Consultant - Financial Services (Arabic Speaker)

COMPANY DESCRIPTION Cedar is a Forbes ranked global management consulting firm with a heritage closely associated with the founders of the Balanced Scorecard. Since 1985, Cedar's teams have been assisting clients in areas of strategy, process, strategic human capital, and technology, with a strong focus on the financial services sector.

Cedar's group unit, IBS Intelligence ( www.ibsintelligence.com ), based in the UK, has been the definitive source for research, news-analysis and advisory specialized in Financial Technology markets for over 30 years. Cedar Hill Capital is an independent FinTech venture capital fund with a sharp lens on B2B FinTech and Financial Services-infrastructure companies.

The Innovation Lab in Dubai and Mumbai brings banks and suppliers together with an opportunity to access the relevant Middle East and India market opportunity. ROLE DESCRIPTION: CONSULTANT (DUBAI) This is a full-time, on-site role based in Dubai. The Consultant (Arabic Speaker) will be an active contributor to client engagements from day one, working within project teams led by Engagement Managers and senior leadership.

The role involves applying structured thinking and rigorous analysis to help solve complex challenges for financial services clients across the Middle East. The successful candidate will be intellectually curious, highly organized, and committed to delivering high-quality work in a fast-paced consulting environment. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Research & Analysis

• Conduct primary and secondary research to support client engagements, including market analysis, bench marking, and data gathering.
• Build and manage analytical models, data sets, and quantitative analyses that underpin client recommendations.

1. Delivery & Output Quality

• Develop and contribute to client-facing presentations, reports, and deliverables, with guidance from senior team members.
• Structure and communicate findings clearly, translating data and analysis into insights and recommendations.
• Manage personal tasks and work stream components, meeting deadlines and flagging risks early.

1. Client Interaction

• Participate actively in client workshops, meetings, and interviews — preparing materials and capturing outputs.
• Represent Cedar professionally in all client-facing interactions.

1. Learning & Development

• Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a commitment to continuously developing knowledge of financial services sector.
• Contribute to the team's knowledge base through research and documentation of sector insights.
• Take on increasing responsibility over time with guidance from Engagement Managers and senior leadership.

QUALIFICATIONS

Strong academic record — degree in business, economics, finance, engineering, or a related discipline. MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification is an advantage but not required. 2–4 years of professional experience, ideally in management consulting, financial services, or a related analytical role. Fluency in Arabic and English is mandatory.

Excellent analytical and quantitative skills; comfortable working with data and building structured models. Clear and concise communicator — able to present ideas confidently in writing and verbally. Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Proactive and solutions-oriented, with a genuine interest in the financial services industry.

Prior exposure to or interest in the GCC or The middle East market is a plus. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word) is essential.