Senior Manager - AI & Data, Databricks, Financial Services, Belfast

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The EY Financial Services AI & Data Consulting practice is investing in a new, scaled Belfast team to develop unique advisory propositions aligned to fast evolving market needs and demand. We are currently looking for an exceptional Senior Manager to lead on developing our Data Engineering solutions for this team with an initial focus on Databricks. This is a senior role and will require an individual with an exceptional track record of delivering data transformation programs and team building in Financial Services.

Joining the Belfast EY AI & Data team in this exciting period of growth will offer a huge variety of opportunity to make a tangible impact to our clients’ businesses, the development of junior colleagues and to your career. Our AI & Data practice works collaboratively with clients to enhance their ability to solve complex business problems by exploiting data and analytics strategies and solutions. We provide expertise and delivery in three core areas which all work closely together:

• Data Engineering and Architecture – Focusing on next generation data solution architecture design and implementation.
• Data Management & Strategy – Supporting our clients with Data Strategy, Data Governance, Data and Analytics Target Operating Model Design and wider Data Office and CDO support functions.
• Advanced Analytics - Working with our clients to design, build and integrate Machine Learning and AI solutions into their core business platforms and processes to drive greater insight and increased process efficiency and automation.

Your key responsibilities include:

• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to data engineers and analysts across Financial Services domains such as Risk, Trading, and Compliance.
• Lead the design and implementation of scalable data architecture solutions using Databricks on Azure.
• Architect and optimize data pipelines for structured and unstructured financial data, ensuring performance, reliability, and compliance.
• Standing up and operationalizing Databricks platforms, including workspace setup, cluster configuration, and CI/CD integration.
• Lead and execute large-scale lift-and-shift data migrations from legacy platforms to Databricks, ensuring minimal disruption and high data fidelity.
• Drive adoption of Delta Lake, Apache Spark, and MLflow for advanced analytics and machine learning use cases.
• Lead performance tuning, cost optimization, and security hardening of Databricks on Azure.
• Establish best practices for data governance, lineage, and metadata management within the Databricks environment.
• Translate business needs into robust data products that support real-time decision-making and predictive modeling.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align data architecture with financial regulations (e.g., GDPR, Basel III, MiFID II).
• Business development, including the development of long-term trusted advisor relationships with our clients.

To qualify for the role, you must have:

• A track record of delivering large Databricks data transformations & appropriate Databricks industry certifications.
• A deep understanding of Financial Services to develop the right AI, Data and Analytics solutions to meet their needs.
• Experience of building high performing teams and exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Deep understanding of the emerging technology trends including adoption of cloud-based technologies and advance data technologies with a clear perspective on where the market is going.
• Ability to successfully deliver across multiple engagements, exceed client expectations, manage commercial aspects and manage quality and risk.
• Ability to engage with senior stakeholders and manage large cross functional projects.
• Intellectual strength / flexibility to rapidly understand complex problems and rationalise these into workable solutions which can then be delivered.
• Exceptional storytelling, communication, presentation, business writing and professional skills, including being able to liaise with both technical and business contacts at our clients.
• Previous consulting experience will be greatly valued.
• A university degree, 2:1 (or equivalent) or above is usually preferred, however we would be open to outstanding candidates who may have followed an alternative academic path.

We are looking for highly motivated individuals who are passionate about AI, Data and Analytics and want to assist clients to become truly data driven organisations. If you think you can meet the challenges of a focused consulting organisation, understand how to build, grow and lead in a large practice and work in the most complex of sectors our AI & Data team is looking forward to hearing from you.

We offer a competitive remuneration package where you’ll be rewarded for your individual and team performance. Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with FlexEY 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.

If you can confidently demonstrate that you meet the criteria above, please contact us as soon as possible. Join us in building a better working world. Apply now.

EY is committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We strive to achieve the right balance for our people, enabling us to deliver excellent client service whilst allowing you to build your career without sacrificing your personal priorities.