Lead Strategy & Planning Consultant

Location: SAN FRANCISCO, CA

About this role

Wells Fargo is seeking a Lead Strategy & Planning Consultant for the Payments Strategy team within Payments and Deposits in Consumer Banking and Lending (CBL) to help shape and advance strategic priorities across debit, digital wallets, money movement, and emerging payments. CBL serves customers nationwide through digital channels, retail branches, ATMs, and customer service centers, with a focus on innovation, transformation, and customer-centered experiences.

In this role, you will analyze industry trends, competitive developments, emerging technologies, and customer opportunities to develop actionable recommendations and lead complex, cross-functional initiatives. You will collaborate with leaders across Product, Finance, Risk, Technology, Operations, and Strategy to evaluate payment economics, market opportunities, strategic investments, and partnerships. This is a compelling opportunity to translate complex insights into clear strategic plans, influence senior leadership decisions, and support the long-term growth and competitive position of Wells Fargo’s payments business.

Ideal candidate will have a curiosity about emerging trends in payments, digital commerce, embedded finance, artificial intelligence, and money movement.

Learn more about our career areas and business divisions at wellsfargojobs.com.

In this role, you will

• Lead the development and execution of Consumer Payments strategies across debit, digital wallets, emerging payments, money movement, and customer engagement priorities.
• Lead complex, large-scale strategic initiatives that support Consumer Banking and Lending priorities and have broad organizational impact.
• Identify growth opportunities, competitive threats, and payment industry shifts by evaluating consumer behavior, financial technology developments, and evolving payment ecosystems.
• Develop actionable recommendations using customer insights, market intelligence, financial analysis, and long-term industry trends.
• Apply advanced knowledge of payment network economics, card ecosystems, digital wallets, real-time payments, and emerging technologies to inform strategic direction.
• Analyze complex customer economics, payment profitability, market dynamics, and competitive positioning to support long-term planning and business decisions.
• Evaluate strategic investments, partnerships, acquisitions, and build-or-buy opportunities, recommending actions aligned with business objectives, customer needs, and risk considerations.
• Monitor developments across banks, financial technology companies, payment networks, technology platforms, and merchants; assess business implications and recommend responsive actions.
• Collaborate and consult with senior leaders across Product, Finance, Risk, Technology, Operations, and Strategy to align priorities, resolve complex issues, and advance key initiatives.
• Translate strategic priorities into business plans and lead cross-functional efforts that strengthen customer engagement, deepen customer relationships, and improve competitive positioning.
• Develop executive presentations, strategic narratives, and recommendations that clarify complex issues, influence senior leadership discussions, and support informed decision-making.
• Provide strategic guidance to less experienced team members and contribute to the successful delivery of broader initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of Strategy and Planning experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education
• 5 years of Corporate and Business as well as Payments Strategy
• 5 years of experience in consumer payments, including debit and credit cards, digital wallets, payment networks, merchant payments, and emerging payment solutions.
• 5 years of experience using customer, competitive, operational, and financial insights to develop strategic recommendations and guide investment decisions.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of the U.S. consumer payments, including debit, digital wallets, real-time payments, card networks, merchant payments, and financial technology business models
• Experience developing payments, consumer banking, or digital strategies within a financial services organization
• Advanced understanding of payments economics, customer profitability, interchange, network incentives, and evolving payments business models
• Experience leading large-scale, cross-functional initiatives from strategy development through execution and translating into measurable business outcomes
• Advanced strategic, analytical, and financial capabilities, including financial modeling, market assessment, competitive analysis, and business case development.
• Experience influencing senior leaders through data-driven insights, structured problem-solving, executive presentations, and compelling strategic narratives
• Experience evaluating strategic partnerships, investments, acquisitions, emerging technologies, and build or buy opportunities within the payments ecosystem
• Advanced capabilities in financial modeling, market assessment, competitive intelligence, and business case development
• Experience collaborating across Product, Technology, Operations, Risk, Finance, and Strategy within a complex, matrixed, and regulated environment.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, manage ambiguity, and influence outcomes without direct authority
• Proven experience within a leading management consulting firm, advising on complex business and strategic priorities.
• Proven experience within a leading financial services or fintech organization, with exposure to payments strategy, products, or industry trends.
• MBA or advanced degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Strategy, or a related

Job Expectations

• Hybrid work schedule
• Willingness to work on-site in accordance with current office requirements
• Ability to travel up to 5%

Posting Locations

333 Market Street, San Francisco, California

1755 Grant St, Concord, California

401 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina

Required locations listed above.

Salary Range

• San Francisco : $131,000-$224,000 annually
• Actual salary will depend on location, experience, and qualifications.
• Please note: Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

Pay Range

Reflected is the base pay range offered for this position. Pay may vary depending on factors including but not limited to demonstrated examples of prior performance, skills, experience, or work location. Employees may also be eligible for incentive opportunities.

$119,000.00 - $224,000.00

Benefits

Wells Fargo provides eligible employees with a comprehensive set of benefits, many of which are listed below. Visit Benefits - Wells Fargo Jobs for an overview of the following benefit plans and programs offered to employees.

Health benefits

401(k) Plan

• Paid time off
• Disability benefits
• Life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance
• Parental leave
• Critical caregiving leave
• Discounts and savings
• Commuter benefits
• Tuition reimbursement
• Scholarships for dependent children
• Adoption reimbursement

Posting End Date

30 Oct 2026

*Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

We Value Equal Opportunity

Wells Fargo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Employees support our focus on building strong customer relationships balanced with a strong risk mitigating and compliance-driven culture which firmly establishes those disciplines as critical to the success of our customers and company. They are accountable for execution of all applicable risk programs (Credit, Market, Financial Crimes, Operational, Regulatory Compliance), which includes effectively following and adhering to applicable Wells Fargo policies and procedures, appropriately fulfilling risk and compliance obligations, timely and effective escalation and remediation of issues, and making sound risk decisions.

There is emphasis on proactive monitoring, governance, risk identification and escalation, as well as making sound risk decisions commensurate with the business unit’s risk appetite and all risk and compliance program requirements.

Applicants with Disabilities

To request a medical accommodation during the application or interview process, visit Disability Inclusion at Wells Fargo.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

Wells Fargo maintains a drug free workplace. Please see our Drug and Alcohol Policy to learn more.

Wells Fargo Recruitment and Hiring Requirements

• a. Third-Party recordings are prohibited unless authorized by Wells Fargo.
• b. Wells Fargo requires you to directly represent your own experiences during the recruiting and hiring process.
• Additional Locations: CONCORD, CA, CHARLOTTE, NC