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Engage fi · 1 month ago

Strategic Consultant - Credit & Debit Processing Evaluations

United States

Full-time

Remote

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

10+ years exp

Engage fi is a consulting firm focused on providing innovative solutions for financial institutions. The Strategic Consultant for Credit & Debit Processing Evaluations will serve as a subject matter expert, guiding clients through vendor selection, negotiation, and project oversight to enhance their operational efficiency and effectiveness.

ConsultingFinanceFinancial Services

Responsibilities

Builds and maintains strong relationships with clients by uncovering and analyzing client needs, providing and recommending solutions, and guiding the process with internal key stakeholders to achieve clients’ goals and objectives

Oversees complex client projects and applies Engage fi and industry best practices to execute on client strategies and implement project tactics to mitigate risk and ensure success

Works with the project team and other EFI team members as needed to develop, customize, and maintain key project artifacts, such as RFPs and project timelines

Maintains scope, schedule, and budget of projects, ensuring work is completed according the to the plan/statement of work (SOW)

Facilitates project workshops, vendor sessions, and other critical project events and communications, chairs project meetings, and provides SME guidance to ensure project tasks are completed in a suitable and timely manner and risks, gaps, and issues are appropriately tracked, addressed, and escalated

Develops and sustains relationships with key strategic vendors, studies and evaluates financial industry market trends, participates in solution demos, and remains abreast of vendor changes, key competitors, and key system updates and overall functionality in order to effectively and appropriately apply knowledge and insight to client projects

Represents client’s and Engage fi’s best interests in all vendor interactions

Evaluates client’s current invoices and existing contracts to capture relevant business terms, dates, and pricing. Requests and evaluates new vendor pricing and contract terms based on client’s strategies for vendor selection and unique business needs and presents an initial pricing and contract baseline analysis to client

Works with client, client’s legal representative, vendors, and EFI team members to negotiate suitable pricing and contract terms, devising strategies to increase revenue, cut costs, and promote growth for the client while also ensuring alignment with the client’s goals and objectives and monitoring the long-term effects of vendor and pricing changes

Acts as subject matter expert to assist in process review, improvement, and implementation in all areas of the company, including assisting in the ongoing development and enhancement of EFI best practice project artifacts/tools and integrating the use of technology into processes to gain efficiencies and add value for internal and external stakeholders

Accurately tracks and records project billing hours and budgets as directed in the appropriate technology/tool

Mentors and trains other Engage fi team members as assigned to assist with learning best practices and processes

Qualification

Vendor managementContract negotiationProject managementMicrosoft OfficeCredit/debit processingVerbal communicationWritten communicationProblem-solvingTeam playerTime management

Required

Strong skills in intrapersonal and professional verbal communication with the ability to take in information, listen, develop persuasive arguments, and present solutions and recommendations effectively

The ability to put together and deliver presentations and training to clients and effectively facilitate discussions with clients, vendors, and other key third parties

Excellent communication skills (written/verbal); ability to compose business correspondence that is clear and concise

Technical knowledge - Smartsheet, Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, ability to learn other software programs

Evolved problem-solving skills with a natural curiosity for solving problems and enjoys the challenge. Looks for root causes before acting

Advanced critical thinking skills – e.g., asks questions, looks at the broader picture, capable of conducting a what-if analysis and understanding and articulating all options and consequences, does not settle for the easy answer

Ability to manage multiple priorities; strong time-management skills

Self-motivated and capable of organizing and prioritizing work to achieve required results and takes personal pride in doing things right and delivering a quality work product

Team player; leverages available resources to get the job done; able to work in a highly collaborative environment with empathy and consideration for the viewpoints of all parties

Bachelor's degree in business administration or related field or related experience

10+ years of experience in the credit union, banking, payments, or related vendor industry with preference for previous leadership positions, project oversight/management proficiency, and core banking conversion familiarity

Deep industry knowledge of core banking, credit/debit card processing, online banking insurance, bank operations, and/or lending origination vendors, solutions, tools, and processes

Experience in successfully completing vendor selection and/or conversion technology projects involving both product and custom solutions

Strong knowledge about vendor technology contracts, general contract business terms, and vendor proposal pricing analysis and comparisons

Demonstrated ability to manage external, third-party vendors and clients/customers, including their employees, consultants, and designated subcontractors

Facilitation of creative problem-solving sessions with all levels of leadership teams across different line of business disciplines

Ability to present complex solutions to senior leadership teams

Exposure to contract negotiations and vendor management

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite of Products, Project Management Software, and CRM platforms

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times

Full Time/ 40 hours per week

Remote

50% Travel required