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Senior Associate, Client Service Manager

Role overview

Summary

This role focuses on managing client relationships within Principal's unbundled retirement division. You will support clients by addressing their inquiries and ensuring accurate retirement plan management, contributing to client satisfaction and retention.

Qualifications

  • 2+ years of experience in client service, financial services, or retirement plan operations.
  • Solid understanding of retirement plan administration and financial concepts.
  • Previous experience working with retirement plans.
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office and experienced in recordkeeping or workflow systems.

Responsibilities

  • Grow and maintain positive relationships with clients, advisors, and TPA partners.
  • Independently manage a portfolio of clients, delivering support on retirement plan management and participant inquiries.
  • Review and approve routine retirement plan transactions while ensuring accuracy.
  • Prepare client-facing and internal reports, ensuring transparency and accuracy.

Key facts

  • Remote from: United States
  • Full time
  • Senior (5-10 years)
  • Client Services Manager
  • $56K – $88K / year
  • English

Hard skills

Other skills

  • Problem Solving
  • Microsoft Office
  • Record Keeping
  • Communication
  • Detail Oriented
  • Decision Making
  • Time Management

About the company

Principal Financial Group logo

Principal Financial Group

  • Asset & Wealth Management
  • XLarge
  • 10,001+
Principal Financial Group® is dedicated to improving the wealth and well-being of people and businesses around the world—helping more than 45M customers plan, protect, invest, and retire. Along the way, we commit to supporting the communities where we do business. Improving our planet. And building a diverse, inclusive workforce. We’re proud to be recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies, a member of the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index, and a Top 10 “Best Places to Work in Money Management.*” *Pensions & Investments, 2020 Disclosure: Principal® is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and an E-Verify participant. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, citizenship status, disability, genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic partner status, military status, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Principal will never ask for money during any stage of the employment application or hiring process. If you're asked to send money or share personal financial information as part of next steps in the process, do not engage or respond. Contact Principal Human Resources at 833-261-3736 and your local law enforcement. The Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. (the “Principal Foundation”) is a duly recognized 501(c)(3) entity focused on providing philanthropic support to programs that build financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group, Inc. (“Principal”) operates. While the Principal Foundation receives funding from Principal, the Principal Foundation is a distinct, independent, charitable entity. The Principal Foundation does not practice any form of investment advisory services and is not authorized to do so. principal.com/social-media-disclosures

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Job description

What You'll Do:

As a Senior Associate, Client Service Manager in our unbundled retirement division, you’ll grow and maintain positive relationships with our clients, advisors, and TPA partners, while servicing their requests through email or phone. This role builds trust by helping clients navigate questions, issues, and requests while maintaining service standards. By providing dependable support and solutions, you'll help clients get their needs met accurately and on time, strengthen satisfaction, foster long-term relationships, and support improvements that drive retention and business growth.

  • Independently manage a portfolio of clients, delivering support on retirement plan management and participant inquiries. Resolve moderately complex client questions using discretion, identifying when escalation is necessary. Collaborate with internal and external partners (operations, advisors, compliance) to coordinate client deliverables and plan achievements.
  • Review and approve routine retirement plan transactions while ensuring accuracy. Analyze participant accounts to identify inconsistencies or trends requiring attention. Partner with internal teams to resolve errors or exceptions efficiently.
  • Prepare client-facing and internal reports, ensuring transparency and accuracy. Document client interactions, decisions, and resolutions in systems to maintain audit readiness.
  • Recommend enhancements to processes, workflows, and reporting for efficiency and client experience. Share knowledge and best practices with peers.
  • 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 retirement plan operations or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education.
  • Solid understanding of retirement plan administration and financial concepts, with the ability to apply procedures accurately, efficiently, and with some independent judgment.
  • Previous experience working with retirement plans is required.
  • Ability to guide clients and internal teams through complex plan features and processes.
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills, including comfort interacting directly with clients and internal partners.
  • Attention to detail, with the ability to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve data discrepancies with minimal supervision.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office and experienced in recordkeeping or workflow systems, with the ability to optimize processes where appropriate.
  • Able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, making informed decisions about workload and deadlines.
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, and remote work arrangements. Employees who reside within 30 miles of our Des Moines, IA; Charlotte, NC; or Raleigh, NC office locations are expected to follow a hybrid work arrangement. Employees who reside more than 30 miles from these office locations may be eligible for remote work arrangements. You'll work with your leader to determine the work arrangement that best aligns with business needs and job responsibilities.

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): 11/11/2026 Latest Post Date: Careers - US: 11/11/2026

LinkedIn Remote Hashtag

: #LI-Remote

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