Senior Manager - AI Business Transformation - FS

This is a senior delivery role focused on leading AI-enabled transformation programmes for financial services clients. The Senior Manager will take opportunities that have been shaped and sold, and turn them into practical client outcomes.

Most engagements begin with a design phase in which the team defines the future vision, priority use cases, value case, operating model, delivery roadmap and implementation approach. Engagements then typically move into a build phase where solutions, processes, controls, adoption plans and new ways of working are developed and implemented.

The role requires a strong consultant with deep financial services experience, robust delivery discipline and the ability to connect business design, AI, data, technology, risk and change.

To lead the successful design and delivery of AI-enabled business transformation programmes, helping financial services clients move from AI ambition into practical implementation and measurable value creation.

• Lead design-phase engagements that define how AI can transform business processes, customer journeys, operating models and colleague experience.
• Translate client ambition into prioritised AI use cases, target-state designs, value cases, implementation roadmaps and delivery plans.
• Work with business stakeholders to understand pain points, operational inefficiencies, customer challenges, risk issues and revenue opportunities.
• Design future ways of working that combine human expertise, AI capabilities, automation, data-driven decisioning and strengthened controls.
• Lead build-phase delivery workstreams, ensuring AI-enabled solutions are implemented in a way that is usable, scalable, controlled and aligned to business outcomes.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams across business analysis, process design, AI, data, technology, architecture, risk, change and testing.
• Facilitate workshops with client teams to map current-state processes, identify opportunities, co-create future-state designs and agree delivery priorities.
• Ensure transformation plans address adoption, governance, training, skills, controls, data readiness and operational integration.
• Support clients in measuring benefits across revenue growth, cost reduction, customer satisfaction, operational efficiency and risk reduction.
• Maintain delivery quality, manage engagement risks and ensure outputs are clear, practical and suitable for senior client decision-making.

Key responsibilities

Design-phase delivery

• Lead discovery and design activities, including stakeholder interviews, workshops, process reviews, data analysis and opportunity assessment.
• Develop clear problem statements, design principles, future-state journeys, process models, role impacts and operating model changes.
• Identify and prioritise AI use cases based on value, feasibility, risk, implementation complexity and organisational readiness.
• Create business cases and benefits models that quantify expected impact across financial, customer, operational and risk outcomes.
• Define transformation roadmaps, MVP scope, sequencing, delivery plans and adoption approaches.
• Work with AI, data and technology specialists to ensure recommendations are technically feasible and aligned to enterprise architecture, data strategy and control requirements.

Build-phase delivery

• Lead workstreams that move AI-enabled designs into implementation, pilot and scale.
• Coordinate business, technology, data, risk and change activities so that delivery remains aligned to the agreed transformation vision.
• Support the development of AI-enabled workflows, prototypes, proofs of concept, pilots and scaled solutions.
• Ensure business requirements, user stories, acceptance criteria, controls, testing approaches and adoption plans are clearly defined.
• Manage delivery risks, dependencies, issues, scope changes and stakeholder expectations.
• Track benefits realisation and keep delivery teams focused on measurable business outcomes.

Financial services transformation expertise

• Apply financial services knowledge across areas such as retail banking, commercial banking, insurance, wealth management, asset management, capital markets, risk, compliance, operations and customer service.
• Bring an understanding of the regulatory and control environment in which financial services organisations operate.
• Ensure AI-enabled transformation designs consider conduct, customer outcomes, operational resilience, data privacy, model risk, financial crime, regulatory compliance and responsible AI.
• Help clients balance innovation with risk management, governance and operational practicality.

Client and team leadership

• Act as a trusted day-to-day delivery lead for senior client stakeholders.
• Prepare and present materials for steering committees, design authorities, programme boards and executive decision forums.
• Lead teams of consultants, business analysts, designers, technologists and subject matter specialists.
• Coach junior team members and create a high-performance delivery environment.
• Manage engagement economics, delivery quality, scope, risks and timelines.
• Contribute to proposals, client pitches and follow-on opportunity development where relevant.

Essential experience

• Strong consulting experience, ideally gained in a Big 4, financial services consultancy, technology consultancy or transformation advisory firm.
• Deep understanding of AI, generative AI, automation and data-led transformation, with the ability to explain their business implications clearly.
• Experience engaging senior client stakeholders and managing delivery expectations in complex environments.
• Strong understanding of regulated financial services environments and the practical constraints of delivering change within them.
• Experience with use cases such as intelligent document processing, customer service AI, advisor enablement, underwriting support, claims automation, lending decision support, financial crime analytics, risk and compliance automation, knowledge management or operational workflow redesign.
• Experience working in agile, product-based or hybrid delivery environments.
• Experience developing MVPs, pilots, proofs of concept or scaled enterprise solutions.
• Knowledge of responsible AI, model risk management, data governance, GDPR, AI governance and regulatory expectations.
• Experience with cloud, data platforms, workflow tools, CRM platforms, case management solutions or enterprise AI platforms.
• Experience leading design phases for complex transformation programmes, including current-state assessment, future-state design, business case development and roadmap creation.
• Experience leading build phases, including delivery planning, requirements definition, agile delivery, testing, adoption and benefits tracking.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and coordinating work across business, technology, data, risk and change functions.

Essential skills

• Transformation delivery leadership.
• Business design and operating model design.
• Workshop facilitation and stakeholder management.
• Structured problem solving and analytical thinking.
• Ability to translate business needs into practical AI-enabled solutions.
• Financial services domain knowledge.
• Programme and workstream management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Benefits-led delivery and value tracking.
• Risk, issue, dependency and scope management.
• Team leadership, coaching and quality review.

Candidate profile

The ideal candidate is a hands-on transformation leader who can move confidently between strategy, design and delivery. They will be comfortable leading client workshops, managing complex stakeholder groups, creating practical future-state designs and driving implementation through ambiguity.

They will understand that successful AI transformation is not only about technology. It also requires clear business ownership, strong governance, adoption by colleagues, controls that can be trusted and a delivery approach that creates measurable value.

What working at EY offers 
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 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:

• 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

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

Join us in building a better working world.  
 

Apply now.

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