Principal | Financial Services Practice

Job Title: Principal | Financial Services PracticeLocation: MumbaiAbout Cedar Group:Cedar Management Consulting International (www.cedar-consulting.com) is a global boutique management and technology consulting firm with offices globally. Since 1985, Cedar's team has been assisting clients in strategy, process, strategic human capital, and business technology, across industries, with a strong focus on the financial services sector. Its heritage includes being part of the former $1 Billion Renaissance Worldwide, whose leadership included the creators of the Balanced Scorecard -a leading strategy-deployment and performance management tool in today's World. As a general management consulting firm, it assists clients across these areas in an integrated fashion - from strategy formulation to execution and implementation. For more information, please visit our website.Cedar's group unit, IBS Intelligence (www.ibsintelligence.com), has been the definitive source for independent, in-depth news, research, and analysis of the financial technology market globally. Headquartered in the UK with offices around the world, IBSI has an integrated offering that includes a comprehensive research report portfolio, an active news platform, a range of value-added services, and the iconic IBS Journal, which has been a key publication for the overall financial services industry globally. Its research covers all key areas of banking technology systems, and over 350 suppliers - both in terms of legacy banking systems and new-age financial technology firms. This strong financial technology proposition adds immense value to the technology consulting practice of Cedar, where clients appreciate in-depth research offerings on their industry from IBS Intelligence. For more information, please visit the IBS website.The Cedar-IBSi platform also runs the Cedar-IBSI FinTech Lab, a BankTech/B2B FinTech accelerator that has been home to 35+ successful FinTech's since 2017 and aims to become the go-to FinTech Lab in the region in the years to come.Cedar's independent Venture Capital fund, announced in 2023, will leverage the strong knowledge and intelligence backbone of Cedar-IBSi's 30+ year track record in global financial services and technology research and consulting. The $30-50 million fund will build a portfolio of 15-20 companies with a strong focus on the BankTech and B2B FinTech space, hoping to create value for founders in multiple strategic areas beyond the capital.Job Purpose:Role primarily involves client relationship management, delivery leadership, with business and practice development responsibilities including cross-sell through proactive clientengagement.Principal Accountabilities:Primary responsibility includes client relationship, delivery leadership, business development and team management. Role requires building relationships with clients, opportunity identification & sales conversion and providing delivery leadership.The engagements are primarily in the banking & financial services industry and would involve active engagement with CXO/Senior level client personnel, and would involve strong skills of issue identification, solution development and leadership presentations. Cedar's FS practice is rich in programs across Strategy formulation and execution, Business, Process and Organization transformation, and Technology transformation including selection and program management of leading technology solutions.Role requires a good understanding of financial and banking technology domain both at a conceptual and at an operational level. Relevant experience in Retail, Corporate and Digital banking would be key international experience would be a plus.Understanding of emerging trends in Fintech, Payments and AI would be critical and a strong appetite for learning would be key. Leading and managing the team would be part of the role. Job includes significant opportunities for active contribution of articles, thought leadership papers and industry engagement. Penchant for speaking and writing would be key.We have offices in global cities, and a large number of projects presently executed in the Asia/Middle East region.Competencies:Technical:Highly proficient at the MS office suiteProject Management qualification is a plusSoft skills:Excellent communication and inter-personal skillsStrong global orientation with an excitement to interact with Cedar and IBSI's multi-cultural teams.Execution-focusedHighly organized and detail-orientedGood problem-solving skillsAbility to multi-task across activities along with different teams.Qualifications and relevant experience:MBA or a master's degree in Banking, Finance or Management a from top-tier business school12+ years of relevant experienceProven track record of delivery leadership and engagement lead roles PRB