Sr. 401(k) Onboarding Associate

About Betterment

Betterment is a leading, technology-driven financial services company that offers investing and retirement solutions for retail investors and investment advisors as well as financial wellness solutions, including a 401(k) for small and medium-sized businesses. Our team is passionate about our mission: making people’s lives better. We’re headquartered in NYC and offer hybrid NY-based positions (three days/ week in-office).

About the Role:

The 401(k) Onboarding Associate plays a pivotal role in shaping the first impressions of Betterment at Work’s experience. As a client-facing project lead, your core mission is to ensure a streamlined, accurate, and empowering onboarding experience for clients transitioning their existing 401(k) plans to Betterment (a “conversion”).

You’ll take ownership of the onboarding process immediately after a successful sale, acting as the primary driver of the transition process from contract signing through first payroll and plan asset transfer. You’ll develop strong, consultative relationships with Plan Sponsors and Advisors, ensuring they feel confident, supported, and aligned throughout onboarding.

This role is remote eligible. Below we've reflected the base salary range we would offer for this position in locations with city or state requirements. For those located elsewhere, the actual compensation offered will be based on candidate experience and geographic location.  Actual salaries may vary depending on factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of Betterment’s total compensation package for employees. 

• New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, Washington D.C.  & Orange County, CA: $75,000 - $90,000
• Other locations: $63,750 - $81,000

We offer a competitive equity package, health, dental and vision benefits, life and AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, EAP, commuter and parking benefits FSA/HSA, and 401(k) with employer match as well as a flexible PTO policy. This job may also be eligible for variable compensation in the form of a company incentive bonus.

A Day in the Life:

• Drive onboarding success: Own a book of client conversions end-to-end, serving as the primary project manager responsible for hitting conversion milestones with precision and urgency.
• Master cross-functional project planning: Build and manage detailed weekly project plans, proactively removing blockers and aligning internal and external stakeholders across key phases of implementation.
• Deliver accurate and efficient plan transitions: Validate and apply all critical information for plan conversions, ensuring quality, consistency, and speed.
• Build client trust through clear communication: Confidently lead clients through every step of onboarding, providing prompt, jargon-free guidance and anticipating potential roadblocks.
• Resourcefully manage third-party coordination: Act as the client’s advocate by navigating conversations with payroll and retirement providers to keep transitions on track and reduce friction.
• Partner for complex success: Collaborate deeply with internal teams (401(k) Compliance, Client Success, etc.) on sensitive issues such as plan design, conversion files, and wires.
• Lead with influence: Use Zoom, phone, and email to guide onboarding meetings, instill confidence in clients, and reinforce Betterment's expertise and reliability.
• Work smart, work connected: Leverage tools like Salesforce, Zendesk, Asana, and our internal systems to track progress, ensure accountability, and deliver a consistently exceptional experience.

What We’re Looking for:

• 4+ years of experience in implementing 401(k) plan conversions with a proven track record of delivering results on time and with high customer satisfaction.
• Demonstrated ability to lead high-stakes projects, manage competing priorities, and resolve challenges swiftly and decisively.
• Deep knowledge of the 401(k) lifecycle, including payroll, plan design, and conversions—with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally to solve nuanced onboarding needs.
• Prior experience in B2B onboarding or implementation roles where relationship-building and influencing skills were critical to success.
• Technical dexterity—comfortable navigating multiple complex systems and client tools while maintaining presence and clarity in real-time conversations.
• Strong written and verbal communication<