Where Technical Expertise Meets Purpose-Driven Impact
Build your career while helping people build a stronger financial future.
At Blue Ridge Associates, the work we do has a meaningful impact. We help companies provide retirement and employee ownership benefits that give people the opportunity to build wealth, plan for the future, and take greater ownership of their financial lives.
Through Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Administration and Retirement Plan Services (RPS), we combine deep technical expertise with a genuine commitment to our clients and the people they serve. Our team supports companies across the country with complex retirement plan administration, compliance, and consulting services—helping make these important benefits work better for employers and their employees.
What makes Blue Ridge special is our people. We’re a team of professionals who value collaboration, expertise, continuous improvement, and doing work that matters. Whether working remotely or from one of our offices, our employees work together to solve complex problems, support our clients, and make a difference in the financial futures of millions of participants.
About Blue Ridge Associates
Blue Ridge Associates is a leading professional services firm specializing in third-party administration of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and retirement plans, including 401(k), 403(b), cash balance, pension, and other qualified retirement plans.
Our client base spans the country, while our teams are located internationally across seven offices in the United States and two offices abroad, including Charlottesville, VA; Columbia, MD; Columbus, OH; Monrovia, CA; Riverside, CA; Maple Grove, MN; and Baxter, MN, as well as remote locations.
At Blue Ridge, you’ll have the opportunity to build your expertise, collaborate with talented professionals, and be part of a growing organization whose work helps people build financial security and share in the success of the companies they work for.
That’s Where You Come in as a Retirement Plan Consultant DC
The Retirement Plan Consultant - DC independently manages the administration and relationship management of an assigned block of defined contribution retirement plans. The role maintains complete oversight of plan administration, coordinates annual compliance testing, contribution calculations, governmental filings, and benefit transactions, and helps ensure plans are administered in accordance with plan documents, applicable regulations, and Blue Ridge procedures.
This position represents Blue Ridge’s core experienced consultant level. The Retirement Plan Consultant independently manages a varied or complex block of business, applies strong technical and service judgment, resolves plan and client matters, and serves as the primary relationship contact for plan sponsors and their advisors. Working within the Blue Ridge internal service model, the Consultant partners closely with Operations, Compliance, recordkeeping providers, and other teams to deliver an accurate, timely, proactive, and consistent client experience.
Your Responsibilities Include:
- Independently manage a varied or complex block of defined contribution retirement plans and maintain complete oversight of required administration and client deliverables.
- Review and deliver annual compliance testing, contribution calculations, and governmental filings accurately and within established deadlines.
- Maintain accurate and complete plan, client, contact, workflow, and status information in applicable client relationship management and administration systems.
- Serve as the primary relationship contact for assigned clients and communicate proactively regarding information requests, deadlines, results, required actions, plan matters, and service expectations.
- Develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with plan sponsors, financial advisors, CPAs, recordkeeping providers, and other service partners to support client satisfaction and retention.
- Review benefit distributions and other assigned plan transactions in accordance with plan provisions, regulatory requirements, and established procedures.
- Read and interpret plan documents and applicable regulatory guidance and advise clients regarding plan administration, operational considerations, and plan design options within the scope of the role.
- Analyze plan and client matters, identify risks or exceptions, evaluate potential solutions, and resolve issues independently or engage specialized internal resources when appropriate.
- Lead client meetings and communicate technical findings, results, options, recommendations, responsibilities, and next steps clearly.
- Monitor all recurring and project-based deadlines and consistently follow up with clients and partners for required data, decisions, or additional information.
- Collaborate with Operations, Compliance, Client Experience, and other internal teams to establish clear ownership, coordinate handoffs, resolve issues, and support a consistent internal service model.
- Communicate significant issues, exceptions, service risks, or potential delays promptly to the appropriate internal resource or level of authority.
- Follow Blue Ridge policies, procedures, quality standards, and internal controls and protect confidential company, client, participant, and plan information.
- Maintain strong technical knowledge of retirement plan administration, regulatory requirements, systems, and industry practices through continuing education.
- Provide knowledge sharing, peer support, and informal guidance to Associate Retirement Plan Consultants and other team members as requested.
- Meet assigned service, processing, quality, productivity, and client-retention goals.
- Perform other related responsibilities and projects as assigned.
What We’re Looking for in a Retirement Plan Consultant DC
We’re seeking professionals who bring technical knowledge, strong client service skills, and a commitment to continuous learning. You take pride in the details because you know your work has a lasting impact on people’s financial well-being.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent relevant work experience may be considered.
- 4+ years of progressive experience in defined contribution retirement plan administration; experience independently managing a client-facing block of business required.
- Industry-related credential through ASPPA, NIPA, or a comparable organization preferred.
- Demonstrated experience interpreting plan documents, managing annual administration and regulatory deliverables, resolving complex plan matters, and maintaining client relationships.
- Strong knowledge of defined contribution retirement plan administration and applicable ERISA and Internal Revenue Code requirements.
- Proven ability to read and interpret retirement plan documents, apply regulatory guidance, and resolve varied or complex administration matters.
- Strong consulting, client-service, and relationship-management skills with the ability to communicate proactively and manage expectations.
- Sound technical and service judgment, including the ability to analyze issues, evaluate potential solutions, and escalate significant risks appropriately.
- Effective collaboration, analytical thinking, problem-solving, organization, and time-management skills.
- Ability to independently manage a varied or complex plan load, competing priorities, regulatory deadlines, and client expectations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical matters clearly to clients and partners.
- Strong attention to detail, accountability, follow-through, and commitment to consistent service and quality.
- Proficient working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and retirement administration, CRM, workflow, and collaboration systems.
Why You’ll Love Working Here as a Retirement Plan Consultant DC
You’ll join a company that values hard work, supports each other, and believes in doing work that matters.
We offer:
- Remote-first work culture with in-office options (VA, MD, OH, IL, CA, MN)
- Competitive salary & comprehensive benefits (medical, dental, vision, life, disability)
- 401(k) with company match + HSA with company contribution
- Generous PTO for parental leave, vacation, and holiday time
- Support for certifications, association dues, and professional development
- A collaborative and inclusive company culture: happy hours, social events, employee-led committees, and volunteer opportunities
Join Us as We Build Wealth for Generations
Everything we do is driven by our vision. We see a future where more people achieve financial independence, enjoy meaningful retirement, and leave a legacy.
We live by our values every day:
- Precision – Accurate records, timely and error-free service
- Efficacy – Ensuring compliance and guiding clients toward retirement readiness
- Advocacy - Supporting regulatory changes that benefit employers and employees
- Collaboration – Trusted partners to clients, advisors, and teammates
- Excellence – Proactive, personalized, high-touch service in all we do
Compensation
Blue Ridge is committed to equal pay and pay transparency. The anticipated hiring range for this position is $60,000 - $90,000 annually. This range represents the anticipated pay for this role across multiple U.S. labor markets and is intended as a general guideline.
Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the role, relevant experience, work location, education and training, key skills, internal equity, external market data, and current business considerations.
This is more than a job. It’s your opportunity to build a meaningful career while helping others build financial security for life.
Apply now and make a career out of making a difference!
Equal Opportunity Employer
Must be authorized to work in the US.