Senior Engagement Manager Principal - Financial Services

About the role

Cedar is a Forbes-ranked global management consulting firm, with a group unit IBS Intelligence specialising in financial technology research and advisory, and a FinTech venture capital fund, Cedar Hill Capital. Its Innovation Lab in Dubai connects banks and suppliers to the Middle East and India markets. The Senior Engagement Manager Principal is a senior delivery leader in Cedar's financial services practice, focused on executing and managing consulting engagements, owning the quality and pace of client work, leading internal teams and acting as a trusted point of contact for client stakeholders. There is no expectation of business development responsibility.

Key responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of consulting engagements from project initiation through to final client presentation and close-out.
• Manage and mentor Engagement Managers, Consultants and Interns on active projects, ensuring high standards of analytical rigour and professional output.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day client contact, building trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders across financial services organisations.
• Structure workplans, manage project timelines and proactively identify and resolve delivery risks.
• Take ownership of the quality of client-facing materials such as presentations, reports, frameworks and data outputs.
• Translate complex financial services challenges into clear problem statements and actionable recommendations.
• Contribute to internal knowledge development, methodology refinement and the professional development of junior team members.
• Collaborate with Directors and the broader leadership team on engagement strategy and approach.

Required profile

• 8-13 years of experience in management consulting, with a strong track record of delivering complex, multi-workstream projects in financial services.
• Deep domain knowledge in 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.
• Experience working in or with organisations in the GCC or broader Middle East is an advantage.
• MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification preferred; strong undergraduate academic record required.

Required skills

• Strong people leadership skills, managing and developing consulting teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, able to turn complex analysis into executive-ready narratives.
• Highly structured thinking, sharp problem-solving and the ability to work independently.

What we offer

• Engagements with leading financial services institutions across the Middle East.
• A senior, delivery-focused role with a clear path to Director.
• A collaborative, high-performance team culture with a flat hierarchy and strong emphasis on quality.
• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience.
• Dubai-based role with regional travel as required.