EY-Parthenon Senior Consultant Software Strategy

at  EY

The EY-Parthenon team in the Netherlands is uniquely positioned in the intersection of strategy and technology, offering Commercial and Software Strategy services. As an integrated team, we are exposed to the cutting-edge tech market dynamics and engage in truly creative and thought-provoking projects. The Software Strategy Group (SSG) is the specialized software sector practice within EY-Parthenon, serving private equity investors, their portfolio companies and strategic buyers from due diligence through strategy and execution.
We are looking for colleagues to join us in Amsterdam as their home office. As a member of our vibrant and tech-savvy team, you will have a unique opportunity to develop your career through a broad scope of engagements, mentoring and formal learning.
The opportunity - What future are you building towards?
EY-Parthenon SSG provides investment and acquisition guidance (including commercial, product and technology diligence), strategy/value creation, and transaction advisory services to companies and investors in the software economy. We define “software economy” as companies that sell or license software, SaaS, or business services enabled by software – where software is a key competitive differentiator. SSG in the Netherlands is part of a global network with offices in the US, Japan, Australia, UK, Nordics and Germany. The Dutch team has completed hundreds of successful projects and provides a unique capability to help software investors make strategic decisions and complete successful transactions.

Strategy

• Product strategy and roadmap: EY-Parthenon teams analyze product roadmaps and provide recommendations for improving commercial positioning, packaging and pricing based on market and competitive research.
• Technology strategy and roadmap: To meet growth targets, we help companies identify and build a suitable technology strategy and architecture roadmap — sometimes building on internal efforts and sometimes on brand-new ideas and emerging technologies.
• Software development effectiveness: EY-Parthenon teams assess a company’s software development organization for capacity, talent and process. The team provides actionable recommendations to improve productivity, timeliness, predictability, quality and overall alignment with the corporate strategy.

Diligence

• Product and technology diligence: SSG provides market-leading product and technology diligence of software-driven companies. This entails an “inside-out” assessment of product capabilities, product roadmaps, software architecture, technical debt, and both the organization and processes associated with a software organization.
• Integrated diligence: EY-Parthenon teams combine product and technology diligence with leading commercial due diligence “outside-in” capabilities. We assess market segments and size, competition, purchasing dynamics and pricing & packaging to provide clients with a cohesive view of their target investment’s growth potential.

Senior Consultants are the backbone of our case teams. On any given day, you may conduct market research, interview industry participants, meet with technology company executives, conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis, or participate in client discussions.
You will rapidly build a mix of hard and soft skills during projects. You will gain experience creating data-backed analysis and insights, learn what makes software companies tick, hone your ability to craft a compelling narrative and present findings to senior executives, and manage and mentor others on your team. You will have a seat at the table with CEOs and investors, helping these clients make more informed decisions and gaining first-hand insights into how investors and management teams operate and make decisions.

Responsibilities – How can you make a lasting impact in a rapidly changing world?

• Support the development of business strategies using tools such as market analysis, customer research, macroeconomic forecasting and portfolio optimization.
• Review and manage deal documents to identify critical business issues and risks relating to a proposed transaction.
• Perform technical analysis and translate findings into financial implications, being able to present outcomes to a non-technical audience.
• Support workstreams and teams with planning, reporting and setting up meetings and working sessions.

Job requirements – Where do you start if you want to change the world?

• Outstanding academic performance, including coursework relevant to the position, preferably with quantitative courses in computer science or engineering.
• Demonstrated interest in the technology industry through start-up experience, internships, coursework, extracurricular activities, or research and writing on the subject.
• Ability to make detailed assessments of software products, markets, competitors and customers by using research tooling and market information.
• Excellent problem solving, project coordination, facilitation and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to multitask and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective organization and time management skills with ability to work under pressure and adhere to project deadlines.
• Proficient in the English language, including the ability to listen, understand, read and communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally, in a professional environment. Dutch language skills are not a prerequisite but are appreciated.
• Willingness and ability to travel, when necessary (approximately 0-20%).
• A passion for technology!

• Support the development of business strategies using tools such as market analysis, customer research, macroeconomic forecasting and portfolio optimization.
• Review and manage deal documents to identify critical business issues and risks relating to a proposed transaction.
• Perform technical analysis and translate findings into financial implications, being able to present outcomes to a non-technical audience.
• Support workstreams and teams with planning, reporting and setting up meetings and working sessions