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Financial Services Strategy Director

At EY, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as you are, with the global scale, support, inclusive culture, and technology to become the best version of you. And we’re counting on your unique voice and perspective to help us become even better, too. Join us and build an exceptional experience for yourself, and a better working world for all.

About EY-Parthenon Strategy

EY-Parthenon (EYP) is EY’s global strategy consultancy with more than 9,000 professionals working across three areas of focus: corporate & growth strategy, transaction strategy & execution, and turnaround & restructuring strategy. In 2023, EY-Parthenon was ranked among the top 5 in the Vault’s Top 50 Consulting Firms.

At EY-P Strategy, we put our purpose — Building a better working world — at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to using unconventional yet pragmatic thinking to deliver actionable strategies. You’ll be a part of a collaborative team that applies the latest thinking, research, analytics, and methodologies to help transform clients’ businesses and solve complex business matters, driving change for tomorrow’s working world. For smart, nice, and driven candidates, working at EY-P Strategy offers the opportunity to change how world-leading organisations do business.

We advise on a vast range of issues, such as core value propositions, competitive positioning, and growth strategies. EY-Parthenon Strategy employees enjoy unparalleled contact with influential and highly experienced professionals within the firm, as well as at clients’ organisations across a multitude of sectors.

The Opportunity – EY-Parthenon Financial Services Strategy

The EY-Parthenon Financial Services (FS) Strategy team is currently seeking to expand their team and recruit Directors who will be able to build on their current strategy development, transaction and commercial experience, and work on a number of diverse and demanding projects for blue chip and entrepreneurial clients.

In the EYP FS Strategy team, you can expect to work with a range of Financial Services clients (e.g., banks, insurers, payments providers, wealth and asset managers, FinTechs), advising on strategy development (e.g., growth strategy, product strategy, new market entry), and both corporate and private equity clients on the investment, acquisition and divestment of FS-specific businesses. The FS sector is highly dynamic, where regulation, new entrants, digitisation, and evolving customer behaviour are just some of the market forces influencing the landscape and future outlook. As such, for those with experience in Financial Services, this role provides the opportunity to continue to immerse yourself in one of the most complex and exciting sectors.

Our work

Our work is typically focused on applying our deep sector & strategy knowledge across Financial Services to various types of strategic projects, including:

• Commercial Due Diligence: where in “buy-side” scenarios we work with private equity or trade investors to conduct analysis related market size and growth, competitor analysis, customer requirements/preferences, as well as assessing business’ revenue forecasts to inform the commercial and strategic merit of a proposed investment/acquisition. In “sell-side” situations, we work directly with the business’ Management team to provide similar analysis to support the sale/investment of the business.
• Corporate Strategy: where we support Financial Institutions – from incumbent players, mid-size specialists to scaling FinTechs – to identify their strategic priorities and support in actioning them. We typically perform detailed assessment of the performance of these institutions, analyse how well they compete in their markets, and help them to define their strategic roadmap as part of key topics including growth and product strategy, new market entry, and cost/bottom-line optimisation among others. Typical output is the identification of most viable strategic options which will allow our clients to build competitive advantage in the markets they play, and position them for long-term, sustainable growth.

You'll work with a high-performing, integrated team which focuses on a variety of global and local corporate clients and private equity clients. You'll have a diverse range of stretching experiences which will give you continuous learning and development opportunities as well as a great sense of achievement.

Your Key Responsibilities

As a Director, you’ll typically be responsible for leading our largest client projects, shaping the deliverables, client relationships, and developing the wider team, with the support and coaching of our partners. You’ll drive exceptional client service across all engagements and guide your teams to ensure high quality of work and client ready outputs. Directors are expected to build recurring client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor and will often be consulted by clients beyond the project.

You’ll also be involved in developing proposals and bids, and actively contribute to EY-Parthenon thought leadership and internal operational initiatives. Directors form a fundamental part of the EY-Parthenon firm leadership team and are expected to help generate sales, especially via existing client and internal relationships, in order to drive the revenue targets of the business.

Coaching and mentoring are at the heart of EY-P Strategy’s culture. Directors are expected to proactively support the professional development of the more junior members of the team as well as manage effectively upwards, working to develop an inclusive culture that drives high-performing teams whilst supporting the work-life balance experience of all involved in an engagement.

This role will include:

• Managing multiple project teams of between 4 – 10 consultants
• Creating an inclusive culture throughout the team and within engagements
• Developing our business – identifying opportunities within existing clients and supporting sales activity
• Working closely with wider EY teams – across Business Consulting, Tax & Law, Strategy & Transactions and Assurance to drive cross-selling opportunities across the business and bring the best of the firm to our clients
• Taking responsibility for team management on risk, independence, objectivity, and compliance with EY policies
• Overseeing engagement financials and manages book of business to optimise margin for the business
• Developing a community within the team – owning or developing internal practice initiatives such as Training, Professional Development, Innovation, Recruitment, etc.

Skills and attributes for success

Successful candidates are intellectually curious, passionate about solving complex problems, hardworking, have an enthusiastic and approachable demeanour with an entrepreneurial mind-set. We want people who are great communicators, who collaborate well with people and teams, and have a real desire to both learn and coach others.

To qualify for the role, you must:

• Have a minimum of 7 years working experience
• Have prior experience of strategy consulting, preferably with commercial due diligence experience, or have strong commercial experience and/or relevant transaction experience
• Have relevant sector experience across Financial Services (e.g., subsectors including banking, insurance, wealth and asset management among others)
• Have credible project management experience and demonstrate an ability to plan, deliver, structure, write and present work against tight deadlines
• Have analytical work experience across activities including market sizing, competitor analysis, and assessing a company’s performance/capabilities

Ideally, you will also

• Have a drive to solve complex problems with senior stakeholders
• Be an effective time manager, able to keep calm when under pressure to meet deadlines
• Have business development experience
• Be a coach to junior team-members helping them with on-the-job training, informal discussions, and formal EY-Parthenon training modules
• Be a team player with the ability to build effective relationships at all levels in EY and with clients

What we offer

We offer an attractive remuneration package where you’ll be rewarded for your performance. Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with FlexEY you can select benefits that suit your needs, covering holidays, health and well-being, insurance, savings and a wide range of discounts, offers and promotions.

Plus, we offer:

• 
  Continuous learning: Through continuous training, coaching and mentorship, you’ll develop the mindset and skills needed to accelerate your career and become a transformational leader
• Real exposure: Opportunities to work on a wide range of projects and be exposed to a number of different business models, industries and companies
• Diverse and inclusive culture: You’ll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.
• Success as defined by you: We’ll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.

If you can demonstrate that you meet the criteria above, please contact us as soon as possible.

The exceptional EY experience. It’s yours to build.

Apply now.

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