Operations and Improvement Principal Consultant - Process Optimisation in Financial Services

PA Consulting; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm is seeking a Principal Consultant to drive operational improvement in the Financial Services sector. The candidate will lead projects utilizing Lean and Six Sigma techniques, manage change, and engage with key stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have experience in operational enhancements and a consulting background, with Lean Black Belt certification preferred. The position offers a hybrid working model from the London office.

Benefits

Health and lifestyle perks

25 days annual leave

Generous company pension scheme

Annual performance-based bonus

PA share ownership

Qualifications

• Experience in Financial Services cost optimisation and operational improvement.
• Ability to influence across multiple levels within an organization.
• Prior consulting experience with a large consultancy firm.

Responsibilities

• Deliver operational effectiveness through Lean and Six Sigma techniques.
• Facilitate workshops with clients to drive improvement.
• Develop and deliver training for clients and internal teams.

Skills

Delivering operational improvement across service areas

Leading assignments and teams

Working within the Financial Services sector

Realising business benefits

Deploying digital technologies

Leadership skills in project teams

Influencing senior stakeholders

Delivering innovative solutions

Education

Lean Black Belt certification

Job description

Company Description

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future.

As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.

Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.

We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport.

Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.

PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life.

Job Description

• Hybrid working - our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week. However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment, including up to 5 days per week on a client site.
• This role is based at our London Victoria office
• Apply asap

Are you keen to work to build improvement capability and operations excellence?

If so, this Operations and Improvement consultancy role could be for you!

We are actively looking to recruit people at the Principal Consultant level.

In the UK we work across all industries and sectors. This role will primarily be focussed on our Financial Services Sector, specifically our Banking and Wealth and Asset Management Portfolio of clients.

Primary areas of focus are:

• Operational effectiveness and efficiency through Lean and Six Sigma techniques
• Process optimisation
• Service design
• Change and implementation management
• Training development and delivery

Qualifications

We are seeking a talented individual with Financial Services cost optimisation and operational improvement experience.

We are looking for candidates with skills and experience in the following areas:

• Core experience of delivering operational improvement across front, middle and back office service areas
• Proven experience of leading assignments and teams
• Core experience of working and delivering similar projects ideally within the Financial Services sector
• A track record of realising business benefits and outcomes
• Experience deploying advanced techniques such as digital technologies, cost improvement, and change management
• The ability to demonstrate leadership skills in large and diverse project teams
• Confidence to work across multiple levels of an organisation, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and navigate challenging discussions
• An aptitude for delivering creative as well as innovative solutions

The ideal candidate will also have:

• An interest in developing new business (this activity can take several different forms depending on relative experience and rank)
• It is expected that applicants will be able to work independently, developing excellent relationships with stakeholders internally and externally, and delivering the highest customer service and business standards
• Excellent interpersonal and team working skills; a natural integrator, comfortable navigating across system finance, service design, governance, capacity and workforce modelling and operational excellence
• A drive for personal and professional progression
• Prior consulting experience with a large consultancy firm or internal consultancy function would be highly desirable
• Lean Black Belt certified desirable

Facilitating workshops, providing compelling, evidence-based insights and helping to manage complex and senior stakeholders. We pride ourselves on partnering with clients, providing a service that delivers real and long‑lasting value.

Our Operations and Improvement consultants are expected to be hands‑on, working together with our clients to bring energy, direction and expertise in helping to solve the most difficult operational and supply chain challenges.

In addition to the formal benefits set out below, we are passionate about the personal and career development of our consultants. Our team is committed to providing the opportunities, support, training and coaching required at all levels to ensure our consultants can all achieve their potential.

We know the skill‑gap and ‘somewhat need to tick every box’ can get in the way of meeting brilliant candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply – we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today by completing our online application

Please be aware that some of our UK roles at PA Consulting require a UK security clearance.

All PA people are required to undergo background checks and to achieve the Baseline Personnel Security Standard however, some UK roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, where applicants must have at least 5 years of continuous residency in the UK.

We therefore ask that you only apply if you meet the residency requirements (i.e. you are a British citizen or have been resident in the UK for the past 5 years), as this is the prerequisite for a security clearance. If you're unsure about your eligibility, we encourage you to review the UK Government’s guidance on security vetting before applying.

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Additional Information

Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work.

Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We're focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self.

Find out more about Life at PA here.

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits:

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days
• Generous company pension scheme
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity-based initiatives
• Annual performance‑based bonus
• PA share ownership
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn)

We’re committed to advancing equality.We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief, veteran status, or any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on [e-mail]