Grant Thornton's Jack Kelly shares his experiences as a technology consultant and discusses the major trends that organizations are focusing on.

The dynamic nature of the technology sector makes it an exciting field, not just for technologists but also for those in various industries. Organizations often need technology consultants to help them navigate and transform their businesses in response to emerging tech trends.

Jack Kelly, a technology consultant at Grant Thornton, transitioned from the recruitment side through the company's graduate program. His current focus is on the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), set to take effect on January 17, 2025. "Our team assists financial institutions in ensuring compliance with DORA before the deadline," he told SiliconRepublic.com.

"In my role, I conduct gap assessments for clients, reviewing documents across different DORA domains such as ICT risk management, incident management, and cyber response to evaluate compliance. I also draft detailed reports highlighting gaps and suggesting remediation actions."

With the increasing demand for advisory services on AI, automation, and cybersecurity regulations like DORA, Kelly provides insights into how these trends are shaping his work.

The Role of Technology in Consulting:

Technology is crucial for daily operations and communication. Kelly's team uses digital collaboration tools for daily calls to discuss tasks and plan actions. They also conduct workshops with clients using technology to present progress, collaborate on solutions, and address issues in real-time.

Upskilling for Digital Transformation:

Transitioning from recruitment to consulting required Kelly to adapt his skills to meet the demands of digital transformation, particularly in the context of DORA. This involved learning about ICT risk management, incident management, and cyber response, as well as regulatory compliance and IT risk assessment. Developing strong analytical and problem-solving skills was essential for identifying and addressing gaps in clients' digital resilience.

Challenges in the Role:

One of the main challenges is ensuring that institutions can adapt their existing processes and systems to meet new requirements like DORA. This involves thorough assessments and remediation of compliance gaps. Integrating new technologies with existing frameworks and aligning all stakeholders is complex. Additionally, the evolving regulatory landscape requires staying ahead of changes and anticipating their impact on technology.

Resistance to change within institutions is another challenge. Implementing new technology and processes for DORA compliance often requires a cultural shift, which can be difficult to achieve.

Impactful Tech Trends in Consultancy:

As institutions prepare for DORA, they are adopting advanced ICT risk management tools and cybersecurity solutions, including AI-driven threat detection systems and automated incident response platforms. Automation of compliance processes is also becoming essential, enabling financial institutions to stay ahead of regulatory requirements.

Financial institutions should explore compliance automation tools that offer real-time monitoring, reporting, and alerts, and ensure these tools integrate seamlessly with their existing IT infrastructure.