The Consultant – (Contract Negotiation) supports banks and credit unions in negotiating complex technology contracts with vendors across core, digital, payments, and other financial services. This role combines analytical rigor, market insight, and professional negotiation skills to help clients achieve favorable financial, contractual, and operational outcomes. The Consultant works as part of a team led by senior negotiators, contributing analysis, preparation, and execution support across the full contract lifecycle while delivering exceptional client service.
Key Responsibilities
- Support client engagements focused on negotiating banking and financial services technology contracts, including core processing, digital banking, payments, and related solutions.
- Analyze vendor proposals, contracts, pricing schedules, and invoices to identify risks, cost drivers, and negotiation opportunities.
- Build and maintain detailed financial models to evaluate pricing, total cost of ownership, and contract economics.
- Conduct comparative pricing and contract term analyses using internal tools, market benchmarks, and proprietary data.
- Assist in developing negotiation strategies, positions, and supporting data aligned with client objectives.
- Participate in vendor and client meetings, supporting live negotiations and follow-up activities under senior consultant guidance.
- Draft and edit client-facing deliverables, including negotiation summaries, financial analyses, and contract markups.
- Coordinate project logistics such as meeting schedules, document management, and issue tracking.
- Manage assigned project tasks to ensure deliverables are completed on time and to quality standards.
- Provide responsive, high-quality client service by addressing questions, requests, and follow-up needs.
- Support senior consultants with research, analysis, and special projects as assigned.
Knowledge and Skills
- Understanding of banking and financial services technology solutions and vendor landscapes.
- Knowledge of commercial contract structures, pricing models, and key contractual terms and conditions.
- Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret complex financial and contractual data.
- Ability to develop financial models and cost comparisons using Excel or similar tools.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills are appropriate for client-facing consulting work.
- High emotional intelligence and professionalism when working with clients, vendors, and internal teams.
Problem Solving/Analysis
- Analyzes complex pricing, contractual, and business issues to identify negotiation leverage and risk mitigation strategies.
- Applies structured, data-driven approaches to support negotiation recommendations.
- Thinks critically and adapts quickly in fast-paced, high-stakes negotiation environments.
Supervisory Responsibility and Autonomy
- Supervisory Responsibility: None; may provide informal support or knowledge sharing with peers.
- Autonomy: Works independently on assigned analyses and tasks with oversight from senior negotiation leads; exercises judgment within established negotiation strategies.
Technical Skills
- Financial modeling and pricing analysis
- Contract review and comparison
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
- Data analysis and documentation
Soft Skills
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- High emotional intelligence and professionalism
- Client-service mindset and accountability
- Ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, Economics, Accounting, or a related field
- 2–4 years of experience in consulting, financial analysis, vendor management, or a related professional services role
- Experience working with complex data, financial models, or contracts
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in banking, credit unions, or financial services technology
- Prior exposure to B2B contract negotiation or vendor management
- MBA or other advanced degree a plus
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Cornerstone Advisors provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, our firm complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in business, Finance, Economics, Accounting, or a related field
- 2-4 years of experience in consulting, financial analysis, vendor management, or related professional services
- Experience working with complex data, financial models, or contracts
- Financial modeling and pricing analysis skills
- Contract review and comparison skills
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
- Data analysis and documentation skills
- Experience in banking, credit unions, or financial services technology
- Prior exposure to B2B contract negotiation or vendor management
- MBA or other advanced degree
What We Do
The Cornerstone Advisors team defines success by how well we improve the strategies, technologies and operations of our clients – and how well this translates into improved financial performance. Having worked with hundreds of national and international financial institutions, Cornerstone professionals have developed an expertise in how banks and credit unions operate and the best practices that enable high performers to succeed. We have also developed a comprehensive understanding of the technology providers that serve the financial services industry – what works, what doesn’t, and how an organization can best leverage its technology dollars. Formed by some of the financial industry’s most respected strategy and technology consultants, Cornerstone’s goal is to continue building an advisory firm that is legendary for the value we bring to financial services clients. Simply put, Cornerstone’s industry knowledge is unmatched, and our “no nonsense” approach to closing the gap between strategy and reality can help institutions improve their competitive position in the market. From strategy to execution – Cornerstone Advisors.
