Managing Consultant - Financial Services, Operational Excellence and Process Improvement

Job Description

We are seeking an accomplished Consulting professional who can help develop, lead and drive our Operational Excellence and Process Improvement capabilities in the Financial Services sector. 

To play a key role in developing our Process Improvement and Operational Excellence services and offerings that will appeal to FS organisations looking to transform/improve their business performance. 

We're keen to hear from consulting experts in these fields and can bring a deep knowledge of where operational excellence/process improvement demand may lie in the FS sector, by understanding current trends/triggers for change in the sector.

Key objectives:

• Key to building a compelling GTM strategy for Operational Excellence and Improvement in FS, leveraging deep expertise in methodologies that fit this practice (Process Improvement, Process Design & Optimisation, Operational Excellence, Operation Transformation, Process Digitisation, Service Optimisation etc) 
• Ensure there is sufficient activity to produce a steady ongoing pipeline of opportunities for Operational Excellence/Improvement services in FS, to meet revenue and sales targets.
• Create FS-related IP for Operational Excellence and Improvement transformation
• Contribute to the development of OPI proposals, specific to individual client needs/situations and be instrumental in closing and winning deals.
• Develop, lead and oversee OPI implementation programmes, ensuring excellence in delivery, maximise client outcomes and achieve high satisfaction ratings; with a record for delivering follow-on projects, extensions and referrals

Must have a strong background in Operations Excellence (process Optimization, Operational transformation etc), within the Financial Services sector, ideally gained from a leadership role within a consulting business.

Likely to be an expert in operational excellence, with an operations management, change management or technology delivery background and skilled in:

• Process Improvement (Lean Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt))
• Operational Optimisation (Lean/Kaizen)
• Process redesign/governance and digitization (Celonis, AI)
• Project & Programme Delivery (PMP, Prince2, Agile)
• Automation (AI, RPA)
• Operational Excellence Transformation (Customer Journey, Operational Performance)

Qualifications

Must have an understanding of consulting, how it is structured, the frameworks, financial principals etc.

A network of contacts that will help navigate the FS industry to achieve penetration within new buying centres in existing clients and open up new business opportunities.

A deep understanding of the Operational Excellence and Process Improvement topics and trends that affect the FS industry, these could include:

• Process Automation & Digitisation, for example:
  • RPA for KYC, reconciliations, reporting
  • AI/ML Automation (eg for fraud detection, credit etc)
  • Straight through processing (STP) (payments. Trading, onboarding)
• Customer Journey & Experience redesign. Eg:
  • Omni-channel
  • Mobile First
• Risk Management & Compliance
  • Regulatory reporting automation
  • AML/KYC optimisation
  • Real‑time transaction monitoring
• Operational Risk Reduction (for Cyber, Fraud, process failure etc), eg:
  • Standardised procedures and SLAs
  • Monitoring operational KPIs/KRIs
• Data Quality, Governance & Analytics
  • Data quality frameworks
  • Master data management
  • Predictive analytics in credit, risk etc
  • Cloud data platforms
• Cost Optimisation & Operational Efficiency
  • Lean process redesign
  • Shared service models
  • Vendor optimisation
  • Process standardisation
• Technology Modernisation
  • Core banking modernisation
  • API orchestration layer implementation
  • Cloud migration
• Operational Resilience & Business Continuity
  • Scenario planning
  • Disaster recovery testing
  • Resilient architecture
  • Third‑party risk management
• Workforce & Culture Transformation
  • Upskilling in digital tools & data
  • Clear ownership models (RACI)
  • Performance measurement linked to OpEx metrics
  • Agile ways of working

An ability to build compelling OPI offerings/services/IP that will appeal to the Financial Services sector (based on some of the above).

An ability to contribute to the development of robust business development plans and be part of the execution to meet revenue and sales targets for the OPI business.

A strong understanding of end-to-end transformation programmes and a track record of successfully managing delivery engagements, ideally with experience of:

• Scoping/pricing/planning commercially sound programmes
• Steering, managing and governance of programmes/teams
• High-quality delivery excellence
• Consistent in achieving follow-on business and extensions

Great engagement leadership skills; owning outcomes, motivating teams, coaching/mentoring etc.

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Additional Information