Research Director – Industry (Financial Services)

Info-Tech Research; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative research firm in Toronto seeks a Research Director for the financial services sector. This role involves conducting industry research and providing strategic advisory services to clients in banking and insurance. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in IT leadership and possesses strong communication and project management skills. This position offers a dynamic work environment and the opportunity to shape industry insights.

Benefits

Flexible work environment

Learning and development opportunities

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years of experience in IT leadership or consulting in financial services.
• Professional certifications such as CFA or PMP are an asset.
• Experience in retail and wholesale banking operations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct industry research through expert interviews and regulatory analysis.
• Lead advisory calls with clients to provide strategic advice.
• Facilitate workshops for decision-making in financial services.

Skills

Financial services knowledge

Project management

Communication skills

Facilitation skills

Ability to synthesize complex ideas

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, or related discipline

Tools

Market analysis tools

Regulatory analysis tools

Job description

Research Director – Industry (Financial Services)

Job Category : Research & Advisory

Requisition Number : PRINC004504

Apply now

• Posted : August 6, 2025
• Full-Time

Locations

Showing 1 location

London Ontario

Info Tech Research Group Head Office

345 Ridout Street North

London, ON N6A2N8, CAN

London Ontario

Info Tech Research Group Head Office

345 Ridout Street North

London, ON N6A2N8, CAN

The Research Director – Industry (Financial Services) is responsible for delivering Info-Tech’s research projects and advisory services to clients in banking, insurance, and capital markets. This includes a range of subsectors such as retail and wholesale banking, credit unions, investment banking, private equity, wealth and asset management, and holding companies.

This role requires deep financial services knowledge and a practical, research-driven approach to help IT and business leaders navigate evolving customer expectations, digital transformation, regulatory compliance, and technology modernization. The ideal candidate will provide actionable insights and strategic guidance to IT decision-makers in financial institutions.

A successful candidate will stay actively engaged with industry trends, client needs, and regulatory developments, ensuring our research remains timely, trusted, and relevant. This position combines research development, advisory calls, and workshop facilitation, working collaboratively with colleagues across Info-Tech to deliver high-impact, industry-specific guidance.

Our Promise to You

You will work for a rapidly growing company that supports employees through flexibility, inclusiveness, learning and development, internal career mobility, employee experience measurement and feedback, and strong relationship-building.

What You Will Do

Research & Industry Insights

Conduct industry research through expert interviews, regulatory analysis, and market scanning to generate actionable insights.

Stay ahead of emerging trends such as fintech innovation, AI in financial services, open banking, and ESG reporting.

Develop structured frameworks, methodologies, and tools tailored to the needs of financial institutions.

Shape and contribute to the research agenda to address the top challenges facing IT leaders in financial services.

Advisory Calls with Clients

Lead one-on-one calls with financial services members to offer strategic advice and research-backed recommendations.

Translate published research into tailored guidance for banks, insurers, and investment firms.

Identify research gaps based on client needs and escalate opportunities for new content development.

Facilitate Workshops

Guide financial services clients through strategic planning and decision-making using Info-Tech’s research and tools.

Ensure workshop outcomes are practical, measurable, and aligned with industry-specific challenges.

Deliver clear, actionable outputs that help clients address business and technology priorities.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration & Thought Leadership

Partner with colleagues in Advisory, Workshops, and Global Services to deliver integrated support to members.

Provide subject matter expertise to Sales, Marketing, and Events teams.

Represent Info-Tech at industry events and deliver thought leadership presentations to executive audiences.

To Be Successful, You Will Need :

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Finance, Business, Information Systems, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.

Professional certifications such as CFA, FRM, PMP, or certifications in banking or insurance technology are an asset.

5–10+ years of experience in IT leadership, consulting, or industry analysis in the financial services sector.

Travel Requirement : Must be flexible and able to travel periodically for onsite client workshops across North America and globally.

Visa Requirement : Must be eligible to obtain appropriate work visas for cross-border work.

Work Hours : Must be available periodically for after-hours work to support APAC clients.

Domain Expertise (must have experience in some combination of the following) :

Retail and Wholesale Banking Operations

Investment Banking Platforms and Risk

Private Equity & Venture Capital Technology Models

Asset and Wealth Management Digitization

Core Banking and Holding Company Structures

Financial Regulation, Compliance, and Audit Readiness

Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention in Financial Institutions

Skills & Attributes

Inclusive, collaborative mindset with a strong sense of professional empathy.

Able to synthesize complex ideas into actionable guidance.

Proven facilitation and consulting skills with executive-level stakeholders.

Exceptional communication skills in both written and verbal formats.

Strong project management capabilities.

Comfortable advising on sensitive or highly regulated technology topics.

Proactive in identifying opportunities for growth through member engagement and research insights.

Info-Tech Research Group of companies is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion and does not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected status or characteristic including Minority / Female / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity / Disability / Veteran and are pleased to consider all qualified applicants. To that end, upon request, ITRG will ensure, to the extent possible, that accommodation be made available to applicants throughout the recruitment and hiring process.

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