Principal Consultant (Banking & Financial Services - Mumbai)

Job Summary:

- Lead high-stakes, board-mandated strategic consulting engagements for top-tier Indian and Middle Eastern banks and financial institutions, with opportunities in two key areas: Banking Technology (Digital Strategy, Vendor Selection, Core Banking) and Financial Services Strategy (Customer, Product, Process, Credit, and Organizational framework transformation).

- Drive strategic direction, oversee complex program delivery, and serve as the senior expert for engagements delivered from the Mumbai office.

- The role requires an immediate, self-starting leader with 12-15 years of relevant experience who is prepared for extensive travel, particularly across the Middle East.

Core Responsibilities:

Strategic Consulting & Client Leadership:

- Serve as the senior advisor, managing and delivering strategic mandates across both technology modernization and core business transformation within the Financial Services sector.

- Drive the digital strategy formulation and implementation roadmaps, leveraging the firm's Center of Excellence in Digital and Core Banking.

- Lead structured vendor selection and due diligence processes for major banking technology system programs.

- Guide banks through large-scale strategic changes, including operational restructuring and post-merger integration (e.g., following the mandates related to the world's 5th most valuable bank).

- Cultivate and maintain strong, trusted relationships with C-level executives and key stakeholders across the Indian and Middle East markets.

Program Management & Delivery Excellence:

- Oversee the complete lifecycle of complex technology and transformation programs, ensuring rigorous adherence to technical quality, risk management, and strategic objectives.

- Apply deep functional expertise in domains such as customer journeys, product profitability, process re-engineering, credit framework design, and organizational structure optimization.

- Demonstrate exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate and manage expectations in challenging client situations, ensuring client-centric delivery.

Team Management & Firm Leadership:

- Mentor, coach, and manage consulting teams within the Mumbai practice, fostering an entrepreneurial, high-performance, and results-driven culture.

- Act as a self-starter and influential leader, actively contributing to business development efforts and continuously building the firm's intellectual capital.

- Manage people effectively, balancing project delivery demands with professional development needs.

Required Professional Qualifications and Traits:

- Experience: 12-15 years of relevant professional experience, gained either within a reputable consulting industry environment or holding a senior, strategic profile within the banking sector.

- Education: Master's degree from a globally reputed academic program is essential.

- Location and Travel: Must be based in Mumbai and be willing to undertake extensive travel (10-20% minimum), with frequent travel across the Middle East expected.

- Core Competencies: Mandatory excellence in Client, Program Delivery & Team Management.

- Personal Attributes: Must possess confidence, superior communication skills (written and verbal), strong intellect, and a demonstrable love for travel.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

- Direct experience in the delivery of mandates involving Digital and Core Banking modernization or greenfield technology implementations.

- International client experience in financial services, particularly within the Middle East, is a significant advantage.

- Proven experience advising clients through major structural changes, such as mergers and acquisitions, within the banking sector.

- Certifications in relevant areas such as PMP, Agile/Scrum, or specialized banking domains (e.g., risk management, treasury).

- Functional or technical knowledge of banking platforms or emerging FinTech solutions.