Senior Engagement Manager/Principal - Financial Services

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 Fin. Tech venture capital fund with a sharp lens on B2B Fin. Tech 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: Senior Engagement Manager/Principal (DUBAI) This is a full-time, on-site role based in Dubai. The Senior Engagement Manager/Principal is a senior delivery leader within Cedar's financial services consulting practice, focused on the end-to-end execution and management of consulting engagements.

This role owns the quality and pace of client work, leads internal consulting teams, and serves as a trusted point of contact for senior clients stakeholders. At this stage there is no business development expectation — the focus is entirely on outstanding delivery. The successful candidate will thrive in a high-performance, collaborative environment with a strong emphasis on rigor, structured problem-solving, and client impact.

Fluency in Arabic and English is a mandatory requirement for this role. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Engagement Delivery & Execution

• Own the end-to-end delivery of consulting engagements from initiation through to final client presentation and close-out.
• Structure work plans, manage project timelines, and proactively identify and resolve delivery risks.
• Take ownership of the quality of all client-facing materials — presentations, reports, frameworks, and data outputs.

1. Client Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary day-to-day client contact, building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across financial services organizations.
• Navigate complex client environments and ensure measurable value is delivered at every stage of the engagement.

1. Team Leadership & People Development

• Manage and mentor Engagement Managers, Consultants, and Interns on active projects.
• Ensure high standards of analytical rigor and professional output across all team members.
• Contribute to the professional development of junior colleagues through real-time coaching and feedback.

1. Problem Solving & Analytical Leadership

• Translate complex financial services challenges into clear problem statements and actionable recommendations.
• Lead structured problem-solving exercises and develop analytical frameworks that drive client outcomes.

1. Internal Contribution

• Collaborate with Directors and senior leadership on engagement strategy and approach.
• Contribute to internal knowledge development and methodology refinement as the practice grows.

QUALIFICATIONS

MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification preferred; strong undergraduate academic record required. 8–13 years of experience in management consulting, with a strong track record of delivering complex, multi-workstream projects within financial services. Fluency in Arabic and English is mandatory. Deep domain knowledge across at least one of: banking (retail, corporate, or investment), insurance, asset management, capital markets, or financial regulation.

Proven ability to manage client relationships at a senior level and navigate complex stakeholder environments. Strong people leadership skills — experienced in managing and developing consulting teams. Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to distill complex analysis into compelling, executive-ready narratives.

Highly structured thinker with sharp problem-solving instincts and the ability to operate independently. Experience working in or with organizations in the GCC or broader Middle East is an advantage. Willingness to travel regionally as required.