Financial Director

Lead Financial Risk Transformation for Leading Institutions in the Middle East

We are seeking a seasoned and visionary Financial Director to join a premier consulting practice based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This pivotal role is designed for a senior financial risk professional with a distinguished background in Big 4 advisory or Tier 1 management consulting, who has a proven track record of advising banks and financial institutions on critical areas such as Asset & Liability Management (ALM), Liquidity Risk, Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book (IRRBB), Treasury Risk, ICAAP, and Regulatory Transformation.

As a Financial Director, you will assume a leadership position at the intersection of strategic advisory, business development, and practice growth. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape financial risk strategies for some of the region’s most prominent banking and financial services institutions while expanding your influence as a thought leader in the industry. You will be responsible for driving high-impact transformation programmes, cultivating executive relationships, and leading a high-performing advisory team to deliver exceptional value to clients.

Why This Role Is a Game-Changer

This is more than a job—it is a career-defining opportunity to make a lasting impact. As a Financial Director, you will:

• Shape Financial Risk Strategies: Lead large-scale transformation programmes that redefine how financial institutions manage risk, liquidity, and regulatory compliance.
• Build Executive Relationships: Develop and nurture trusted partnerships with C-suite executives, including Chief Risk Officers (CROs), Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), Treasurers, and Risk Committees, positioning yourself as a trusted advisor.
• Drive Business Growth: Spearhead business development initiatives to expand the firm’s presence in the Financial Services sector, identifying and capitalising on emerging opportunities.
• Lead Thought Leadership: Contribute to the firm’s reputation as a market leader by developing cutting-edge insights, whitepapers, and industry presentations on financial risk and regulatory trends.
• Mentor and Develop Talent: Guide and inspire consulting teams across risk, treasury, and regulatory disciplines, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.
• Navigate Complex Challenges: Address intricate regulatory, liquidity, capital, and balance sheet optimisation challenges, providing strategic solutions that drive tangible business outcomes.
• Influence Regulatory Dialogue: Engage with regulators and industry bodies to shape the future of financial risk management in the GCC and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

The Financial Director will oversee a broad portfolio of responsibilities, including:

Practice Leadership & Growth

• Lead and expand the Financial Risk Advisory practice across Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region.
• Drive sales, account management, and client acquisition strategies to secure high-value engagements.
• Cultivate strategic relationships with banking executives, risk leaders, and regulatory stakeholders to identify and convert advisory opportunities.
• Stay ahead of emerging regulatory developments and translate them into actionable advisory services for clients.
• Build and mentor high-performing consulting teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.

Advisory & Delivery Leadership

The Financial Director will lead complex advisory engagements across the following domains:

Liquidity Risk & ILAAP

• Design and enhance Liquidity Risk Management frameworks, including ILAAP development and optimisation.
• Develop robust Liquidity Risk Appetite frameworks tailored to client-specific needs.
• Optimise Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) and Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) to ensure compliance and efficiency.
• Conduct comprehensive liquidity stress testing and develop Contingency Funding Plans (CFPs).
• Perform independent model validation to ensure accuracy and robustness of risk models.

IRRBB & Treasury Risk

• Design and enhance IRRBB frameworks, including Economic Value of Equity (EVE) and Net Interest Income (NII) modelling.
• Develop behavioural modelling for deposits and loan prepayments to improve risk assessment accuracy.
• Optimise structural balance sheet management strategies to align with business objectives and risk appetite.
• Establish and refine Treasury and Funds Transfer Pricing (FTP) frameworks to enhance profitability and risk transparency.
• Conduct IRRBB stress testing and scenario analysis to evaluate resilience under adverse conditions.

Capital & Regulatory Risk

• Lead ICAAP and Pillar 2 capital assessments to ensure regulatory compliance and strategic capital optimisation.
• Develop and enhance Recovery & Resolution Planning frameworks to prepare institutions for potential crises.
• Optimise capital adequacy strategies to balance regulatory requirements with business growth objectives.
• Design and implement robust regulatory risk management frameworks to mitigate compliance risks.
• Oversee risk governance structures and board reporting to ensure transparency and accountability.

Candidate Profile: What We’re Looking For

We are seeking a dynamic and results-driven Financial Director with the following qualifications and experience:

Essential Background

• Proven experience in a Big 4 Advisory practice (PwC, EY, Deloitte, KPMG) or a Tier 1 Management Consulting firm.
• Background in Specialist Financial Services Consulting firms is highly desirable.
• Current or prior experience at the Director, Associate Partner, Senior Manager, Executive Director, or Principal level.

Professional Experience

• 12+ years of progressive professional experience in financial risk advisory, consulting, or banking.
• Extensive experience advising banks and financial institutions on ALM, Liquidity Risk, IRRBB, Treasury Risk, or Regulatory Advisory.
• Strong commercial acumen and a proven ability to drive business development and revenue growth.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing teams and complex programmes with a focus on delivery excellence.
• Exceptional executive stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and engage at the highest levels.
• Experience operating within GCC banking markets is advantageous but not mandatory.

Education & Qualifications

• MBA from a leading business school or a degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related quantitative discipline.
• Professional qualifications such as ACA, CA, CFA, FRM, or equivalent are highly valued.

The Financial Director role is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned professional to lead transformative change, drive strategic growth, and leave a lasting impact on the financial services industry in the Middle East and beyond.