and internal teams through complex plan features and processes.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to prioritize multiple tasks while identifying, troubleshooting, and resolving data discrepancies in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and experienced with recordkeeping or workflow systems.
• FINRA registration may be required.
• Overnight travel may be required on a limited basis.

Skills That Will Make You Stand Out

• Proven experience leveraging Microsoft Copilot and other AI-powered tools to improve efficiency and data quality is strongly preferred.

Salary Range Information

Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

Salary Range

$55800 - $87600 / year

Salary Details

The following locations are examples of market-specific salary ranges across different geographies.

• Wichita, KS: $55,800 - $65,700 / year
• Des Moines, IA: $58,900 - $69,350 / year
• Charlotte, NC: $62,000 - $73,000 / year
• Chicago/Minneapolis: $68,200 - $80,300 / year
• Los Angeles/New York City: $74,400 - $87,600 / year

Time Off Program

Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short-term illness. Employees don’t accrue a bank of time off under FTO and there is no set number of days provided.

Pension Eligible

Yes

Additional Information

Work Environments

This role offers in-office, hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek), and remote work arrangements (only if residing more than 30 miles from Des Moines, IA, or Charlotte, NC.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

At this time, we're not considering applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links.

Nonimmigrant Workers and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants

Investment Code of Ethics

For Principal Asset Management positions, you’ll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.

Experience Principal

At Principal, we value connecting on both a personal and professional level. Together, we’re imagining a more purpose-led future for financial services – and that starts with you. Our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees. And we support our employees the same way we support our customers: with comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being. Check out our careers site to learn more about our purpose, values and benefits.

Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Posting Window

We will accept applications for 3 full days following the Original Posting Date, after which the posting may remain open or be removed based upon applications received. If we choose to post the job again, we will accept additional applications for at least 1 full day following the Most Recently Posted Date. Please submit applications in a timely manner as there is no guarantee the posting will be available beyond the applicable deadline.

Date First Posted (TTF)

11/4/2026

Latest Post Date: Careers - US

11/4/2026

LinkedIn Remote Hashtag