Managing Consultant - Financial Services

Overview of the Position

The Managing Consultant is responsible for leading end-to-end transformation programmes for financial services clients across Banking, Insurance, and Asset Management. The role provides strategic and hands-on leadership of complex technology, regulatory, digital transformation, and operational improvement initiatives, working closely with CIOs, IT leaders, and business stakeholders to deliver successful outcomes and realise business value.

The position combines client-facing programme delivery with consulting practice leadership, including the management, development, and mentoring of consulting teams. The Managing Consultant supports business growth through client engagement, proposal development, pre-sales activities, and the continuous enhancement of consulting methodologies, delivery frameworks, and associate networks. The role also contributes to the expansion of the organisation's consulting capability and market presence within the financial services sector.

Key Responsibilities

Client & Transformation Delivery

• Leading end-to-end transformation programmes for financial services clients across Banking, Insurance and Asset Management.
• Acting as a trusted advisor to CIOs, leadership and business stakeholders.
• Taking ownership of major transformation projects and helping clients unlock value at pace.
• Navigating complex regulatory change, digital innovation and operational excellence initiatives on behalf of clients.
• Working directly with clients to understand challenges, co-create solutions, and ensure delivery excellence.

Growth & Business Development

• Working closely with the wider team to ensure seamless collaboration across consulting projects and delivery partnerships, and a smooth transition from consulting to delivery.
• Scaling the consulting practice while maintaining high quality client outcomes.
• Supporting client development and proposals within the financial services sector.
• Supporting pre-sales activity and shaping new client opportunities.
• Acting as the face of innovation and thought leadership, promoting SmartCo’s consulting expertise through events, blogs and other initiatives.
• Contributing to the evolution of SmartCo’s delivery framework.

Consulting Team & Practice Development

• Assisting with the recruitment, mentoring and developing a team of high-performing consultants.
• Talent mapping across consulting, delivery and business support to identify and develop future senior consultants, including succession planning.
• Refining and enhancing SmartCo’s consulting methodologies across our core digital practices – Artificial Intelligence, M&A and IT Separation, Cloud and Infrastructure, Apps and Systems and Cyber and Compliance.
• Collaborating with the Project Resourcing Team to expand the associate talent pool and address skills gaps, ensuring effective use of associates within our fixed-price consulting model.

Skills & Competencies

• Proven consulting background with experience working with CIOs, leadership and business sponsors within the financial services sector.
• Demonstrated experience delivering transformation, regulatory change or digital innovation programmes.
• Deep understanding of financial services operating models, regulatory drivers and technology landscapes.
• Proven experience building and leading consulting teams, with strong knowledge of consulting methodologies.
• Commercial acumen with experience growing a consulting practice, managing P&L, and supporting pre-sales and client engagement.
• Familiarity with managing both internal consultants and associate networks, ensuring seamless delivery with external partners.
• Excellent, influential communicator, able to build trust and credibility at senior levels and articulate complex concepts to a range of stakeholders.
• Results-oriented, focused on delivering tangible business and client outcomes.

Work Schedule

• Full Time (Core hours 9am – 5pm).
• Hybrid working arrangement, with time split between our Richmond office, client sites, and home-based working.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary and performance-based bonus of up to 20%.
• Fully flexible working arrangements.
• Enhanced holiday allowance.
• 100% employer-funded private healthcare.
• Life assurance & Employee Assistance Programme.
• Pension.
• Mobile phone allowance.
• Bi-annual eye tests.
• Ongoing investment in personal and professional development.

About SmartCo Consulting

SmartCo is an independent, boutique consultancy known for an ultra-responsive, client-obsessed approach that helps enterprises accelerate their transformation programmes.

We’ve been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Places to Work, and we deliver complex digital transformation projects for organisations across the UK and beyond.

Our diverse, high-performing team brings deep expertise across advisory, delivery, and optimisation, consistently delivering outcomes our clients can rely on, a flexible, open-minded culture that supports both personal growth and innovation.

Our Culture & Values

SmartCo is a people-first business, and our culture is shaped by five core values: People First, Trust, Honesty, Authenticity, and Valuing Relationships. Together, these principles guide how we work with our colleagues and clients, underpinning the close collaboration, open communication, and quick adaptability that define the way we operate.

We’re proud to champion diversity and inclusion, support a range of social initiatives, and place environmental, social, and governance considerations at the heart of our business. We’re big enough to take on complex, high-stakes work, but small enough to stay close to the people we work with, building long-term relationships with our clients and colleagues based on trust and mutual respect, rather than chasing short-term wins.