Principal Consultant

Principal Consultant

Full-Time 72000 - 88000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Xiatech

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead strategic consulting for top enterprise clients, driving digital transformation and value realisation.
  • Company: Join Xiatech, a pioneering tech company with a culture-first approach.
  • Benefits: Flexible remote work, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic team environment with excellent career advancement opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by advising C-suite executives and shaping innovative solutions.
  • Qualifications: Experience in consulting, strong communication skills, and a knack for problem-solving.

The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.

Description

About us

Xiatech is the pioneer of Xfuze, the world’s first AI-powered composable Integration, Data Management, Analytics and Orchestration Platform that innovatively connects systems, creates a single view of data, and delivers actionable insights in one cloud-native, Saa S solution.

Business, technology, and data teams use Xfuze to shorten time-to-insights, accelerate digital transformation, and extend the value of their existing technology investments.

We’re a culture-first organisation and put our people at the forefront of everything we do.

We believe that a great working environment leads to a happy, high-performing team, which is why we offer our people the flexibility to work remotely or from our beautiful office in Fitzrovia, Central London.

The Role

We are seeking a strategic, commercially astute

Principal Consultant to own the full client lifecycle for our highest-value enterprise accounts — from discovery and scoping, through delivery governance, to long-term adoption and growth.

The role is part strategic advisor, part delivery owner, part account leader.

You will lead discovery and scoping engagements that define scope and success criteria, govern delivery through our MATCH framework (Mobilisation, Architecture, Technical Spec, Construct, Handover) to protect quality and margin, and then carry the relationship forward — driving retention, expansion, and value realisation across the client’s lifetime with Xiatech.

You will translate between client business objectives and what the Xfuze platform and delivery team can realistically deliver.

Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic Advisory & Executive Relationships
  • Build, own, and nurture multi-thread executive and C-suite relationships across Xiatech’s highest-value enterprise accounts, acting as a trusted advisor who aligns client business objectives with Xfuze’s platform capability.
  • Lead executive stakeholder and steering committee sessions with a gravitas confident, commanding presence — advising senior leadership, constructively challenging assumptions, and delivering difficult messages without damaging the relationship.
  • Apply an ‘Adopt, Don’t Adapt’ mindset: challenge client business processes and bespoke requests, requiring clients to demonstrate the underlying business problem rather than defaulting to custom platform work.
  • Proactively surface risks, trade-offs, and alternatives before clients raise them, building credibility as the person who tells clients what they need to hear.
  • Represent Xiatech’s expertise and values in a way that strengthens long-term partnership, from hands-on client SMEs through to C-suite executives.
  • Discovery, Scoping & Roadmap
  • Lead discovery and scoping phases (typically 4–6 weeks) at engagement outset, working with client SMEs and senior stakeholders to define scope, requirements, and success criteria.
  • Facilitate ongoing mini-scoping sessions as engagements expand, and advise on roadmap prioritisation and scope trade-offs directly with client SMEs.
  • Analyse, clarify, and document complex client business processes, data entities, and workflows; build and maintain a healthy, prioritised backlog with clear Epics and User Stories.
  • Own the Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM) and lock fixed scope at Mobilisation, agreeing the expert-services budget upfront with formal sign-off.
  • Delivery Governance (MATCH Framework)
  • Provide governance across all five MATCH phases — Mobilisation, Architecture, Technical Spec, Construct, and Handover — smoothing the path between client, delivery team, and Service Desk at each gate.
  • Partner with Architects to validate that client problems map to standard platform features, and challenge any technical spec that defaults to custom code before platform-native options are exhausted.
  • Secure formal client sign-off on deliverables and ensure the Service Desk formally accepts each release into live support before engagement closure.
  • Commercial & Scope Management
  • Own the expert services budget across engagements — track spend, flag overrun risk early, and convert scope changes into formal Change Requests with a commercial impact assessment before development begins.
  • Monitor delivery margin in partnership with Client Partners, flagging erosion from unplanned work or scope drift as early as possible.
  • Report project health transparently across commercial, delivery, and engagement dimensions, flagging risks and issues early rather than waiting for them to surface.
  • Contribute to pricing and scoping of new engagements, pressure-testing estimates before they go to contract.
  • Portfolio Growth, Retention & Health Analytics
  • Drive overall portfolio growth, high-value renewals, and account expansion, systematically mitigating churn risk and improving net revenue retention (NRR).
  • Define and monitor client health telemetry, using predictive analytics to anticipate risk and inform data-driven business reviews for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with Client Partners to identify upsell signals and expansion opportunities, holding equal accountability for scope protection and commercial growth.
  • Architect scalable onboarding and adoption playbooks that guide client organisations through integration, change management, and rapid time-to-value.
  • Team & Practice Leadership
  • Mentor and provide quality assurance for junior and senior consultants across the practice, championing high delivery standards and supporting their professional growth.
  • Act as an escalation point for the wider delivery and success functions, and contribute to consulting methodology, reusable frameworks, and best practice across the organisation.
  • Serve as the definitive voice of the client to Product, Sales, and Delivery leadership, translating feedback into roadmap priorities and process improvements.
  • Your Knowledge & Experience
    Essential
  • Experience in working across retail, travel, hospitality and CPG
  • Proven track record as a trusted advisor to C-suite and senior stakeholders, with the confidence to push back on senior clients using evidence and a counter-proposal rather than resistance alone.
  • Deep experience leading discovery, scoping, and requirements definition on complex transformation programmes, including negotiating roadmap trade-offs with client SMEs.
  • Commercial fluency: able to read a Statement of Work, spot scope creep early, and independently initiate Change Request conversations before issues escalate; experience contributing to pre-sales scoping, estimation, or proposals.
  • Advanced ability to analyse platform usage data, customer sentiment, and delivery metrics to forecast retention risk and optimise processes.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication — equally credible in a client boardroom and a Slack thread with engineers.

