Operations and Improvement - Managing Consultant - Process Optimisation in Financial Services

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As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. 

Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results. 

We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport.  

Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands. 

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We are seeking an accomplished Consulting leader to help develop, lead and drive our Operational Excellence and Process Improvement capabilities in the Financial Services sector, specifically with our Banking and Wealth and Asset Management clients. 

The Managing Consultant will play a key role in developing our Process Improvement and Operational Excellence capabilities specifically for the FS industry, specifically: 

• Play a key role in building core capabilities for Operational Excellence and Process Improvement in FS, leveraging deep expertise in methodologies that fit this practice (Process Design & Optimisation, Operational Excellence 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. 

• Contribute to the development of Operational Excellence and Improvement proposals, specific to individual client needs/situations and be instrumental in closing and winning deals. 

• Develop, lead and oversee Operational Excellence and Improvement implementation programmes 

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)

We are looking for candidates with skills and experience in the following areas: 

• Experience of delivering operational improvement across front, middle and back-office service areas 

• Proven experience of leading assignments and teams 

• A track record of realising business benefits and outcomes 

• Experience deploying advanced techniques such as digital technologies, cost improvement, and change management 

• The ability to demonstrate leadership skills in large and diverse project teams 

• Confidence to work across multiple levels of an organisation, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and navigate challenging discussions 

• An aptitude for delivering creative as well as innovative solutions 

The ideal candidate will also have: 

• A track record of delivering sales results though ensuring excellence in delivery, maximising client outcomes and achieve high satisfaction ratings; with a record for achieving follow-on projects, extensions and referrals 

• Be able to work independently, developing excellent relationships with stakeholders internally and externally, and delivering the highest customer service and business standards 

• Excellent interpersonal and team working skills; a natural integrator, comfortable navigating across system finance, service design, governance, capacity and workforce modelling and operational excellence 

• A drive for personal and professional progression 

• Prior consulting experience with a large consultancy firm or internal consultancy function would be highly desirable 

Must understand consulting, how it is structured, the frameworks, financial principals etc. 

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

• Customer Journey & Experience redesign (eg: Omni-channel, Mobile First) 

• Risk Management & Compliance (Regulatory reporting automation, 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) 

• Cost Optimisation & Operational Efficiency (Lean process redesign, Vendor optimisation, Technology Modernisation) 

• Core banking modernisation (Cloud migration etc). 

• Operational Resilience & Business Continuity (Disaster recovery, Resilient architecture, Third‑party risk management)

• Workforce & Culture Transformation (Clear ownership models (RACI), Agile ways of working) 

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 Operational Excellence and Process Improvement 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 

Must have great engagement leadership skills; owning outcomes, motivating teams, coaching/mentoring etc. 

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Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work. 

Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We're focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self. 

Find out more about Life at PA here. 

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits: 

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days 
• Generous company pension scheme 
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity-based initiatives 
• Annual performance-based bonus 
• PA share ownership 
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn) 

We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief, veteran status, or any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups. 

Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on recruitmentenquiries@paconsulting.com