Consulting AI Architect - Banking and Financial Services

Dimension Data / NTT ltd; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 300,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

NTT DATA in the United Arab Emirates seeks an experienced Consulting AI Architect to shape AI strategy across the Middle East & Africa. You will advise leading financial institutions on AI transformations, engage senior CIOs and business leaders, and translate challenges into practical AI solutions.

Join a fast-moving, collaborative environment with cross-functional teams, governance and transformation roadmaps, and growth opportunities in AI across banking domains.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in consulting, professional services, or similar client-facing roles.
• Experience shaping or delivering AI, machine learning, analytics, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of banking and capital markets, including regulatory environments.
• Executive-level stakeholder engagement with business and technology leaders.
• Experience supporting pre-sales activities, solution design, and business cases.
• Familiarity with major cloud and AI platforms (Azure/AWS/GCP/OpenAI/Databricks/Snowflake).

Responsibilities

• Advise financial institutions on their AI transformation journeys.
• Engage executive stakeholders across retail, commercial, wealth, and capital markets.
• Shape AI strategies, governance frameworks, operating models, and roadmaps.
• Translate business challenges into practical AI solutions.
• Develop compelling business cases, proposals, proofs-of-concept, and executive presentations.
• Collaborate with sales, consulting, delivery, engineering, and partner ecosystems.

Skills

Consulting experience

Executive stakeholder engagement

AI Analytics

Pre-sales experience

Cloud platforms knowledge

Regulatory awareness

Operating models

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Azure

AWS

GCP

OpenAI

Anthropic

Databricks

Snowflake

Job description

Make an impact with NTT DATA Join a company that is pushing the boundaries of what is possible We are renowned for our technical excellence and leading innovations and for making a difference to our clients and society Our workplace embraces diversity and inclusion it s a place where you can grow belong and thrive Your day at NTT DATA As a Consulting AI Architect within NTT DATA s Global Banking and Financial Services AI Go-to-Market team you will help shape and grow our AI business across the Middle East and Africa Working closely with AI Architects Forward-Deployed Engineering teams Delivery Sales Industry Leaders and Partners you will advise leading financial institutions on their AI transformation journeys and help convert client priorities into successful engagements Your day will involve engaging executive stakeholders across retail banking commercial banking wealth management and capital markets organisations building trusted relationships with Chief Information Officers Chief Data and AI Officers Chief Risk Officers Chief Marketing Officers and senior business leaders You will facilitate executive discussions identify strategic opportunities and help clients define how AI can create measurable business value while operating within highly regulated environments You will lead workshops maturity assessments and discovery sessions helping clients define AI strategies governance frameworks operating models and transformation roadmaps Working alongside technical teams you will translate business challenges into practical AI solutions and support the development of compelling business cases proposals proof-of-concepts and executive presentations As a strategic advisor you will help clients navigate topics such as responsible AI model risk management data residency operational resilience and regulatory expectations You will connect AI opportunities to broader business objectives helping organisations improve customer experience operational efficiency risk outcomes and enterprise value You will collaborate with global and regional stakeholders to shape AI offerings develop go-to-market strategies and continually improve client-facing assets This is a fast-moving environment requiring curiosity creativity and continuous learning as new technologies regulatory frameworks and AI capabilities emerge

• Success in this role requires a consultative mindset strong executive presence and the ability to work effectively in ambiguous and evolving environments while supporting opportunities across the UAE Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region
• 10+ years of experience in consulting, professional services, strategy, transformation, AI, data, analytics or similar client-facing industry roles.
• Experience shaping or delivering AI, machine learning, generative AI, agentic AI, analytics or digital transformation initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of banking and capital markets, including industry operating models, governance structures and regulatory environments.
• Demonstrated experience working with financial institutions across the Middle East, particularly within the UAE and wider Gulf region.
• Established executive-level stakeholder engagement capabilities with both business and technology leaders.
• Experience supporting pre-sales activities, opportunity qualification, solution design, business case development and proposal creation.
• Strong understanding of enterprise AI concepts, including large language models (LLMs), AI agents, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), data readiness and responsible AI principles.
• Knowledge of AI governance, risk management, regulatory expectations, data privacy and localisation considerations within financial services environments.
• The ability to facilitate executive workshops, assessments and strategic planning engagements.
• Strong business consulting, transformation and operating model design capabilities.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical and communication skills.
• Experience working collaboratively across sales, consulting, delivery, engineering and partner ecosystems.
• Familiarity with cloud and AI platforms such as Azure, AWS, GCP, OpenAI, Anthropic, Databricks or Snowflake.
• A bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• The ability and willingness to travel across the Middle East as required