Senior Manager - Banking & Payments Transformation

Location: London

Service Line: Consulting

Sub-Service Line: Business Consulting

Grade: Senior Manager

Drawing on reputation for providing deep industry experience and leading consulting services to the payments industry, EY is further expanding its Banking & Payments Transformation team. Our objective is simple; we look to provide long‑term value to our clients by simplifying their business models and improving their processes while focusing on their customer needs.

At EY, you will have the chance to build a career as unique as you are, with the global scale, support, inclusive culture, and technology to become the best version of you. And we are counting on your unique voice and perspective to help EY become even better, too. Join us and build an exceptional experience for yourself and a better working world for all.

We are looking for high calibre Senior Managers, with exceptional leadership skills and proven track record of delivering tangible results on complex payments transformation initiatives at top tier global banking institutions, payment service providers and schemes leveraging modern technologies and through partnerships within the payments ecosystem. If you have relevant experience in advisory roles, a passion for enacting change in the payments industry, combined with the drive to help businesses achieve their potential, this role is for you.

The opportunity

The Banking & Payments Transformation team brings together a deep knowledge of banking and payments industry trends and strong execution experience to help our clients develop and execute their transformation agendas and deliver on strategic business objectives. Our clients are facing increasing pressure from regulators to improve customer outcomes and reduce systemic risk; from shareholders to improve returns through improved efficiency and reduce cost; and from customers to deliver seamless, digital, and customer-friendly services which match those being offered by traditional and new, often fully digital competitors.

Your key responsibilities:

• Leverage your client relationships, contacts and networks to develop our business, and lead go-to-market initiatives that enhance the firm’s market presence.
• Lead end-to-end transformation programs addressing consumer, corporate & card payments, driving innovation in product, operations, technology and governance.
• Build and maintain strong cross‑functional relationships within EY and with external partners to facilitate seamless collaboration and deliver integrated payments transformation solutions.
• Drive operational and financial performance on client engagements by managing profitability, risks, governance and quality standards ensuring compliance with EY policies, professional standards and client expectations.
• Champion continuous improvement by identifying and implementing innovative methodologies, tools and best practices to enhance team effectiveness and client outcomes.
• Develop & articulate thought leadership on payments innovation, regulatory trends and future market dynamics including digital currencies & embedded commerce.
• Mentor and develop high-performing teams, fostering an inclusive culture that supports professional growth, collaboration and achievement of strategic objectives.

To qualify for the role, you must have some or all the following:

• Extensive payments industry or Big‑4 / specialist consulting experience with deep expertise in payments products and services (e.g. retail, corporate, cards) and product management across the payments lifecycle.
• Experience in real‑time payments, open banking, cross‑border payments and payments risk/fraud transformation.
• In‑depth understanding of the payment ecosystem, including regulatory frameworks (e.g. PSD3, the National Payment Vision and its objectives on fraud prevention, consumer protection and resilience, APP liability, etc.), market structure and emerging trends.
• Demonstrated track record of delivery leadership on transformation programs encompassing operating model redesign, regulatory compliance and technology modernisation.
• Strong commercial acumen with a history of originating business and managing complex client engagements at the executive level.
• Exceptional communication skills, capable of bridging strategy and execution while influencing diverse stakeholder groups.
• Thought leadership credentials and a forward‑looking perspective on payments innovation and the future of money, including account‑to‑account payments, digital currencies and tokenised money, agentic payments and embedded commerce, cross‑border payments & the drive for speed, transparency and interoperability, modernisation of payment architecture and operating models, fraud, resilience, financial crime & risk considerations in next‑generation payment models.

Success in this role would be measured by your ability to:

• Build trusted relationships with senior payments and transformation leaders.
• Originate and convert new client opportunities.
• Lead high‑quality delivery across complex payments transformation projects.
• Strengthen the firm’s market profile in UK payments.
• Help shape a distinctive and scalable Payments Transformation proposition.
• Coach and develop the next generation of payments consultants within the team.

What we offer:

• We offer a competitive remuneration package where you will be rewarded for your individual and team performance.
• Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with MyReward 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.
• Continuous learning: you will develop the mindset and skills to navigate whatever comes next.
• Success as defined by you: we will provide the tools and flexibility so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.
• Transformative leadership: we will give you the insights, coaching and confidence to be the leader the world needs.
• Diverse and inclusive culture: you will be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.

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