Financial Services
Designing an AI Operating Model for Financial Services
A mid-size financial institution had funded a significant AI agenda but had no operating model capable of governing it at the pace the business required.
-40%
Approval cycle time
3 → 1
Overlapping initiatives consolidated
Ahead of schedule
Board narrative delivered
The Challenge
- AI use cases were being approved faster than the model risk function could review them
- Three business units were independently building overlapping AI capability
- No single executive owned AI outcomes across the institution
- The board had requested a credible AI governance narrative within one quarter
Our Approach
- Ran an AI operating model design sprint with model risk, technology, and business unit leadership
- Established a central AI Center of Excellence with a federated delivery model into business units
- Defined decision rights and a governance cadence integrated with existing model risk processes
- Coached the executive sponsor's board narrative ahead of the quarterly review
The Outcome
- Consolidated three overlapping AI initiatives into a single governed portfolio
- Cut AI use case approval time significantly while strengthening model risk oversight
- Gave the board a credible, evidence-based AI governance narrative ahead of schedule
- Created a Center of Excellence that now governs the institution's entire AI portfolio