Senior Manager, Corporate and Operational Strategy: Financial Services (Toronto)

The opportunity

Corporate and Operational Strategy is EY’s executive strategy practice.  The EY-Parthenon brand is the home of our fast-growing global strategy capability. We advise corporate, financial services, institutional investor, private equity, and public sector clients on strategic, commercial, operational, and investment-related decisions that drive long-term value creation. Our clients include leading insurers, pension funds, asset managers, wealth managers, sovereign and institutional investors, and global corporations facing complex growth, portfolio, and transformation challenges.

Areas of our work include:

• Market entry strategy and opportunity sizing
• Divestment options analysis
• Purpose-led strategy and long-term value
• Business model reinvention
• Digital strategy and innovation
• Go-to-market strategy
• Investment strategy and growth strategy 
• Institutional investor strategy and portfolio optimization 
• Insurance strategy and transformation 
• Capital allocation and investment decision-making 
• Investment product and distribution strategy 
• Operating model design and performance improvement 
• M&A, strategic transactions, and investment due diligence 
• Customer and channel strategy for financial services organizations
  
  

You'll work with a high-performing, integrated team which focuses on a variety of global and local corporate, government, 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.  The Canadian Practice is closely integrated with the Americas EY Parthenon organization. We bring the power of our deep global and local insights, client relationships and an informed, current perspective.

Your key responsibilities

We are looking for a candidate to join as Senior Manager in the Canadian Corporate and Operational Strategy team.  The Senior Manager will play an integral role that involves working closely with other members of the rapidly growing Americas Corporate and Operational Strategy team to deliver a variety of engagements and help develop our practice further. 
We are looking for candidates who can:

• Lead and mentor high-performing teams across multiple engagements, ensuring the delivery of exceptional client outcomes and measurable impact. 
• Lead strategic engagements for clients across financial services, insurance, asset management, wealth management, and institutional investing sectors. 
• Manage complexity and lead the engagement planning 
• Drive business development efforts by identifying new opportunities, cultivating long-term client relationships, and expanding internal and external networks. 
• Support client relationship management while executing projects, delivering a high degree of client satisfaction with the engagement process.
• Support clients in evaluating portfolio strategies, capital allocation decisions, strategic investments, acquisitions, and divestitures. 
• Advise executive teams on strategic planning and priorities, growth opportunities and long-term value creation initiatives. 
• Assess growth opportunities, competitive positioning, market dynamics, and investment strategies through rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis. 
• Develop strategic recommendations related to business growth, operating model transformation, product innovation, distribution effectiveness, and value creation. 
• Analyze investment trends, industry disruptions, customer behavior, and emerging market opportunities to identify strategic implications for clients. 
• Support commercial and investment due diligence engagements through market assessments, competitive analysis, and financial evaluation.
• Integrate AI into day-to-day delivery while validating outputs, challenging assumptions, and maintaining accountability for quality.
• Use AI to accelerate analysis, scenario generation, and insight development while maintaining clear linkage to business outcomes.
• Foster an inclusive culture throughout the team and within engagements and proactively build a personal network within the firm.
• Proactively build a personal network within the firm 
• Provide effective apprenticeship and coaching to junior team members, fostering professional development, knowledge sharing, and a culture of continuous learning.
• Develop a community within the team – volunteering to support to develop an offer, or other internal practice build initiatives such as Learning, Operations, Resourcing, Recruitment, etc.

Ideal qualifications for this position include:

• Engineering, Finance or Commerce undergrad (MA, MBA, PhD an asset),
• Minimum of 8 years relevant work experience in management consulting, corporate strategy, private equity, institutional investing or financial service strategy roles.
• Demonstrated leadership experience to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing teams while driving successful client outcomes across multiple engagements.
• Experience developing and evaluating corporate, investment, portfolio, or growth strategies. 
• Knowledge of financial services sectors including insurance, asset management, wealth management, pensions, institutional investing, and capital markets is considered a strong asset. 
• Experience assessing investment opportunities, market attractiveness, business performance, and value creation initiatives. 
• Strong understanding of financial and operational drivers of performance within investment management, insurance, or broader financial services organizations. 
• Demonstrated ability to combine strategic thinking with financial and investment analysis to support executive decision-making.
• Advanced modelling skills (Excel) and visualization skills (Tableau and/or Power BI).
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas and influence senior stakeholders effectively.
• A passion for delivering client impact with a demonstrated track record of initiative, adaptability, intellectual curiosity and excellence in fast-paced environments.

This job posting relates to an existing vacancy within our organization.

What we look for

We’re interested in talented professionals with the ability to visualize our clients’ goals and think creatively to facilitate them - often in politically charged environments. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, and a genuine passion for taking on new challenges, this role is for you.

What we offer

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. In addition, our Total Rewards package allows you decide which benefits are right for you and which ones help you create a solid foundation for your future. Our Total Rewards package includes a discretionary bonus program, a comprehensive medical, prescription drug and dental coverage plan, a defined contribution pension plan, a great vacation policy plus firm paid days that allow you to enjoy longer long weekends throughout the year, statutory holidays and paid personal days (based on province of residence), and a range of exciting programs and benefits designed to support your physical, financial and social well-being. Plus, we offer: 

• Support and coaching from some of the most engaging colleagues in the industry 
• Learning 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 

To help create the best experience during the recruitment process, please describe any accommodations you may need. 

Inclusiveness at EY

Inclusiveness is at the heart of who we are and how we work. We’re committed to fostering an environment where differences are valued, policies and practices are equitable, and our people feel a sense of belonging. We embrace diversity and are committed to combating systemic racism, advancing gender equity and women in leadership, advocating for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, promoting our neuroinclusion and accessibility initiatives, and are dedicated to amplifying the voices of Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) nationally as we strive towards reconciliation. Our diverse experiences, abilities, backgrounds, and perspectives make our people unique and help guide us. Because when people feel free to be their authentic selves at work, they bring their best and are empowered to build a better working world.

Learn about our commitment to Inclusiveness at https://www.ey.com/en_ca/about-us/corporate-responsibility/equity