Manager - Banking (Data Management & Governance)

Synpulse•Toronto, ON

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Manager within Synpulse's Banking Management Consulting team, this role is diverse and impactful, focusing on data platform and data architecture advisory and implementation for financial services clients. The position involves assessing, designing, and modernizing enterprise data architectures, including Data Lake and Data Lakehouse patterns, and advising on cloud-based data platforms like Databricks and Snowflake. Key responsibilities include applying data architecture principles, leading enterprise data modeling efforts (conceptual, logical, and physical), designing Master Data Management (MDM) solutions, and understanding core banking products and processes to translate them into data architecture requirements. The role requires leading consulting teams through the entire project lifecycle, collaborating with various teams to align decisions with business and regulatory needs, conducting hands-on data analysis with SQL, and supporting clients in developing Target Operating Models (TOMs) for data functions. Additionally, the Manager will drive stakeholder engagement, support strategic data platform investments, and contribute to the firm's growth by staying updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, AI, and analytics enablement. Knowledge sharing with colleagues and clients, and expanding Synpulse's capabilities in data and digital transformation are also key aspects of the role.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
8+ years of Financial Services Consulting experience, including significant exposure to data platform, data architecture, or enterprise data transformation initiatives.
Strong working understanding of modern data platforms, including Databricks and Snowflake (or comparable platforms), and how they support ingestion, curation, and consumption of enterprise data through layered architectures (e.g., bronze/silver/gold or equivalent).
Solid grounding in data architecture and design principles, including data lake vs. lakehouse tradeoffs, batch vs. real-time integration patterns, and designing for scalability, performance, and governance-by-design.
Hands-on or advisory experience with enterprise data modeling — conceptual, logical, and physical models — and can apply modeling patterns such as SCD Type 2 (full history) and SCD Type 3 (limited history) appropriately based on business need.
Experience designing or advising on Master Data Management (MDM) capabilities, including domain modeling, match/merge rules, survivorship logic, and stewardship workflows for approving overrides.
Comfortable performing data analysis and writing SQL queries to explore datasets, validate architecture and modeling decisions, and support recommendations with evidence rather than assumptions.
Successfully performed as a project manager and workstream lead across multiple complex transformation and change programs.
Strong experience in project delivery and program management within large, multi-year, cross-functional initiatives.
Led the design of target-state data architectures and operating models, with the ability to align business, data, and technology objectives.
Hands-on experience delivering at least one or more enterprise-scale data platform, architecture, or MDM transformation programs.
Proven track record of successfully managing and developing both onshore and offshore teams.
Highly analytical and structured in problem-solving approach, with the ability to quickly understand and navigate complex data and technology challenges.
Excellent presentation, facilitation, and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with senior client stakeholders and colleagues.
Demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset, strong team leadership capabilities, and a passion for developing people.
Willing to travel as client engagements and business needs require.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree and/or professional qualifications in data management, banking, technology, or business are considered an asset.
Experience supporting banking regulatory initiatives, risk data aggregation, BCBS 239, or regulatory reporting programs.
Banking, Wealth Management, Capital Markets, or Commercial Banking domain expertise.
Hands-on or advisory experience with Databricks, Snowflake, Azure Synapse, or comparable cloud data platforms.
Experience with MDM tooling such as Profisee, Informatica MDM, Reltio, or similar platforms.
Familiarity with data governance concepts and tools (e.g., Collibra, Microsoft Purview, Alation) as they intersect with platform and architecture design.
Experience supporting organizations in modernizing legacy data warehouses to cloud-based Lakehouse architectures.
Familiarity with enabling analytics and AI use cases through well-designed data platforms and models.

Responsibilities

Leading and delivering data platform and data architecture advisory and implementation initiatives for banking and financial services clients.
Assessing, designing, and modernizing enterprise data architectures, including Data Lake and Data Lakehouse patterns, and advising clients on platform choices across Databricks, Snowflake, and other cloud-based data platforms.
Applying sound data architecture and design principles — layered/medallion architectures, data zoning, ingestion patterns, and scalability and performance considerations — to client environments.
Leading enterprise data modeling efforts, including conceptual, logical, and physical data models for banking and wealth management domains (accounts, clients, advisors, products, transactions).
Applying data modeling techniques for tracking historical change, such as SCD Type 2 and Type 3, and guiding clients on when each pattern fits golden record, reporting, or analytical use cases.
Designing and advising on Master Data Management (MDM) solutions — domain design, match and merge logic, survivorship rules, and golden record strategy — for entities such as Account, Advisor, Client, and Product.
Understanding core banking products, processes, and operating models across retail banking, commercial banking, wealth management, and capital markets, and translating these into data architecture requirements.
Leading consulting teams through the entire project lifecycle, from current-state assessment and target architecture design through implementation and adoption.
Collaborating with business, technology, and data teams to align platform, architecture, and modeling decisions with business and regulatory needs.
Conducting hands-on data analysis and writing SQL queries to profile source systems, validate data models, and support architecture and design recommendations with evidence.
Supporting clients in developing Target Operating Models (TOMs) for data platform and architecture functions.
Driving stakeholder engagement and executive-level decision-making on strategic data platform investments.
Staying abreast of industry trends, emerging data platform technologies, AI and analytics enablement, and best practices in banking data architecture and management.
Actively sharing knowledge and insights with colleagues and clients.
Helping expand Synpulse's consulting capabilities in data and digital transformation.

Benefits

Comprehensive onboarding program
Continual and comprehensive learning and development through our Global Academy Program
Innovative team bonus scheme
Internal and external events to drive our DE&I mission “Free To Be Me”
Opportunities to transfer between practices and to our locations across the world
Hybrid working environment
Competitive salary
25 days annual leave plus public holidays
Contribution match for retirement account
Health, Life, Dental & Vision insurance coverage from day 1
Employee Assistance Program with 24/7 mental health support
Extensive Perks Program