Market Facing Director (MFD), Finance Consulting, Financial Services

Market Facing Director (MFD), Finance Consulting, Financial Services

The Finance Business Consulting team is looking for a Director level consultant with a strong delivery track record in Finance Transformation who can leverage business and technology based solutions to deliver outcomes for our clients.  

As a Director in the Finance Business Consulting team, you are a strategic leader proven in delivering complex Finance Transformation programs across Financial Services. You bring deep expertise in Target Operating Model design, process and controls optimisation, organisational change, technology & data transformation and business readiness. 

You are a trusted advisor to C-suite stakeholders, driving long-term value through innovative, technology-enabled solutions. Your leadership fosters high-performing teams, cultivates client relationships, and contributes to the growth and evolution of the practice. 

This position demands a highly adaptable and flexible individual capable of navigating a diverse range of client issues, as the nature of the program's work is varied. The ideal candidate should be at ease assuming various delivery roles and tackling the associated challenges inherent to this role. 

Location  

Based in London (other locations in our UK National Markets offices will be considered), but as part of a global organisation, the role will involve working with our UK and Global FS clients. EMEIA and international assignments are also a possibility. 

Your Responsibilities  

As a Director within our Finance Business Consulting team, you will specialise in Target Operating Model design & implementation across Banking, Capital Markets or Insurance delivering both business and technology focussed outcomes. You will be offering valuable insight and advice to clients to support them making strategic and operational decisions about their businesses. You will also lead business and practice development of the Finance Business Consulting team helping drive the internal operations within the team. You will be a trusted business advisor to our clients. 

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

Strategy & Client Leadership 

• Act as a trusted advisor to CFOs, Finance CIO leadership and Finance leaders, shaping Finance transformation strategies and roadmaps across Banking, Capital Markets, or Insurance. 
• Lead large, complex, end-to-end Finance transformation programmes - from discovery and business case through design, implementation, go live and stabilisation. 
• Experience in delivering business and technology outcomes across large scale Financial Services organisations

Operating Model, Process & Controls 

• Lead requirements and as is assessment of organisation, processes, controls, technology, data, and operating model. 
• Design the Target Operating Model (people, process, technology, data, governance) and leading practice process taxonomy (L1–L4). 
• Define Working Day Timetable (WDT) and interventions to accelerate period close. 
• Establish leading practice controls frameworks and finance controls, reducing EUC reliance and manual work. 

Technology & Data Transformation

• Understand how to delivery technology and data transformations, modernising finance systems, enhancing data capabilities and reporting

Change, Readiness & Enablement 

• Own business readiness, change management, training, and cutover plans to transition to business as usual (BAU). 
• Facilitate design workshops; translate business requirements into business design that informs functional/technical designs. 

Delivery, Quality & Risk 

• Provide strong programme/workstream leadership, including planning, RAID, and status/reporting disciplines. 
• Oversee quality assurance, manage risks and third parties, and coordinate with cross service-line specialists. 

People & Practice Development 

• Build and mentor diverse, high performing teams; review/challenge outputs and coach junior colleagues. 
• Drive innovation (new delivery models, accelerators, and tech enabled ways of working). 
• Contribute to POVs, assets, and enablers to scale capability across the practice. 

Commercial & Market 

• Lead business development: originate opportunities, shape solutions, lead proposals/bids, and manage account growth. 
• Be accountable for financial management of engagements (scope, commercials, profitability, forecasting). 

Professional Experience 

Typical experience may include, whilst not limited to:  

Consulting background 

• Experience in a leading consulting firm (Big 4 or equivalent) with a strong record delivering Finance Transformation programmes in Financial Services. 
• Comfortable leading business & technology facing workstreams and coordinating across multi-disciplinary teams. 

 Finance Transformation delivery 

• Led end-to-end programmes from discovery and business case through design, implementation, and post go-live support. 
• Acted as Business Design Lead, covering organisation design, Finance system transformation, process and controls, Working Day Timetable (WDT), change management, training, and business readiness. 

Operating model and process design 

• Designed Target Operating Models across people, process, technology, and governance. 
• Developed process taxonomies (L1–L4), controls frameworks, and standard operating procedures. 
• Improved close timelines through WDT redesign and automation. 

Technology-enabled solutions 

• Worked with technology teams and partners to translate business requirements into ERP/EPM and automation solutions. 
• Reviewed designs to ensure alignment with business objectives and leading practice. 

Lifecycle coverage and stakeholder engagement 

• Delivered across all phases: discovery, design, testing, readiness, go-live, and stabilisation. 
• Built strong relationships with C-suite stakeholders and managed complex stakeholder environments. 

Leadership and practice development 

• Managed and coached teams, reviewed outputs, and drove innovation in delivery methods. 
• Contributed to proposals, thought leadership, and development of tools and accelerators. 

Skills  

Finance Transformation Skills  

Finance Transformation (Business Architecture) 

• Organisation design and spans/layers analysis 
• Process taxonomy and detailed process & controls design (L1–L4) 
• Finance System solution design
• WDT design for accelerated close 
• Automation & standardisation through tech enabled solutions 
• Change & business readiness strategy and execution 
• Training design/materials and cutover/transition to BAU 
• Ability to take written deliverables from storyboard to signoff 

Consulting 

• Executive level communication, facilitation and influence 
• Structured problem solving and data driven decision making 
• Resilience and comfort with ambiguity in fastmoving programmes 
• Team leadership across matrixed engagement and practice teams 
• Strong commercial acumen; accountability for delivery quality 
• Advanced PowerPoint and Excel; proficiency with Visio (or equivalent) 

Qualifications 

• A university degree, 2:1 (or equivalent) or above is common but not compulsory 
• An accounting qualification (ACA, ACMA, ACCA) applied in a financial institution would be beneficial, but not essential  

What working at EY offers  

You will be part of a growing and a diverse team that combines business implementation, systems integration and financial modelling capabilities working across the Financial Services market. You will gain experience working across the spectrum of Finance Transformation and be part of us taking our business to the next level embracing exciting advances in technology and data to solve our clients business challenges. 

We offer a competitive remuneration package where you’ll be rewarded for your individual and team performance. Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with MyReward 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: 

• Support, coaching and feedback from some of the most engaging colleagues around 
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career 
• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you