Partner, Retail Banking & Payments

Company Description

Sia is a next-generation, global management consulting group. Founded in 1999, we were born digital. Today our strategy and management capabilities are augmented by data science, enhanced by creativity and driven by responsibility. We’re optimists for change and we help clients initiate, navigate and benefit from transformation. We believe optimism is a force multiplier, helping clients to mitigate downside and maximize opportunity. With expertise across a broad range of sectors and services, our 3,000 consultants serve clients worldwide from 48 locations in 19 countries. Our expertise delivers results. Our optimism transforms outcomes.

Strategy & Management Consulting

Financial Institutions have drastically changed over the last decade, driven by increased regulatory constraints, diverse competition inside and beyond traditional banking organizations, and emerging technologies reshaping long-standing ecosystems.  Sia’s Financial Services Business Unit provides a comprehensive suite of core capabilities designed to address the diverse and evolving needs of our clients, enabling them to navigate complex challenges, seize new opportunities, and achieve their strategic objectives in an increasingly competitive and dynamic business environment.

Job Description

Be the leader behind the transformation of tomorrow’s financial institutions.

Join a fast-growing global consulting firm that’s rewriting the rules for how strategy and execution intersect. At Sia, we empower senior leaders to drive complex transformations, shape industry trends, and grow thriving practices. As a Partner in our Financial Services Business Unit, you’ll play a critical role in expanding our footprint in North America while delivering next-generation solutions to financial institutions reshaping the industry.

Backed by a global footprint and consulting capabilities across all major industry sectors, our teams guide C-suite leaders across banking, wealth management, capital markets, and fintech. We combine deep domain expertise with digital and tech-forward approaches that make a lasting impact.

Retail banking and payments is at a significant inflection point, and the seismic shift in ROE is already underway. Rising customer expectations, real-time money movement, embedded finance, stablecoins, and big tech entrants are reshaping deposits, lending, cards, and digital channels. Sia helps banks of all sizes, from global G-SIBs to regionals and credit unions, turn that disruption into opportunity.

As a Partner, you will accelerate the buildout of Sia's U.S. retail banking and payments practice. You will shape our point of view and offerings, originate and lead high-value engagements, recruit and grow the team, and build lasting relationships with senior executives in the space. You will bring Sia's global capabilities to bear on the most important questions of the day.

Your Role as a Partner

You'll be a recognized leader inside and outside the firm – responsible for business development, delivery excellence, and leadership across accounts and teams. You will:

Drive Client Growth

- Lead and grow strategic client accounts in financial services – serving as their trusted advisor on bank transformation, digital strategy, regulatory change, and operating model design.

- Own and lead at least two key client accounts, serving as the primary relationship lead and strategic advisor.

Deliver Consulting Excellence

- Oversee complex strategy and transformation programs end-to-end, ensuring high-impact delivery that exceeds client expectations.

- Leverage global expertise and cross-functional teams to solve our clients’ toughest challenges.

Lead People & Culture

- Inspire and coach a high-performing team of Managers and above.

- Champion Sia’s inclusive, collaborative, and entrepreneurial culture, mentoring the next generation of leadership.

Shape the Future of the Firm

- Build Sia's retail banking and payments practice across the U.S.

- Define the offerings and point of view, develop the client pipeline, and recruit and grow the team.

- Contribute to our go-to-market strategy, client success, practice development, and firm governance at the BU and Hub level.

- Actively collaborate across international hubs and service lines to deliver integrated, cross-border value.

Qualifications

What You Bring:

- Based in Charlotte, with an active, senior-level financial services network across the U.S., spanning global banks (e.g., US GSIBs), regional banks, community banks and credit unions, and the professional range to advise both large and small institutions.

- 15+ years in consulting, including leadership roles in digital transformation, operating model design, or regulatory advisory.

- A proven track record of winning and delivering multimillion-dollar consulting engagements.

- Executive presence and the ability to influence and engage C-level clients.

- A passion for team development, coaching, and fostering a high-performance culture.

- Deep, demonstrable expertise in retail banking and payments, such as deposits, consumer lending, cards, digital banking, real-time payments, or merchant and commercial payments, with a track record of leading strategy, transformation, or regulatory-driven programs in these areas.

- Established relationships with senior executives who own retail and consumer banking, payments, cards, digital, or product P&Ls at global, regional, and community banks, credit unions, card issuers, or payments providers.

- Working command of the regulatory and market landscape shaping the space, including consumer protection and payments regulation (for example Regulation E, UDAAP, and Nacha rules), real-time rails such as FedNow and RTP, and ISO 20022.

- A recognized voice in the market, with a record of thought leadership, speaking, or industry engagement.

- A proven ability to build a practice from a small base, developing offerings, viewpoints, and a pipeline of clients and talent without an inherited book of business.

- Bachelors required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree strongly preferred.

Additional Information

Compensation & Benefits

Sia invests in total rewards that support how our people work, live, and grow.

Compensation

- Base Salary: $300,000–$350,000. Actual compensation within this range will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by applicable law.

- Personal Sales Bonus (uncapped)

- Annual Performance Bonus (appraisal)

Benefits

- Medical, dental, and vision coverage

- Company-paid life and AD&D insurance; voluntary supplemental insurance and EAP at no cost

- 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting; HSA and FSA

- College savings and student loan repayment programs

- Paid parental leave

- Generous PTO, nine company holidays, and one floating holiday

- Monthly cell phone stipend

- Well-being and professional development programs

Benefits are subject to applicable plan terms and eligibility requirements.

Workplace

Sia embraces a flexible workplace model that balances autonomy with in-person connection. Management is expected to be in the office at least three days per week, serving as culture carriers who mentor teams, strengthen client relationships, and lead by example.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout their employment. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Our Commitment  
At Sia, we believe in fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture where our employees and partners are valued and thrive in a sense of belonging.

Sia is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, remuneration, or discipline, are based solely on performance, competence, conduct, or business needs.