Associate Director

Role Overview

We are seeking an accomplished Associate Director to lead the strategic development and expansion of our Wealth & Asset Management (WAM) consulting practice across the Middle East. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for building a high-performing WAM consulting team, driving business growth, and delivering transformative engagements for a diverse client base, including sovereign wealth funds, family offices, asset managers, private banks, and digital wealth platforms. As a trusted advisor to C-suite and board-level executives, you will play a key role in shaping the firm’s WAM strategy, originating new business opportunities, and leading the execution of complex consulting projects. Your leadership will be instrumental in establishing the firm as a premier provider of WAM advisory services in the GCC and broader MENA region.

Key Responsibilities

Practice Development & Business Growth

• Engagement Origination: Drive the development of new business opportunities across key WAM segments, including private wealth, institutional asset management, family offices, sovereign wealth funds, and digital wealth platforms. Leverage your network and the firm’s resources to identify and pursue high-value engagements.
• Pipeline Management: Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified opportunities, collaborating closely with the Partner group and leveraging institutional relationships across the GCC and MENA region to ensure sustained business growth.
• Thought Leadership: Develop and disseminate compelling thought leadership content, proposals, and point-of-view insights to position the firm as a leading authority in WAM consulting. Align these efforts with the firm’s broader marketing and business development strategies.
• Strategic Alliances: Cultivate and expand strategic partnerships within the WAM sector, including collaborations with key technology providers such as BlackRock Aladdin and State Street Alpha, in support of the firm’s bridge campaign initiatives.
• Go-to-Market Strategy: Contribute to the design and implementation of the firm’s go-to-market strategy for WAM in the Middle East, including the development of service lines, coverage models, and client prioritization frameworks.

Client Engagement & Delivery

• Project Leadership: Lead the delivery of complex WAM engagements spanning strategy, operating model optimization, digital transformation, and regulatory compliance. Ensure engagements are executed with excellence, delivering measurable value to clients.
• Client Relationship Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for key client accounts, fostering strong relationships, ensuring client satisfaction, and driving commercial success.
• Engagement Scoping & Economics: Structure and scope engagements to align with client needs and firm objectives, while managing project economics to ensure profitability and sustainability.
• Team Leadership: Oversee the work of consulting teams and analysts, providing guidance, mentorship, and performance feedback to drive high-quality deliverables and client outcomes.

People & Team Leadership

• Talent Development: Recruit, mentor, and retain top consulting talent within the WAM practice, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Knowledge Management: Contribute to the firm’s WAM knowledge base, internal capability development, and cross-practice collaboration to enhance service offerings and thought leadership.
• Team Culture: Champion an inclusive, high-performance team culture aligned with the firm’s core values, ensuring a supportive and dynamic work environment.

Thought Leadership & External Presence

• Industry Representation: Represent the firm at industry events, forums, and roundtables focused on wealth and asset management in the region, enhancing the firm’s visibility and reputation.
• Insights & Publications: Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to publish insights on regional WAM trends, regulatory developments, and market shifts, positioning the firm as a thought leader in the space.
• Market Profile: Elevate the firm’s profile as a leading voice in GCC wealth management transformation through strategic external engagements and high-impact content.

Experience & Qualifications

Required Experience

• Professional Background: 8–12 years of total professional experience, with a balanced mix of industry and consulting roles within wealth or asset management.
• Consulting Experience: Minimum 3–4 years in a management consulting environment, with expertise in strategy, financial services consulting (Big 4 or boutique WAM-focused firms), or a comparable setting.
• Industry Experience: Minimum 3–4 years in an industry role within a private bank, wealth management firm, asset manager, family office, or investment platform.
• Client Delivery & Origination: Proven track record of client-facing delivery, with a demonstrated ability to originate engagements and contribute to business development efforts.
• WAM Expertise: Deep knowledge of at least two of the following areas: private wealth management, institutional asset management, family office advisory, digital/wealth platforms, Islamic finance, or fund administration.
• Regional Knowledge: Experience working in or with clients across the GCC/MENA region, with a strong understanding of local regulatory frameworks, including ADGM, DIFC, SCA, CMA, and QFC.
• WAM Frameworks: Familiarity with WAM frameworks, processes, controls, and platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Practice Building: Experience leading or supporting practice-building or market-entry initiatives in the Middle East.
• Sovereign Wealth Funds: Prior exposure to advisory roles for sovereign wealth funds or Ultra-High-Net-Worth client segments.
• Technology & Fintech: Familiarity with key regional WAM technology platforms and the broader fintech landscape.
• Dual-Role Experience: Background in a dual-hat role (industry leadership + external advisory) or experience within a captive consulting unit of a financial institution.

Education & Credentials

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business administration, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree or professional certification (e.g., CFA, CAIA) is a plus.