Head of Data Science & Asset Risk | Financial Services – Transformation & Development Dubai, AE Full-time

This role owns the end‑to‑end analytics, forecasting, and risk intelligence that protects and optimizes Al‑Futtaim’s automotive and financial services portfolio. Consequently, you will turn data, AI, and market intelligence into financial outcomes that drive pricing, leasing, provisioning, and capital allocation. The position operates at the intersection of CFO‑level financial control, CRO‑level risk management, and CDO‑level analytics leadership. Therefore, your forward‑looking, explainable, and regulator‑ready models will directly influence P&L, balance sheet, and return on assets.

Key Responsibilities

• Own all residual value, used‑car pricing, and market forecasting used across the business. Maintain authoritative market indices, price curves, and forward‑looking scenarios for all brands, powertrains, and segments.
• Define and enforce the Asset Risk Framework covering market risk, EV transition risk, concentration risk, and volatility. Provide risk‑driven inputs to IFRS9, provisions, ECL, and capital planning.
• Ensure all models are auditable, explainable, and regulator‑ready. Act as the single source of truth for portfolio value, forward price risk, stress scenarios, and financial impact of market movements.
• Chair the Residual Value & Risk Committees, translating complex analytics into clear financial actions for the CFO, CRO, and Executive Management.
• Own the group’s AI‑driven asset intelligence platform, including data pipelines across brands, dealers, auctions, web, and internal systems. Build forecasting, valuation, and risk models with executive dashboards.
• Continuously replace external vendors and manual processes with in‑house, scalable AI. Consequently, deliver higher accuracy, faster decisions, and material cost savings.
• Lead a senior team of Data Scientists and Analytics specialists. Define modelling standards, governance, and validation. Ensure outputs are trusted by Finance, Risk, and Commercial teams.
• Act as the group’s technical authority on asset valuation and risk, directly influencing vehicle pricing, lease structures, portfolio profitability, risk appetite, OEM negotiations, and remarketing strategy.

Requirements & Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Statistics, Data Science, Risk, Pricing, Forecasting, or Financial Modelling. Experience in automotive, asset finance, banking, insurance, or large portfolios is essential.
• Proven ownership of P&L‑critical models with strong background in IFRS9, ECL, stress testing, or portfolio risk.
• Deep hands‑on technical and analytical expertise, including Python, SQL, large‑scale data extraction, and building advanced statistical and machine‑learning models.
• Ability to turn data into actionable insight, translating complex analysis into clear decisions with measurable business impact.
• Strong data governance and risk discipline, ensuring models are explainable, controlled, and suitable for regulated environments.
• Proven leadership and executive influence, able to build scalable teams and drive adoption at the senior‑management level.
• Comfortable operating at CFO, CRO, and Board level. Excellent communication skills to present to executive committees.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Economics, Finance, or a related quantitative field.

What You’ll Gain

• Opportunity to shape the AI‑driven risk and analytics function for Al‑Futtaim, a diversified regional leader with over 35,000 employees across 20+ countries and 200+ global brands.
• Competitive tax‑free monthly salary (AED 50,000–75,000) plus housing allowance, private medical insurance, annual flight allowance, and end of service gratuity.
• Direct influence on executive and Board decisions, with ownership of P&L‑critical models that materially impact portfolio profitability and capital allocation.
• Leadership role building scalable in‑house AI solutions, replacing external vendors, and driving innovation across automotive and financial services.