What does a typical working day on client site look like for you?
Without being too cliché, it’s hard to describe a typical working day! I’m currently working on a non-financial risk management project at a Tier 1 global bank as the policy, training and communications lead within the RCA (Risk & Control Assessments) workstream. It’s a relatively short-term engagement, which means that I have to get up to speed with specialist content at pace and really focus on stakeholder management. My stakeholders include the client, but also consultants and contractors from other companies too. I’ve been given lots of autonomy and responsibility, which has been a great learning opportunity as I develop as a Consultant.
I usually start my day around 8am to meet different time-zones, I like to carve out a few minutes for meditation/mindfulness to get me in the right headspace, then I’ll catch up on emails and plan for the day ahead. Aside from usual project activities such as daily ‘stand-up’ meetings with my programme team, preparing for deliverables and liaising with client stakeholders, each day brings its own challenges but I always feel supported by my Line Manager.
Whilst client work is important, I make sure to make time for my internal commitments and interests too. I have recently finished a stint as co-chair of the BCS Brand Ambassador’s (spreading BCS good news!) and I’m also on BCS’s BAME (Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic) Network Committee. Diversity and inclusion is a passion of mine, and I’m proud to be part of a workplace which places such emphasis on education and awareness of important issues such as racism, prejudice and bias. At the end of each working day, I always make time to go for a long walk and switch off, I think it’s called a ‘fake commute’ these days.
How has your career developed at BCS?
I joined BCS in 2019 after spending just under two years in the finance transformation practice of one of the Big 4. Although I had little experience in financial services, I found that there were plenty of learning and development opportunities to help me, such as masterclasses, 101’s and BCS’s New Joiner Rotation Programme which gave me a great insight into each Service Line. I also took the opportunity to study towards my Chartered Banker qualification.
On the job learning has been the biggest factor for my development and the variety of roles I’ve been placed in, whether it’s been a project manager, business analyst or a lone consultant, has really equipped me with the core competencies required to succeed as a management consultant. One of my early projects at BCS was within financial crime risk, project managing the pilot roll-out of a global transaction monitoring tool to streamline the KYC (Know Your Customer) processes within the retail and wealth division of a Tier 1 global bank. It was a great opportunity to take ownership and responsibility in a high-profile project, whilst upskilling in system design and implementation processes too.
Prior to my current project, I was working on a change management project in the Asia Pacific market for the same bank, as a business analyst. As a team of two BCSers, my Engagement Manager and I were responsible for establishing change management activities as an integral component of their delivery lifecycles within business transformation teams. The time difference added a whole other dynamic to lockdown working, involving many early starts to catch clients in Asia during the last few hours of their working day.
My confidence in the workplace has come on leaps and bounds since joining BCS, I know I am surrounded by ambitious, intelligent and caring people who believe in me and support my aspirations.
What would you say to someone thinking of joining us?
BCS is the perfect place for those who want to push themselves and be part of a growth journey. It is obvious from Day One that the people around you are invested in not only your professional development as a management consultant, but your personal wellbeing too.