Desirable

  • Experience in the retail, travel, hospitality, or CPG sector’s, or with retail / digital transformation programmes (ERP, EPOS, CDP, or BI/dashboard implementations).
  • Background in a company that transitioned from bespoke development to product/platform-led delivery.
  • Familiarity with requirements traceability (RTM) and fixed-scope contracting models.
  • Exposure to data integration, middleware, or workflow automation platforms.
  • Experience line-managing, coaching, or formally mentoring junior delivery or Customer Success professionals.
  • 5+ years in enterprise Saa S, cloud platform, or complex technical integration / data-BI delivery, including at least 2 years in a senior, client-facing consulting or implementation role, managing complex, multi-million-pound enterprise portfolios.
  • Your Personality
  • Energetic & driven
  • Innovative
  • Resilient
  • Insightful
  • Creative
  • Problem solver
  • Sound judgement
  • Analytical
  • Capacity to learn

If you would like the opportunity to join an established UK-based Software as a Service organisation who believe in using the latest leading-edge technology to drive business growth, please enquire now by emailing abbi@xiatech. co. uk

If you receive an offer of employment, this will be conditional upon satisfactory completion of a right to work & identity check, a reference check and a basic criminal record check for any unspent convictions.

Xiatech is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.

Principal Consultant employer: Xiatech

Xiatech is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises flexibility and employee well-being, with the option to work remotely or from our central London office in Fitzrovia. We are committed to fostering professional growth through mentorship and strategic involvement in high-impact projects, ensuring that our team members not only thrive in their roles but also contribute meaningfully to our innovative AI-powered platform. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking organisation where your expertise will shape the future of data integration and management.

Xiatech

Contact Details:

Xiatech Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Consultant

Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions

Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Principal Consultant at Xiatech!

Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks

Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Xiatech or be willing to refer you for that Principal Consultant position!

Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences

Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Xiatech who’s on the lookout for their next Principal Consultant star!

Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online

Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Principal Consultant role at Xiatech!

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Consultant

Strategic Advisory
Client Relationship Management
Discovery and Scoping
Requirements Definition
Delivery Governance
Commercial Fluency
Data Analysis

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!

Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Xiatech. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!

Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.

Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!

How to prepare for a job interview at Xiatech

Master the Case Study Game

In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!

Know Your Numbers

Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!

Show Your Leadership Flair

As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Be a Cultural Fit

We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Xiatech. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!