AI Strategist

CLA is a top 10 national professional services firm where our purpose is to create opportunities every day, for our clients, our people, and our communities through industry-focused wealth advisory, digital, audit, tax, consulting, and outsourcing services. Even with more than 8,500 people, 130 U.S. locations, and a global reach, we promise to know you and help you.

CLA is dedicated to building a culture that invites different beliefs and perspectives to the table, so we can truly know and help our clients, communities, and each other.

• Flexible PTO (designed to offer flexible time away for you!)
• Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Paid Volunteer Time Off
• Mental health coverage
• Quarterly Wellness stipend
• Fertility benefits
• Complete list of benefits here

CLA is seeking an AI Strategy Consultant to help organizations translate emerging AI capabilities into practical, scalable business outcomes. The ideal candidate will be a highly independent professional who can originate, lead, and deliver AI strategy engagements with minimal supervision. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with strong strategic judgment, technical fluency in AI, and the credibility to engage senior stakeholders.

You will lead client‑facing projects end‑to‑end‑shaping strategy, guiding execution, and serving as a trusted advisor on how AI should be deployed responsibly, effectively, and at scale.
This is a high‑autonomy role for someone who wants to shape AI strategy for mid‑market clients, influence senior leaders, and help define how organizations responsibly adopt AI.

Lead the design and delivery of AI strategy engagements, including AI opportunity identification and prioritization; operating model and capability design; AI governance, risk, and responsible AI frameworks; roadmaps for AI adoption, scaling, and value realization. Translate complex AI concepts (e.g., generative AI, agentic systems, automation) into clear executive‑level insights and decisions. Advise clients on aligning AI initiatives with business strategy, risk tolerance, regulatory considerations, and organizational readiness.

• Own projects end-to-end, from scoping and planning through delivery and executive readout.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day client lead, managing scope, timelines, quality, and outcomes with minimal oversight.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams (data science, engineering, risk, legal, cyber, operations) as needed to deliver integrated solutions.
• Proactively identify risks, dependencies, and decision points; elevate thoughtfully and early when required.

• Contribute to the development of AI frameworks, methodologies, accelerators, and points of view.
• Stay current on AI trends, regulations, and industry use cases; synthesize insights into practical guidance for clients and internal teams.
• Support business development through proposal contributions, client conversations, and thought leadership materials.

• Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders (Director, VP, C‑suite). I
• Identify follow‑on opportunities and help shape future engagements based on client needs.
• Act as a visible representative of the firm's AI capabilities and perspective.

• 10+ years of experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, ambiguous projects with limited supervision.
• Strong working knowledge of AI concepts, including:
  • Generative AI, large language models, and traditional AI methodologies
  • AI/ML lifecycle and deployment considerations
  • AI governance, ethics, risk, and controls (preferred but not mandatory)
  • Hands‑on experience as an individual contributor (e.g., Data Scientist, AI/ML Engineer, Applied Scientist, or similar technical role) is a strong plus, particularly experience building, deploying, or operationalizing AI solutions in real‑world environments
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with both technical teams and executive audiences.
• Exceptional problem‑solving skills, judgment, and intellectual curiosity.
• Comfortable operating…