Financial institutions practice

In today's uncertain economy, banks, insurers, and securities firms worldwide are expanding their search for a competitive edge. Leaders are focusing their attention on key areas that share the common theme of superior strategic operations capability.

A.T. Kearney takes a real-world approach to cost reduction and efficiency for overall performance improvement in strategic operations. We have extensive experience in migrating business processes offshore, using either outsourced or captive models. In shared services, ensuring consistent, streamlined processes deliver greater efficiency and customer satisfaction. Working in procurement, A.T. Kearney considers customised demand management, new categories of direct spend, and outsourcing the procurement function. The credit function is under increasing scrutiny, as is risk and capital management, given greater regulatory changes. Organic top line growth will also become an increasing priority as financial institutions emerge from cost cutting and restructuring.

In Australia, we have worked with many major Australian and global financial institutions. We have good relationships with many of the key private equity players. We support private equity at several key stages in the portfolio - though commercial due diligence at the acquisition stage, followed by portfolio profit improvement through key cost reduction and revenue growth initiatives. Our retail banking clients look to us for best practice in strategic sourcing, process and organisational effectiveness and IT technology transformation. Similarly, we work closely with several major insurance companies - addressing issues from corporate strategy through to outsourcing and customer service. Our financial services group therefore has an established base, from which we anticipate solid growth into the future.