The 2018 Best Small Firms to Work For: Citisoft

Consulting Service Lines:  IT, Operations

Citisoft first appeared on the Best Small Firms to Work For list back in 2013. Three years later, the firm was back and ranked No. 13. This year, Citisoft has risen all the way up to the No. 4 ranking, its highest ever.

"We're excited to be on Consulting's list of Best Small Firms to Work For in 2018—an honor we're proud to achieve for the third time this year," says Paul Migliore, CEO of Citisoft. "The Best Small Firms recognition is particularly special to us because it is based on the feedback from our own employees."

Migliore says Citisoft has one of the most experienced consulting teams with an average of 18 years spent in technology or operations for investment management firms. "Because we employ the best talent in the business, it's important that our consultants love working here, especially when so many other firms are vying for great talent," he says. "Making this list is an affirmation of the incredible company we've built, the colleagues we often call friends, and the industry-leading programs that we've brought to fruition for our clients."

Morale at Citisoft has always been high because it's a positive, collaborative workplace, Migliore says. Though every client and project come with unique requirements, the firm has implemented a structure that helps consultants navigate challenges and come up with creative solutions by leveraging support from experts throughout the firm. "Building a team-oriented consulting staff that has complementary skills has been the bedrock of this environment," he says. "I think that a sense of teamwork and comfort with the expertise of our colleagues has helped us grow, retain talent, and foster the relationships we've built with our clients—all of which contribute to Citisoft's high morale."

Migliore says he believes the industry is at a tipping point right now. "Digital transformation is poised to impact so much of what we do but by-and-large, our clients are still operating on an aging infrastructure," he says. "We absolutely want our clients to be able to harness new technologies, and I'd say that I'm excited about what's on the horizon, but in the near term, we're focused on helping clients get their data house in order."

One of the things Citisoft is most excited about this year is expanding its global footprint, he says. The firm has committed to offering a full complement of consulting capabilities in North America, above and beyond the U.S. "We're excited to say that this commitment is reflected in the growth of our client base and consulting team in Canada," he says. "This fall we opened our first Canadian office in Toronto, which is a huge milestone in the process of offering our services to more Canadian clients."

What is unique about your firm? What sets it apart? 

Migliore: "From a client standpoint, there are four pillars that set us apart: domain expertise, depth of experience, industry relationships, and breadth of services. We're dedicated to servicing the investment management industry exclusively with the industry's foremost technology and operations experts. This is the model we were built on and the one that has brought success to countless clients over our 30+ year history. What's evolved over the years is the breadth of services we offer—we've expanded from offering delivery of specific front, middle, and back office projects to providing strategic direction and execution of transformation programs that touch every area of the asset management lifecycle."