Strategy & Operations Manager, Financial Services

About L.E.K. Consulting:
L.E.K. Consulting is one of the premier strategy consulting firms worldwide. At L.E.K., we are passionate about helping our clients succeed with breakthrough insights that drive real impact. Our clients view us as trusted partners that help address their most pressing challenges and biggest opportunities. 

We bring together the rigor of data-driven analysis with the creativity and curiosity of a collaborative team. By hiring exceptional people and fostering a culture of ownership, inclusion, and continuous learning, we develop leaders who thrive on challenge and bring energy and optimism to every engagement. Founded in 1983, L.E.K. employs more than 2,200 professionals across five continents, and is consistently recognized as one of the industry’s best firms to work for. For more information, visit lek.com.

Overview of Function: 
L.E.K. Consulting is seeking a Strategy & Operations Manager to join the Financial Services team in a Chief of Staff capacity. In this role, you will play a critical part in shaping the strategic direction, operational efficiency, and commercial performance of the U.S. Financial Services Sector — spanning Banking & Lending, Payments, Insurance, Asset & Wealth Management, FinTech, and related sub-sectors. 

You will work closely with FS sector leadership, sub-sector champions, and firmwide core services teams to drive high-impact initiatives that advance market presence, strengthen internal capabilities, and enhance operational excellence. This role requires a combination of strategic thinking, structured problem-solving, strong business judgment, and exceptional project leadership. It is ideal for an individual who excels at both strategy and execution and is passionate about building a high-performing, scalable sector. 

It is ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic, evolving environment and is eager to gain exposure to sector strategy, operations, and commercial enablement in a top-tier consulting firm. 

Responsibilities: 

Sector Strategy, Planning & Growth Leadership 

• Lead development, refinement, and operationalization of the Financial Services Sector’s strategic plan, including annual and multi-year priorities.
• Drive strategic analyses, opportunity assessments, and market landscaping to inform leadership decision-making and sector positioning.
• Partner with sector leadership and sub-sector leads to identify growth opportunities across Banking, Payments, Insurance, FinTech, and Asset/Wealth Management.
• Oversee and manage complex, multi-workstream initiatives related to go-to-market strategy, capability building, commercial enablement, and intellectual property development.
• Lead creation of strategic planning materials, leadership updates, and business performance reviews. 

Operational Excellence & Sector Enablement 

• Serve as a key operational leader responsible for ensuring the Financial Services Sector functions efficiently and effectively.
• Oversee day-to-day sector operations, including:
• Management and enhancement of Community of Practice (CoP) sites and knowledge repositories.
• Oversight of sector communications, collaboration channels, and distribution lists.
• Governance of sector social and engagement budgets.
• Development of consistent operating cadences (e.g., leadership meetings, planning cycles, reporting rhythms).
• Build and refine operational systems, processes, and frameworks that enhance visibility, alignment, and execution across the sector.
• Develop performance dashboards, reporting mechanisms, and resource-tracking tools to support informed decision-making and proactive sector management. 

Commercial Enablement, Pipeline Management, and Staffing Alignment 

• Collaborate with FS sector leaders on proposal, IP and campaign development to help enable market activation by coordinating across marketing, business development, account leadership and offshore centers of excellence
• Manage the on-going practice pipeline from opportunity identification through to realization, providing support across case teams and developing related management reporting
• Coordinate directly with central staffing teams on team deployment and optimization of team commitments across market and strategic priorities 

Cross-Functional Leadership & Firmwide Collaboration 

• Serve as a central liaison to key core services teams — including Marketing, Growth, People, Solutions, and Knowledge Management — ensuring seamless alignment with firmwide initiatives.
• Lead cross-functional efforts to enhance FS market visibility, brand differentiation, and commercial enablement (e.g., campaign strategy, thought leadership, events).
• Collaborate with internal teams in support of case works, this may include our Information & Research Center, Knowledge Management, Data & Analytics, and Market Insights – working to improve sector-specific tools, data sources, and IP 

Team Leadership, Stakeholder Management & Change Enablement 

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and oversight to Strategy & Operations colleagues supporting the FS Sector.
• Build strong relationships with senior partners, principals, managers, and cross-functional leaders to drive consensus, facilitate decision-making, and ensure initiative alignment.
• Anticipate needs, identify risks, escalate issues appropriately, and proactively recommend improvements to sector strategy, operations, and commercial processes.
• Champion adoption of new ways of working, operational changes, and tools that support sector performance and scalability. 

Requirements:

• 7-10 years of experience in management consulting, corporate strategy, business operations, or similar strategy/operations leadership roles within professional services.
• Strong understanding of or exposure to the financial services industry (banking, payments, insurance, fintech, asset/wealth management, or related).
• Proven ability to manage complex projects, lead multi-stakeholder workstreams, and influence senior leadership in dynamic environments.
• Exceptional structured problem-solving, strategic thinking, and business judgment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing executive-level materials.
• Demonstrated ability to build operational systems, drive process improvements, and implement new operating models.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• Proficiency in PowerPoint and Excel; experience with tools such as PowerBI, Alteryx, Salesforce, or other analytics/CRM platforms is a plus.
• Undergraduate degree required; advanced degree preferred but not required. 

For more information and to apply, go to https://www.lek.com/join-lek/apply/apply-now    

• L.E.K. Consulting is an Equal Opportunity Employer
• L.E.K. Consulting has a hybrid work model in place for our U.S. offices. 
• In California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York, the base salary is between $125,000 - $175,000 (USD); placement within this range will vary based on experience and skill level. L.E.K. also offers a performance bonus, profit sharing and other benefits. 
• Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis without the need for employer sponsorship. Unfortunately, we are unable to consider candidates requiring sponsorship for visas, including but not limited to TN, H1-B, F-1, STEM OPT/CPT, or any other work authorization.