Job Description

Our Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, were helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Title and Summary
Senior Managing Consultant Strategy & Transformation AI Strategy (Financial Services)
Services within Mastercard is responsible for acquiring, engaging, and retaining customers by managing fraud and risk, enhancing cybersecurity, and improving the digital payments experience. We provide value-added services and leverage expertise, data-driven insights, and execution. Our Advisors & Consulting Services team combines traditional management consulting with Mastercards rich data assets, proprietary platforms, and technologies to provide clients with powerful strategic insights and recommendations. Our teams work with a diverse global customer base across industries, from banking and payments to retail and restaurants.
The Advisors & Consulting Services group has five specializations: Strategy & Transformation, Performance Analytics, Business Experimentation, Marketing, and Program Management. The Senior Managing Consultant, AI Strategy will be a subject matter expert on AI within the Strategy & Transformation specialization.
Reporting to the Principal and working closely with the Mastercard AI team, you will spearhead AI-driven consulting engagements for clientsxe2x80x94especially card issuers and other financial services organizations. You will lead teams to develop long-term strategies to build and implement AI solutions that transform how clients approach analytics, automation, and value generation. In this role, you will:

• Shape and deliver AI strategies that address complex business challenges for payments-centric companies.
• Advance the firms AI capabilities through consistent thought leadership, external outreach, and the development of new service offerings.
• Mentor and grow junior colleagues, fostering a collaborative team culture around innovative AI methodologies.
• We are looking for passionate and talented professionals, who share our vision for data-driven consulting, to join us and take a leading role in shaping the growth of our team.

Roles and Responsibilities
A Senior Managing Consultant focused on leading client engagements that are focused around AI Strategy, which may be consulting in nature and focused on Financial Services Institutions.
Client Impact

• Develop AI-Driven Strategies for Business Impact
• Identify high-impact opportunities for AI and analytics within client organizations, particularly in card issuing and payments.
• Quantify the full value potential of AI solutions, detailing the value levers, critical dependencies, and feasibility pathways to maximize ROI.
• Architect end-to-end AI solutions by combining expertise in data engineering, solution design, and domain-specific knowledge (e.g., credit card issuing).
• Secure Alignment from executive stakeholders, translating ambitious AI visions into actionable plans with clear timelines, deliverables, and success metrics.
• Scale effective AI initiatives across multiple use cases, proactively addressing technical or organizational hurdles to ensure widespread adoption.
• Lead Rapid, Iterative AI Delivery
• Partner with AI and ML engineering leaders to oversee project roadmaps, ensuring iterative versioning, pilot rollouts, and timely stakeholder updates.
• Collaborate closely with business leaders to co-own solutions, gather continuous feedback, and adjust scopes for maximum business value.
• Drive a balanced approach to problem-solving, focusing on both technical feasibility and strategic payoffxe2x80x94avoiding unnecessary complexity.
• Augment client teams by providing change management and AI expertise, ensuring full realization of value and adoption of best practices.
• Expand Thought Leadership & External Network
• Publish and present on cutting-edge AI methods and industry insightsxe2x80x94e.g., through whitepapers, case studies, conference keynotes, and journal articles.
• Build an external network of AI experts, industry leaders, and academic partners to keep the firm at the forefront of emerging AI trends.
• Advise on best practices around AI ethics, governance, and regulatory considerations in financial services.
• Elevate the firms reputation by participating in relevant forums, client discussions, and industry events, driving new business opportunities.
• Innovate & Scale the AI Operating Model
• Develop new delivery frameworks and methodologies to enhance the speed and consistency of AI project execution.
• Codify best practices, creating reusable assets (templates, playbooks) that help internal teams replicate successful approaches.
• Mentor junior colleagues, providing technical guidance and career development support to foster a robust, forward-thinking AI community.
• Champion cross-functional collaboration, ensuring alignment among data science, engineering, and business teams to deliver holistic solutions

Team Collaboration & Culture

• Guide team through complex problem solving to business-focused solutions and recommendations that drive client value
• Motivate the project delivery team to produce superior quality deliverables, and create a collaborative and inclusive environment for all levels
• Own relationship with internal Mastercard stakeholders including Product and Business Development to scope projects, create relevant solutions for clients, and build the firm's intellectual capital
• Mentor and coach junior teammates inside and outside of direct engagement teams

Qualifications

• Experience leading data-driven strategies and delivering measurable outcomes (preferably in financial services, payments, or card issuing).
• GenAI Hands-on experience: Developed and deployed GenAI use cases with proven value from end to end. Developed tools with open source LLM models (e.g., Deepseek, Liama).
• Thought Leadership: Demonstrated history of publishing, speaking at conferences, or driving innovative AI solutions in a recognized industry setting.
• Communication: Excellent executive-level presentation skills and the ability to translate complex AI concepts for non-technical stakeholders.
• Agile Mindset: Familiarity with agile methodologies, iterative development, and modern technology project management practices.
• Financial Services Domain: Deep understanding of the payments ecosystem and key operational challenges relevant to card issuers.
• Leadership: Experience managing direct reports and/or cross-functional teams, with a track record of mentoring talent and building high-performing groups.
• Education: Bachelors degree (or higher) in computer science, engineering, or related fields; Masters degree or equivalent advanced study strongly preferred.
• Candidate must be willing to travel

#AI2
Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact reasonable_accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.
Corporate Security Responsibility
All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:
Abide by Mastercards security policies and practices;
Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercards guidelines.