Banking & Payments Program Director
Cognizant Technology Solutions is currently seeking a highly skilled Program Director – Banking & Payments, who will be responsible for leading Transition of Professional Services work for several products in Banking and Payments space from the client to Cognizant and ensuring seamless delivery post-transition. The associate will be responsible for client engagement, governance, and operational leadership to manage complex service portfolios, talent movement, and process integration while maintaining business continuity and client satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities
- Professional services transition
- Develop and own the transition roadmap for Professional Services, including timelines, milestones, and risk mitigation plans.
- Lead knowledge transfer sessions, process documentation, and operational readiness activities.
- Manage rebadging and onboarding of client resources, ensuring compliance with labor laws and contractual obligations.
- Coordinate with offshore and nearshore teams for smooth handover and ramp-up.
- Client Engagement
- Act as the primary onsite liaison for client Professional Services SBU owners.
- Facilitate workshops, alignment meetings, and executive reviews to ensure stakeholder buy-in.
- Influence client decisions on process standardization, automation, and managed services adoption.
- Identify risks related to transition complexity, talent retention, and regulatory compliance.
- Keep client abreast of mitigation strategies with progress and ensure adherence to client standard of security, privacy, and contractual requirements.
- Operational Integration & Talent Transformation
- Align transitioned services with Cognizant’s delivery model, SLAs, and compliance standards.
- Implement process harmonization across geographies and service lines.
- Ensure operational stability during and after transition, minimizing disruption to client business.
- Oversee resource movement, including rebadging, hiring, and onboarding.
- Drive upskilling and cross-skilling programs for rebadged employees to align with Cognizant’s operating model.
- Foster cultural integration and employee engagement during transition.
- Continuous Improvement
- Post-transition, lead initiatives for process optimization, automation, and cost efficiency.
- Monitor service performance and drive improvements to meet evolving client needs.
Required Experience
- 20+ years in IT Industry with strong capability in client facing program management for large professional services transformation.
- Proven track record in professional services stakeholder management, negotiation, and influencing skills.
- Experience of managing $50M+ transformation programs involving professional services for applications cutting across various Banking and Payments domains.
- Deep understanding of Professional Services delivery models and client engagement.
- Exposure in Core Banking products like - Finacle, Flexcube, Temenos, BancMate, DNA, Finxact, Vault (Thought Machine), Mambu, FIS MBP, IBS, Temenos Transact / T24
- Core Banking domain like – CASA, Loan, GL balancing, retail + corporate + treasury banking etc.
- Payments products like: TSYS TS2 / Prime, Marqeta, Fiserv VisionPlus, FIS OPF, Finastra GPP, Fiserv Dovetail / EPP, Volante VolPay, ACI MTS, Paymntus etc.
- Payments domain like: SWIFT, SEPA, ACH, Wire, Zelle, RTP, Issuing, Acquiring, Network like Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover, Merchant Acquiring etc.
Exposure in “Core Banking Transformation Management” “Payments Transformation Management” “Large scale transition”
Preferred Experience:
Senior leadership role in project & program management, experienced in managing large global teams. Domain expertise across Banking vertical. Track record of delivering complex programs, as well as leveraging organizational capabilities to support offers/solutions
Top Reasons to Join Our Team
Excellent compensation/benefits. A strong financial incentive package that includes a solid base salary with a highly attractive commission's plan. Further incentives include award programs, club trips, and excellent benefits package. Wide exposure to industry, product, and functional standard methodologies; as well as outstanding teams supporting your sales pursuits. Encouraging management team that rewards initiative & success. Exciting, industry leading practice where you can truly build a long-term career. Congenial, collaborative, and goal-oriented environment; the opportunity to work with and learn from a diverse, highly experienced team of business professionals. Tremendous opportunities for growth with a real career path promoting career advancement.
Salary and Other Compensation:
The annual salary for this position is between $175,000-$220,000 depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual bonus program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.
Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:
- Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
- Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
- 401(k) plan and contributions
- Long-term/Short-term Disability
- Paid Parental Leave
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
A Good fit for the Cognizant culture
A person who possesses a true passion for changing organizations for the better, and desires to do so within a goal, yet professional atmosphere filled with business professionals who all manifest a belief in partnership, innovation, and excellence. Our “Cultural Value Drivers” are well-known and clearly communicated within the organization: Open, Visible, Motivated, Empowered, Opportunity-Filled, Flexible & Collaborative.
What we offer
- The chance to work with impact. Here, you’re empowered to bring your biggest thinking to help our company and clients improve everyday life.
- Ownership over your career. Stay at the top of your game through our award-winning learning and development ecosystem. And when your ambitions change or we offer new opportunities, we help you pivot by providing reskilling, on-the-job learning and guidance to find new roles that might be a better fit.
- The opportunity to thrive on a high caliber team with heart. We celebrate each other’s experiences and perspectives and promote a sense of belonging through our affinity groups and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
- A comprehensive total rewards package, including a competitive salary and a pension plan with matching contributions.
- Flexible health and financial benefits to support you and your eligible dependents—from day one.
- True work-life balance. Be at your best through paid time off, flexible work arrangements, volunteering opportunities, social events, and so much more.
About us
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, building the bridge between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, realize tangible returns and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant.
Other employment-related information
Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial or local laws.
If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email [email protected] with your request and contact information.
Language requirements vary depending on roles, but we ask that all candidates have basic English proficiency for company-wide communications purposes. For roles based in Quebec, professional English proficiency is required, as you’ll deliver services to and collaborate with stakeholders outside the province who may not speak French.
