ROLE PROFILE
Associate Director
Wealth & Asset Management Consulting
Strategy | Growth | Delivery | Leadership
At a Glance
Role
Associate Director
Level
Associate Director
Function
Consulting
Reports To
Managing Director / Partner
Location
Middle East (UAE preferred; KSA, Qatar considered)
Travel
Regional, up to 40%
Experience
8–12 years
Industry Focus
Wealth & Asset Management
Role Purpose
Summary
Build and develop a high-performing Risk & Regulatory Affairs consulting capability focused on the Wealth & Asset Management sector across the Middle East. The Associate Director will lead complex client engagements across regulatory transformation, risk management, governance, compliance, conduct risk, operational resilience, and enterprise-wide risk frameworks for asset managers, private banks, wealth platforms, family offices, and sovereign wealth institutions.
The Associate Director will act as a trusted advisor to C-suite and board-level clients, driving engagement origination, managing delivery teams, and contributing to the strategic build-out of the WAM practice.
Key Responsibilities
Practice Development & Business Growth
- Drive origination of new engagements across WAM segments — private wealth, institutional asset management, family offices, sovereign wealth funds, and digital wealth platforms.
- Build and maintain a pipeline of qualified opportunities, working closely with the Partner group and leveraging personal and institutional networks across the GCC and broader MENA region.
- Develop compelling thought leadership, proposals, and point-of-view content to differentiate the firm's WAM proposition.
- Manage and grow strategic alliances in the WAM sector aligned to KPMG bridge campaign. This includes Blackrock Alladin and State Street Alpha.
- Support the development of the firm's go-to-market strategy for WAM in the Middle East, including coverage model, service lines, and target client prioritisation.
Client Engagement & Delivery
- Lead large-scale Risk & Regulatory Affairs engagements within the Wealth & Asset Management sector, including regulatory compliance reviews, operating model transformation, governance enhancement, and risk framework implementation.
- Advise boards, executive management, and risk committees on regulatory expectations, emerging risks, and industry-leading governance practices.
- Deliver projects across enterprise risk management, operational risk, compliance, conduct risk, third-party risk, model risk, investment governance, and financial crime compliance.
- Support clients in responding to regulatory changes issued by regional regulators including ADGM, DIFC, SCA, CMA, QCB, and other GCC regulatory authorities.
- Lead risk assessments, gap analyses, remediation programs, target operating model design, and regulatory transformation initiatives.
- Oversee quality assurance, client satisfaction, project economics, and delivery excellence across multiple engagements.
- Serve as the day-to-day client relationship owner for key accounts, ensuring satisfaction, quality, and commercial outcomes.
- Structure and scope engagements, manage project economics, and oversee teams of consultants and analysts.
People & Team Leadership
- Recruit, develop, and retain consulting talent within the WAM practice, acting as a mentor and performance coach.
- Actively contribute to the firm's WAM knowledge base, internal capability development, and cross-practice collaboration.
- Foster an inclusive, high-performance team culture aligned with the firm's values.
Thought Leadership & External Presence
- Represent the firm at industry events, forums, and roundtables relevant to wealth and asset management in the region.
- Publish insights on regional WAM trends, regulatory developments, and market shifts in collaboration with Marketing and Communications.
- Build the firm's profile as a leading voice in GCC wealth management transformation.
Experience Requirements
Essential
- 10+ years of experience within Risk & Regulatory Affairs, Financial Services Risk Consulting, Internal Audit, Compliance, or Enterprise Risk Management .
- Proven consulting experience gained within a Big 4 firm, global consultancy, or specialist risk advisory practice.
- Strong experience serving Wealth Management, Asset Management, Private Banking, Investment Management, Capital Markets, or Sovereign Wealth Fund clients.
- Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
- Risk and Control Self-Assessments (RCSA)
- Compliance Monitoring Programs
- Regulatory Change Management
- Experience interacting with regional regulators and working knowledge of ADGM, DIFC, SCA, CMA, QCB, CBB, and related regulatory frameworks.
- Demonstrated experience leading large-scale risk transformation and regulatory remediation programs.
Preferred / Advantageous
- Experience leading or supporting practice-building or market-entry initiatives in the region.
- Prior exposure to sovereign wealth fund advisory or Ultra-High-Net-Worth client segments.
- Familiarity with key regional WAM technology platforms and fintech landscape.
- Experience in a dual-hat role (industry leadership + external advisory) or within a captive consulting unit of a financial institution.
Core Competencies
Leadership & Commercial
Technical & Domain
▸ Client relationship management & influence
▸ WAM operating models & value chain
▸ Business development & pipeline ownership
▸ Investment products & portfolio management principles
▸ Engagement structuring & P&L management
▸ Regulatory & compliance landscape (MENA)
▸ Team leadership & talent development
▸ Digital transformation & wealthtech
▸ Executive communication & storytelling
▸ Stakeholder management at C-suite level
Qualifications & Credentials
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field — required.
- Master's degree (MBA, MSc Finance, MSc Wealth Management) from a recognised institution — strongly preferred.
- Familiarity with ADGM / DIFC regulatory frameworks and local licensing requirements — advantageous.
Languages & Personal Attributes
- English — fluent, essential (professional written and verbal communication at board level).
- Arabic — highly desirable; adds significant value in client relationship management and regional business development.
In addition to domain expertise, the successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Entrepreneurial mindset — comfortable with ambiguity, building from a base, and driving outcomes with limited infrastructure.
- Cultural intelligence — deep respect for and sensitivity to Gulf business culture, social norms, and relationship-driven commercial practices.
- Intellectual rigour — ability to navigate complex, multi-stakeholder problems with structured thinking and creative problem-solving.
- Executive presence — confidence and composure when engaging with senior client leadership, regulators, and industry peers.
- Resilience — thrives under pressure, manages competing priorities, and maintains high standards of quality and professionalism.
Career Progression & Opportunity
This role represents a significant opportunity for a senior consultant or experienced industry professional to shape the growth of a high-priority practice at a critical moment in the development of the Middle East's wealth management ecosystem.
The successful candidate will benefit from:
- Exposure to some of the most complex and high-profile mandates in the region, including sovereign-linked institutions and leading regional private banks.
- A competitive compensation package commensurate with the seniority of the role, including base salary, performance bonus, long-term incentive eligibility, and benefits aligned to regional norms.
- Access to the firm's global WAM network, knowledge capital, and proprietary frameworks and assets.
