top of page
Arnav, Sr. Manager - Financial Alliances & Strategy at LiquiLoans (FinTech Startup): Advize Career Interview
A career progression from statutory audit at a Big Four firm to mergers and acquisitions at a boutique investment bank, culminating in a senior management role at a FinTech startup, reveals a dynamic journey in the financial services industry.
The interviewee's path highlights the value of versatile skills, from foundational accounting and business process understanding to sector-specific knowledge and strong interpersonal abilities.
A strong work ethic, cultivated through rigorous academic pursuits and professional exams, played a crucial role.
The experience underscores the importance of building professional relationships and navigating diverse workplace dynamics, while emphasizing that entry-level roles in investment banking, consulting, or accounting firms provide a strong foundation for future advancement in strategy and business development within FinTech.
The interviewee’s experience further emphasizes the rewards and challenges of building from the ground up in a fast-paced startup environment, with opportunities to learn and adapt in a constantly evolving industry.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Arnav Sutaria
Sr. Manager - Financial Alliances & Strategy
LiquiLoans (FinTech Startup)
University of Mumbai, 2018
None, professional certification - Chartered Accountant (India)
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Accounting
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Strategic Management and Executive
International Student
Watch all of this Advizer's videos below
Career Path Senior Financial Strategy Manager at LiquiLoans FinTech
Arnav's career progressed from statutory audit at a Big Four firm ("EY, Deloitte, KPMG, PWC") to financial sector M&A at a boutique investment bank, culminating in two and a half years of strategy and business development at the Indian FinTech startup LiquiLoans, before pursuing an MBA at UCLA Anderson; this path reflects a clear interest in finance and a growing focus on the dynamic FinTech sector, as exemplified by their experience in "online lending" and developing new products and market strategies.
A Day in the Life of a Senior Manager Financial Alliances and Strategy at LiquiLoans
Arnav's career progression began with statutory audit at a Big Four firm, providing "assurance to the users of financial statements," then transitioned to mergers and acquisitions at a boutique investment bank. This experience led to a two-and-a-half-year role in strategy and business development at a FinTech startup, LiquiLoans, focused on "online lending," before pursuing an MBA at UCLA Anderson.
Key Skills For An Internal Strategy Manager At LiquiLoans A FinTech Startup
Arnav, a Senior Manager at LiquiLoans, describes a day as an internal strategist as involving "cross-functional work" across departments, identifying and solving problems like automating manual processes to improve efficiency ("saved like 80% of the time"), and even implementing solutions. This differs from external consulting, offering "hands-on experience" and the satisfaction of seeing direct results within the company.
Skillsets For Senior Manager Financial Alliances And Strategy At LiquiLoans
Arnav's career progression highlights the value of a versatile skillset, starting with "auditing—a mother profession" providing foundational accounting and business process understanding, then transitioning to investment banking where sector-specific knowledge and "ability to deal with people" became crucial. Finally, the senior manager role emphasizes a holistic understanding of the business, combining financial acumen with the intellectual curiosity to constantly learn and adapt.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Senior Manager Financial Alliances And Strategy At LiquiLoans
Arnav's career progression, encompassing auditing, investment banking, and internal strategy at a FinTech startup, reveals a preference for structured roles initially, transitioning to a desire for responsibility and impactful contributions. The startup experience, in particular, allowed for rapid growth, "at the age of 24, 25, in charge of six or seven people," and the opportunity to "learn from some of the best guys in the industry," directly informing current work and future career goals.
Favorite Parts of Working in the FinTech Industry as a Senior Manager Financial Alliances and Strategy
Arnav's biggest challenge at LiquiLoans, a FinTech startup, was the lack of established systems and processes, unlike their previous roles in investment banking and auditing where "everything is very systematized." This required building "things from scratch," presenting both a significant challenge and the rewarding experience of learning to navigate uncertainty and build from the ground up in a fast-paced environment.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Financial Services Industry, According To A Senior Manager Financial Alliances And Strategy At LiquiLoans
Arnav's entire career has been in financial services, an industry they find "the lifeblood of the economy," because its health directly impacts overall economic performance, as seen in India's recent economic shifts. The understanding of financial services' metrics and balance sheets provides a strong foundation for understanding other sectors, making it a versatile and impactful career path.
What a FinTech Strategy Manager at LiquiLoans Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the FinTech Industry
Arnav, a senior manager at a FinTech startup, highlights a strong work ethic as the most crucial trait for success in financial services, describing a need to be willing to "work on a pitch deck on a Saturday night" or "build out this entire performer before" a crucial meeting. While acknowledging intense hours are typical, Arnav also points out alternative career paths within the industry, such as venture capital, offering a less demanding yet rewarding route.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Strategy Analysts
Arnav, a senior manager at LiquiLoans, unexpectedly transitioned from business development into a strategy role, learning on the job. The biggest surprise was the "chaotic" nature of the work and the significant resistance to change encountered when proposing new strategies, a challenge that requires strong interpersonal skills to overcome and something that a more thorough introduction to the role would have been helpful in understanding.
Significant Career Lesson From A Senior Manager Financial Alliances And Strategy At LiquiLoans
Arnav, a senior manager at a FinTech startup, advises against directly pursuing internal strategy roles fresh out of college, suggesting instead that entry-level positions at investment banks ("analyst position in investment banking"), large consulting firms ("analyst level positions at consulting firms"), or big four accounting firms ("staff slash accountant" or "audit assistant") provide better foundational experience. These roles offer internships during college and build the necessary skills and industry knowledge for future advancement into strategy.
College Experiences That Helped a Financial Strategist at LiquiLoans Succeed
Arnav, a senior manager with only five and a half years of experience, emphasizes the importance of cultivating strong professional relationships: "find the right people to help you," building a network of mentors both inside and outside of organizations, while carefully navigating office politics to avoid "burn[ing] bridges" and maintaining beneficial connections throughout their career.
How Identity Has Influenced A Senior Manager Financial Alliances And Strategy At LiquiLoans's Career
Arnav's undergraduate experience uniquely prepared them for a career in finance by combining a Bachelor of Commerce degree with rigorous chartered accountancy certification preparation. The intense study demanded by this professional exam instilled a strong work ethic, directly translating to success in "long hours" at EY starting at age 21 and ultimately contributing to their current senior management role at LiquiLoans.
Advizer Personal Links
bottom of page