Assistant Vice President, Banking Product Subject Matter Expert
Banking & Financial Services Consulting, NA
About Cognizant Consulting
Cognizant Consulting is a global community of more than 5,000 experts dedicated to helping clients reimagine their business. We blend industry depth with technology advisory capability to deliver innovative solutions for leading financial institutions.
About the Role
As a Banking Product Subject Matter Expert (Product SME) within Cognizant’s Banking & Financial Services (BFS) Consulting practice, you will guide major transformation initiatives requiring deep expertise across core banking, risk, compliance, and supporting ecosystem platforms.
Unlike a traditional Banking SME whose focus centers on banking operations and domain processes, this role requires deep, comparative knowledge of market leading banking products and platforms—including their strengths, weaknesses, overlaps, integration patterns, and complementary value.
The expectation is that the Banking Product SME will leverage platform-led insights to shape consulting opportunities and contribute to pipeline creation by
- developing POVs on platform strengths and modernization strategies
- leading platform focused discovery sessions
- advising on platform strategy, selection, modernization pathways, and vendor ecosystems while shaping solution architectures and supporting go-to-market efforts
In this Role, You Will:
Domain & Product Leadership - Provide actionable expertise across major core banking platforms, risk and compliance systems, digital banking suites, and associated banking technology ecosystems
- Evaluate and compare platform capabilities across multiple vendors, articulating where products overlap, compete, or complement each other
- Advise clients on product selection, integration strategy, and long-term platform roadmaps
Revenue & Growth Support
Go-to-Market & Sales Enablement - Partner with account teams to develop differentiated proposals based on product ecosystems
- Lead pursuits involving core modernization, risk/compliance transformation, and platform-based digital banking programs
- Influence vendor selection and partnership strategy based on objective product knowledge
Delivery Excellence - Guide transformation programs including
- Core banking replacement and consolidation
- Digital channel platform enablement
- Risk and compliance modernization (AML, KYC, Fraud, Transaction Monitoring)
- Workflow and case management modernization
- Maintain alignment between business requirements, product capabilities, and delivery execution
Solution Development - Develop reusable product comparison frameworks, capability heatmaps, integration models, and modernization accelerators
- Provide product-level insights into architectural patterns, extensibility models, and ecosystem integration opportunities
Operational Rigor - Provide oversight across business cases, product fit assessments, RFP/RFI processes, and governance models
- Ensure predictable performance and accuracy in scope definition during platform-driven engagements
Client Leadership - Build trusted relationships with technology, operations, and product executives
- Serve as a visible platform expert in transformation conversations and vendor strategy sessions
Talent & Organization - Mentor consulting teams on product architecture, vendor capabilities, and ecosystem integration
- Support recruitment of product specialists and functional architects
Work Model
This hybrid role requires up to 3 days per week at client or Cognizant locations depending on engagement needs. Travel may be required for client workshops, platform assessments, and executive engagements
What You Must Have to Be Considered
Deep Product & Platform Expertise - 15+ years of hands-on experience with major core banking, digital banking, risk, compliance, and payments platforms
- Expert-level understanding of vendor ecosystems such as FIS, Fiserv, Temenos, Finastra, Q2, nCino, Salesforce Financial Services Cloud, Actimize, SAS AML, and similar platforms
- Demonstrated ability to contrast features, capabilities, data models, integration patterns, and scalability across competing platforms
Technology & Transformation Leadership - Experience leading large-scale platform modernization, including core conversions, product migrations, and digital platform integration
Regulatory & Risk Expertise - Understanding of FFIEC, OCC, FDIC, and compliance expectations
Consulting & Executive Engagement - Strong ability to communicate complex product differences to both technical and executive stakeholders
- Proven success shaping platform-centric transformation strategies
AI / Automation Experience - Experience in applying AI, workflow automation, case management, and analytics to enhance platform capabilities
Education & Certifications - Bachelor’s required; MBA or advanced degree preferred
- PMP, CSM, or technology-specific certifications are a strong plus
These Will Help You Succeed - Experience developing reusable platform comparison IP
- Strong network within banking products and fintech vendor ecosystems
- Ability to challenge vendor narratives with objective, data-driven product evaluation
Success Criteria for this Role
Pipeline Generation & Market Impact - Contribution to platform-centric opportunities and solutioning
- Influence on multi-service transformation deals anchored in product modernization
Sales & Revenue Contribution - Positive impact on platform-aligned pursuits and win rates
Client Satisfaction & Account Growth - High satisfaction with product strategy assessments and platform recommendations
Delivery Quality & Engagement Outcomes - High-quality platform fit assessments, RFP recommendations, and modernization roadmaps
Practice & Talent Development - Development of consultants with meaningful platform fluency
- Contribution to reusable frameworks and product evaluation models
Pay Transparency
Salary and Other Compensation:
Applications will be accepted until July 2nd, 2026.
The annual salary for this position is between $176,400 - $280,000 depending on the experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program and stock awards, 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.
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.
