Digant Patel is a senior IT professional consultant and entrepreneur based in New Jersey. An independent consultant since 2020, Patel utilizes his extensive, deep regulatory reporting experience with a unique software platform in finance to provide a comprehensive solution for complicated regulatory projects, demonstrating a strong aptitude for implementing and governing measures such as FINRA/ESMA. With more than two decades of experience in Financial Services, Patel aims to help clients build reporting platforms to comply with the latest FINRA, ESMA &SEC regulations. He commits to providing enhanced end-user expertise that facilitates the ease of access to product information and the justification of a quality price.
Patel is a top-performing leader with a record of successful governance, risk reduction, and timely delivery of projects. His tenure includes easily recognized financial institutions such as Chase, Citi, Barclays Capital, Deutsche Bank, and Lazard Asset Management. Through his service to these esteemed financial giants, Patel became known as a superb multitasker with strong business and IT acumen. In 2004, he became a Data Warehouse Architect for Chase. In this role, he managed the implementation of a Sales MIS Data Warehouse needed to improve the company’s business intelligence reporting.
He then spent more than six years at Citi, where he progressed rapidly and gained expertise in managing regulatory projects, such as OATS (Order Audit Trail System) and MSI 605/606. He implemented governance and control measures as part of a cross-departmental team. He also provided technical recommendations and architectural vision with appropriate focuses on performance, security, control, and longevity toward building long-term reporting solutions.
From 2010 to 2016, Patel served as Sr. Project Manager / Vice President at Barclays Investment Bank and managed multiple regulatory projects for FINRA Regulation, including Electronic Bluesheets, OATS (Order Audit Trail System), MSI 605/606, LOPR, ACT, RegNMS, Large trader, Surveillance & Supervisory reporting, CAT (Consolidated Audit Trail). Among many other essential responsibilities, he redefined the project management strategy of the financial institution. He also created and implemented an initiative to streamline workflows to meet market demands.
Among other esteemed financial institutions, Digant Patel also completed a stint at Deutsche Bank, where he served as a Sr. Project Manager / Sr. Vice President from 2016 to 2019 and gained expertise in managing multiple regulatory projects for MiFID (European) FIN Regulation, such as Trade & Transaction Reporting, Article 59 Client Reporting, Best Executions – RTS 27 & RTS 28, Cost & Charges, FIRD (Financial Reference Data) Reporting. In this role, he facilitated Sprint planning, estimation, and demos, among many other accomplishments.
As a Sr. Product Owner, Sr. Scrum Master, and Vice President at Lazard Asset Management, Digant Patel continued his legacy as one of New York’s top Agile development experts.
Before his meteoric rise to leadership and management roles, Patel completed his education at respected universities. He received a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, and obtained his Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Bhavnagar University in Gujarat, India.
Patel currently resides with his two children in New Jersey. Patel also loves to give back to the community by volunteering and advocating for various nonprofits in his free time, showcasing his balance between work and personal life.
How did you get started in this business?
I had a unique background with a record of successful governance, risk reduction, and timely delivery of projects and a strong desire to work for myself. I loved the diversity of experience in recognized financial institutions such as Chase, Citi, Barclays Capital, Deutsche Bank, and Lazard Asset Management which helped me stay ahead of the field and perform above and beyond expectations.
In 2020, I decided to work by myself to help small and medium financial institutions to comply with the latest FINRA, ESMA & SEC regulations. I help enterprises expand their businesses by optimizing their regulatory reporting platform, implementing governance and controls, and selecting the appropriate technology and tools to seamlessly transition to new reporting requirements.
How do you make money?
I have been doing a great consulting job for my clients. I have been providing the reporting solution for very critical regulatory requirements for FINRA & ESMA regulations. I continually seek ways to connect with customers. The main goal behind each of their services is to satisfy the customers’ needs and ensure they walk away happy. To meet this goal, various customer communication protocols have been set up. These help create a loop of consistent feedback that makes it easier to meet these needs without fail. I also have received some incredible referrals based on the results I have helped my clients to achieve.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
Most of my small and medium financial institutions have been profitable every year that I have been in the industry. I have been providing the most cost-effective custom regulatory reporting solution with enhanced governance and control to comply with the latest FINRA, ESMA & SEC regulations that help my clients save money and make them profitable by producing the reports on time with the best quality to meet regulatory reporting timelines. I make money when my clients make money.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
I have never really been doubtful that things would work out. I’ve always been pretty confident about my ability to deliver results quickly and effectively, and on a consistent basis.
How did you get your first customer?
All consulting work comes down to dynamic leadership, scalable reporting framework with successful governance, and risk reduction strategy implementation. A colleague of mine worked with me for a few years, but I knew that with my expertise, along with my future goals, I would eventually go out on my own. They referred me to a small firm in need of a special custom reporting solution and I have been fortunate to get hired by them. From there, I started getting many new projects.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
My personal network is really helpful in generating new business. Outside of my personal network, I have been targeting social media marketing for my consulting business.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
The toughest decision I made recently was to work with a client requesting for a new reporting solution that was not introduced in our existing framework. I worked so hard and completed a thorough analysis, and set projections to see if we could do it with available resources. I made a wise decision to work with a client as it would open several opportunities in the future. I am a forward-thinker, and the decision I made to develop a generic solution with this client helped bring new clients to the business.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
My unique experience with large financial services gave me a very strong foundation as it helped me to learn and explore customer, regulator, and auditor needs in the cash equity domain. I got ample opportunities to work on different reporting requirements for FINRA & ESMA regulations and work towards implementing projects to meet critical business and IT objectives. I always devise my strategies to align multiple disciplines, coordinating efforts between business groups and driving complex system integration for robust, high-quality programs that solve problems and provide business results.
I do strongly feel that my dynamic, adaptable, self-motivated, top-performing skills are the key attributes to success and helping assist small and medium financial institutions to comply with the latest FINRA, ESMA & SEC regulations.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
No matter what age you are, being appreciated by your clients for what you do, how you communicate, what services you provide, or how quickly you act is one of the most satisfying moments that I remember for a long time.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
I am most excited about the products or services that I provide to my clients. Rather than running for new clients, my focus will always remain on providing exceptional services to my existing clients. I would strongly believe that they are the future of my business.
What business books have inspired you?
I can’t think of any really inspirational business-themed books at the moment.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
The only person you have a right to judge is yourself. So, stop judging others and start minding your own work.
Are you willing to be a mentor? If so, how should someone contact you?
Of course! I am always happy to help and passionate about mentoring fellow professionals and energetic minds who are seeking guidance. Feel free to visit my website and contact me.