Karan Kumar Phulwani — Associate Consultant

As a Strategy Consultant and Chartered Accountant, I thrive at the intersection of finance, technology, and transformation. Over the past 7.5+ years, I’ve partnered with banks and financial institutions across MENA, UAE, and India—helping them simplify the complex, navigate digital disruption, and unlock measurable value. Currently at Cedar Management Consulting, I lead large-scale digital transformation initiatives—be it reimagining enterprise architecture for a Jordan-based bank (resulting in $2.2M IT OPEX savings) or overseeing core banking modernization in Bahrain with zero downtime across 6+ tracks. My focus is clear: sharp governance, stakeholder alignment, and making strategy stick. Previously at EY, I worked on the ground with global and domestic clients to unlock over $16M in financial impact—from securing policy-linked incentives for a US bank’s India arm to enabling tax savings through automation and compliance transformation in pharma and FMCG. That’s where I discovered the power of cross-functional execution and built my foundation in process reengineering and regulatory strategy. In between, my stint with BrightBrain Marketing offered a unique lens into digital consumer behavior. I supported revenue growth through B2B market intelligence and streamlined compliance workflows—adding agility to both operations and client onboarding. What sets me apart is a deep financial core blended with digital curiosity. Whether it’s designing AI/ML roadmaps or crafting strategic proposals that generate multi-million-dollar pipelines, I bring structured thinking, stakeholder influence, and executional rigor to every engagement. Always keen to explore the next big transformation story—across borders, sectors, and systems. 📩 Let’s connect if you're navigating change and looking to turn strategy into impact.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Fintech and Tax Advisory expert with a strong focus on digital transformation.

Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Experience: 7 yrs 2 mos

Skills

Digital Transformation
Program Governance
Business Strategy
Business Analysis
Tax Advisory

Career Highlights

Led digital transformation initiatives saving millions.
Secured significant financial incentives for major clients.
Expert in cross-functional execution and regulatory strategy.

Work Experience

Systems Limited - Middle East & Africa (Techvista)

Managing Consultant (7 mos)

Cedar Management Consulting International

Senior Consultant (11 mos)

Consultant (1 yr)

Bright Brain

Business Analyst (11 mos)

EY

Senior Consultant (1 yr 3 mos)

Consultant (1 yr 7 mos)

Bakertilly DHC

Officer Taxation - IDT (11 mos)

Education

Global MBA at SP Jain School of Global Management - Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore & Sydney

at The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

CS Executive at The Institute of Company Secretaries of India

B.COM at Vikram University

Karan Kumar Phulwani

Associate Consultant

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India7 yrs 2 mos experience

AI EnabledAI ML Practitioner

Key Highlights

Led digital transformation initiatives saving millions.
Secured significant financial incentives for major clients.
Expert in cross-functional execution and regulatory strategy.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Fintech and Tax Advisory expert with a strong focus on digital transformation.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Digital TransformationProgram GovernanceBusiness StrategyBusiness AnalysisTax Advisory

Other Skills

AI/ML RoadmapAnalytical SkillsArtificial Intelligence (AI)Attention to DetailAutomationBenchmarkingBusiness ConsultingBusiness InsightsBusiness PlanningBusiness Process ImprovementBusiness TransformationCampaign Performance AnalysisClient RelationsCommunicationCompliance Workflows

About

Experience

7 yrs 2 mos

Total Experience

1 yr 7 mos

Average Tenure

7 mos

Current Experience

Systems limited - middle east & africa (techvista)

Managing Consultant

Sep 2025 – Present · 7 mos · India · Remote

Cedar management consulting international

2 roles

Senior Consultant

Promoted

Jul 2024 – Jun 2025 · 11 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

● Directed the end-to-end Program Governance for a Core Banking Transformation at a leading Digital Bank in Bahrain, managing PMO controls, risk mitigation, data migration, and functional testing across 6+ tracks—achieved zero downtime while aligning 15+ stakeholders including GCEO, GCOO, and the Steering Committee.
● Redesigned the Enterprise Architecture strategy for a Jordan-based bank, evaluating 30+ systems and crafting 15 Decision Papers; delivered a cost-optimized Target State Model and secured $2.2M in annual IT OPEX savings
● Formulated a go-to-market strategy and competitive intelligence framework for a Small Finance Bank in India, driving 20% improvement in transaction banking uptake and enhancing liquidity management efficiency through data-led insights.
● Advised on digital product innovation and AI/ML roadmap for a Singapore-based bank; improved customer NPS by 18% by optimizing digital experience flows and competitive positioning in the SME banking segment.
● Generated $1.5M in potential revenue pipeline by developing and presenting 5+ strategic proposals, leveraging stakeholder relationships to expand consulting footprint across BFSI clients in GCC and South Asia.

Digital TransformationProgram GovernanceCore Banking TransformationEnterprise ArchitectureGo-to-Market StrategyAI/ML Roadmap+1

Consultant

Jun 2023 – Jun 2024 · 1 yr · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Bright brain

Business Analyst

Apr 2021 – Mar 2022 · 11 mos · Pune, Maharashtra, India

● Enabled $200K in top-line growth by conducting customer behavior analysis and market segmentation to support acquisition of 6 high-value B2B clients across Real Estate and Hospitality.
● Collaborated with compliance experts to automate tax reporting workflows, improving turnaround time by 80% and ensuring timely statutory submissions across 3 fiscal periods.

Market IntelligenceCustomer Behavior AnalysisCompliance WorkflowsBusiness Analysis

Ey

2 roles

Senior Consultant

Promoted

Sep 2019 – Dec 2020 · 1 yr 3 mos · Hyderabad, Telangana, India

● Secured $8M in policy-linked financial incentives for a US bank’s Indian subsidiary by restructuring import/export documentation and aligning processes with Foreign Trade Policy regulations.
● Unlocked $4.5M in input tax credit for a publicly listed Pharma client by redesigning tax claim workflows and automating reconciliation procedures.
● Established an STPI unit in India for a US-based tech MNC, reducing tax exposure and yielding $1.5M in regulatory savings.
● Delivered $1.7M in annual tax optimization by leading process reengineering and financial due diligence for a mid-cap pharma company during a strategic acquisition.
● Implemented RPA tools to automate tax compliance workflows for a pharma major, reducing manual effort by 70% and enhancing cross-functional visibility.
● Oversaw indirect tax compliance for 60+ GST registrations spanning FMCG, Pharma, and Services sectors, managing tax liabilities for over $1.5B in turnover.

Financial IncentivesTax OptimizationProcess ReengineeringRPA ToolsTax Advisory

Consultant

Feb 2018 – Sep 2019 · 1 yr 7 mos · Hyderabad, Telangana, India

1. Assisted in setting up of a Software Technology Park unit for an ITeS client in Hyderabad, India.
2. Led GST compliance for Healthcare and Pharmaceutical clients with approximately 60+ GST registrations in India.
3. Conducted training sessions for an audience of 50+ client staff at the time of E-invoicing and E-waybill implementation under GST in India

Bakertilly dhc

Officer Taxation - IDT

Feb 2017 – Jan 2018 · 11 mos · Kolkata Area, India

● Rolled out GST implementation across 25+ sites for clients in FMCG and Cement, achieving 100% statutory compliance
● Defended a listed cement manufacturer in a high-stakes tax litigation, leading to a favorable ruling and $4M recovery in disputed credits—minimizing long-term liabilities.