Wealth & Asset Management Consulting - Associate Director - ERS

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KPMG in the United Arab Emirates seeks an Associate Director for Wealth & Asset Management Consulting focused on Risk and Regulatory Affairs to lead regulatory transformation programs for asset managers and sovereign institutions in the Middle East. You will originate engagements, manage delivery teams, shape the WAM practice strategy, and guide governance, ERM, conduct, and regulatory change initiatives, with travel up to 40%. The ideal candidate has 10+ years in risk and regulatory advisory, Big 4 or global consulting, deep WAM domain knowledge, and proven transformation experience with regulators such as ADGM, DIFC or CMA. To apply, focus on pipeline development, delivery, partnerships, and regional language capability; highlight entrepreneurial leadership and Gulf cultural fluency.

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ROLE PROFILE

Associate Director

Wealth & Asset Management Consulting

Strategy | Growth | Delivery | Leadership

 

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

 

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. 

 

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.

 

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.
• Deep knowledge of: 
• Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
• Regulatory Compliance
• Governance Frameworks
• Operational Risk
• Conduct Risk
• Internal Controls
• Operational Resilience
• 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.

 

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  

 

• 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.

 

• 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.

 

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.