Assistant Director (Senior Manager), Operational Strategy, Strategy & Execution, EY-Parthenon

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The opportunity

At EY-Parthenon (EY-P), our unique combination of transformative strategy, transactions and corporate finance delivers real-world value – solutions that work in practice, not just on paper. Benefiting from EY’s full spectrum of services, we’ve reimagined strategic consulting to work in a world of increasing complexity. With deep functional and sector expertise, paired with innovative AI-powered technology and an investor mindset, we partner with CEOs, boards, private equity and governments every step of the way.

The Operational Strategy practice within EY-Parthenon provides clients with pragmatic, results-oriented solutions that drive efficiency and performance improvement, helping solve their most significant financial and operational challenges.

We develop strategies that optimise operations and enhance overall business value, leveraging deep sector and functional expertise, including:

• Cost Transformation including use of ‘Zero based principles’
• Turnaround and Operational Restructuring
• Supply Chain, Manufacturing & Procurement Strategies & Optimisation
• Supply Chain, Manufacturing & Procurement Optimisation in a deal context
• Transaction Value Creation, e.g. Carve-outs and Integrations

Our teams work closely with executive leadership across industries to identify opportunities for improvement, implement best practices, and ensure sustainable growth.

Key responsibilities

You'll advise clients across a variety of sectors, supporting key decision makers in developing and implementing strategic transformations.

You will be expected to lead project delivery teams, working with senior client stakeholders within tight timeframes for some of EY’s most demanding clients. As a consultant you’ll advise clients across all sectors, supporting key decision makers in developing and executing strategies for value creation. Given the client-facing nature of the role, strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential to effectively engage with clients and pragmatically address their needs

We expect Assistant Directors to play a leading role in new business development efforts by supporting on pitches/pursuits and preparing compelling go-to-market collateral. We expect you to establish, maintain and strengthen internal and external relationships to help build the profile of our team. As an important member of a small and growing team, you would be expected to take a leading role in practical efforts to grow the practice, and in the coaching and counselling of junior team members to help them develop.

Skills and attributes for success

• Project Delivery – Lead project delivery teams driving to drive transformational change at pace, manage project teams, and oversee engagement management (e.g. project commercials and risk management).

• Financial Analysis – Excellent financial analysis skills required, including overseeing/reviewing analysis of other team members

• Business and Commercially Driven – working in a fast-paced, exciting environment with strong business acumen to really help add value to our clients.
• Value Creation: Ability to identify the key strategic priorities / challenges, and pragmatically develop solutions or actions to address.
• Presentation & Report Writing – Demonstrate ability to produce clear, concise Board-ready presentations that communicate a clear and compelling narrative.
• Business Development - assist in aspects of business origination, including pitches and presentations. Contribute to our practice development initiatives, supporting the continued focus on our team as a great place to work.
• Learning - Develop technical and personal skills to support achievement of career goals, through a blend of structured learning, coaching and experiences
• Stakeholder management and communication - Effectively engage and manage stakeholders by tailoring communication to influence, align, and drive outcomes. Builds trust through clear, concise, and proactive updates.
• Role Model - Act as a role model and support the development and coaching of junior team members.

To qualify for the role you must have

Specialism / experience in at least three of these areas:

• Professional services / consulting
• Operational Strategy: experience in cost transformation, zero based budgeting, turnaround and/or operational restructuring (cross-sector)
• Functional Specialism: experience of one or more core operational functions – supply chain, manufacturing or procurement (cross-sector)

• Value creation in transactions, including carve outs/separations or integrations

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to link operational analysis to financial statements, and understand the implications of findings to client strategy

Ideally, you’ll also have

• Experience in building strong working relationships with senior clients, including influence, advice and support to key decision makers.
• Demonstrated curiosity about emerging technologies, including AI, and an ability to explore their application in your role.
• Experience in supporting sales and business development processes for professional services projects in a large-scale consulting environment
• A track record of successful project delivery in corporate businesses where you are responsible for managing project team members and vendors
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and experience of producing and reviewing high calibre reports, papers, presentations and thought leadership.

W hat we are looking for

We are looking for candidates who are highly motivated, driven, and have a passion to be part of a fast-paced, successful advisory team. Being a strong team player is also important as well as someone who is happy to work flexibly over a number of client engagements across the UK and Globally.

What we offer you

We will fuel your ambition and potential with future-focused skills development that equips you with state-of-the-art methodologies and technology-enabled solutions. With more than 25,000 people in 150 countries, you will join an inclusive and empowering culture that values your uniqueness, prioritizes your wellbeing, and immerses you in the diverse thinking and cross-cultural experiences necessary to help deliver impact to clients across the globe and to help build a better working world. Learn more about careers at EY-Parthenon.

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.

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EY | Building a better working world

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Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.

EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.