Associate Director / Director – Insurance

Alert International; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consultancy firm is seeking a senior leader to oversee the development and performance of insurance portfolios in the GCC. You will manage key client relationships, guide strategic initiatives, and collaborate across teams to deliver impactful solutions. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in financial services, proven leadership experience, and excellent problem-solving skills to tackle complex client challenges. This role requires flexibility to travel within the region.

Qualifications

• 10–12+ years in financial services with a focus on Asset Management, Insurance, Banking, or Investments.
• Professional certifications such as CA, CFA, CPA, CIA, or MBA are advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of internal audit, risk methodologies, corporate governance, and regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain senior client and partner relationships across sectors.
• Oversee project delivery ensuring quality and adherence to timelines.
• Manage engagement economics, including billing and receivables.
• Lead multi-engagement deliverables and strengthen firm brand.

Skills

GCC insurance portfolio expertise

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Strong communication

Stakeholder management

Leadership of teams

Time management

Confidentiality

Collaborative across functions

Flexibility with travel

Education

Bachelor’s in Business, Finance, Risk, or related field

Professional certifications (CA, CFA, CPA, CIA, MBA)

10–12+ years in financial services

Job description

Description

In this senior leadership role, you will oversee the development, optimization, and performance of insurance portfolios across the GCC. You will manage key client relationships, guide strategic initiatives, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact solutions. This position requires a blend of technical expertise, commercial acumen, and team leadership experience.

Role & Responsibilities

• Build and maintain senior client and partner relationships across insurance, fintech, payments, and capital markets, driving satisfaction, retention, and growth.
• Oversee project delivery, ensuring quality, timelines, budgets, and measurable client impact.
• Manage engagement economics, billing, receivables, team utilization, and margin improvements.
• Lead multi-engagement deliverables, balancing brand integrity, service quality, and client expectations, enabling repeat and upsell opportunities.
• Strengthen firm brand via thought leadership and internal frameworks or solution accelerators.
• Manage strategic client portfolios, driving revenue growth through cross-sell/upsell and new client acquisition.
• Provide subject-matter expertise in financial services strategy, regulatory change, digital transformation, or risk.
• Champion cross-functional collaboration, lead multi-disciplinary teams, and ensure compliance with commercial/legal requirements.
• Solve complex client challenges with practical, structured problem-solving, delivering measurable outcomes (cost reduction, productivity, revenue uplift).
• Build and lead teams, review deliverables, and maintain finance, operations, and central team requirements.

Skills

Skills & Competencies

• GCC insurance portfolio expertise.
• Analytical, problem-solving & financial modeling.
• Strong communication & stakeholder management.
• Leadership of teams & multi-portfolio projects.
• Time management & confidentiality.
• Collaborative across functions.
• Flexible with travel.

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Business, Finance, Risk, or related field.
• Professional certifications (CA, CFA, CPA, CIA, MBA, etc.).
• 10–12+ years in financial services (Asset Mgmt, Insurance, Banking, Investments).
• Strong knowledge of internal audit, risk methodologies, corporate governance, and regulatory frameworks (SOX, COSO).
• Understanding of industry processes, emerging trends, technologies, and new business models.