Core Banking Transformation Lead :: Remote :: W2/1099

Job Title: Core Banking Transformation Lead
Location: Remote (Must be willing to travel based on client and project requirements)
Mandatory Skill: Finastra Essence

Experience: 15+ Years

Job Overview

We are seeking an experienced Core Banking Transformation Lead to drive end-to-end core banking transformation initiatives for banking and financial services clients.

The ideal candidate will combine deep banking domain knowledge, strong hands-on understanding of Finastra Essence, core banking implementation expertise, and excellent client-facing consulting skills.

In this role, you will serve as a senior functional and banking domain expert, working closely with bank stakeholders, implementation teams, and Finastra to assess business requirements, define effective solutions, and ensure successful implementation.

This position requires someone who can lead the complete transformation lifecycle, from business process assessment and solution design through configuration, testing, and go-live. The role goes beyond business analysis or platform configuration and requires the ability to challenge existing processes, recommend banking best practices, and translate business needs into practical solutions using Finastra Essence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead client discussions and represent the implementation partner as a senior banking domain and functional expert.
• Conduct business process assessments, workshops, and requirements-gathering sessions with banking stakeholders.
• Analyze banking operations, identify process gaps, and recommend solutions aligned with industry best practices.
• Challenge existing business requirements where necessary and help define the target banking solution and operating model.
• Translate business requirements into functional designs and configurations within Finastra Essence.
• Provide functional leadership across banking products, product parameterization, general ledger (GL), accounting, and core banking processes.
• Collaborate with banks and Finastra teams to validate platform capabilities, evaluate solution options, and address functional gaps.
• Coordinate with business analysts, integration specialists, data migration teams, technical teams, and QA professionals to ensure end-to-end solution alignment.
• Guide functional activities throughout System Integration Testing (SIT), User Acceptance Testing (UAT), defect resolution, and business validation.
• Support implementation planning, deployment readiness, and go-live activities.
• Engage with senior banking stakeholders, communicate solution recommendations, and resolve complex functional challenges.
• Contribute to reusable implementation frameworks, banking transformation methodologies, and best practices.

Required Skills and Experience

• 15+ years of experience in banking, core banking implementation, or banking transformation programs.
• Strong understanding of retail banking products and processes, including deposits, payments, lending, cards, and customer servicing.
• Mandatory working knowledge of Finastra Essence, including its functional capabilities, configuration, and implementation.
• Experience in core banking transformation, modernization, or implementation projects.
• Strong knowledge of banking products, operational workflows, business processes, and target operating models.
• Practical understanding of the following:
• Finastra Essence core banking functionality.
• Product setup, configuration, and parameterization.
• General ledger, accounting, and financial posting processes.
• Functional solution design and requirements mapping.
• Banking workflows and business process optimization.
• System integrations and cross-functional dependencies.
• SIT, UAT, defect management, and go-live support.
• Proven experience working directly with banks or financial institutions on transformation initiatives.
• Strong consulting skills, with the ability to lead workshops, challenge requirements, and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Experience collaborating with bank stakeholders, implementation teams, and Finastra representatives.
• Excellent communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and solution-design capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous hands-on experience implementing Finastra Essence in a core banking environment.
• Experience with other core banking platforms, such as Finacle, Temenos T24, Oracle FLEXCUBE, or FIS.
• Exposure to large-scale core banking modernization and transformation programs.
• Understanding of core banking integration, data migration, and end-to-end testing.
• Previous experience working with a system integrator (SI) or consulting organization.

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are looking for a senior banking professional who can understand complex business challenges, engage confidently with senior client stakeholders, and translate business needs into effective core banking solutions.

The successful candidate will bring together banking domain expertise, Finastra Essence knowledge, implementation experience, and strong consulting capabilities to lead transformation initiatives from initial business discussions through solution design, implementation, and go-live.