Principal Analyst

Overview

The Role

Research & Thought Leadership

• Lead the design and delivery of research programmes across retail banking, business banking, and payments, from survey design and hypothesis development through to analysis, interpretation, and final output
• Write high-quality, engaging research reports, white papers, and thought leadership that go beyond data description to deliver genuine insight and strategic implication for the UAE and wider Middle East market
• Present findings to senior audiences, including C-suite executives, strategy teams, and product leaders at major regional financial institutions. Through this, you will bring the clarity and conviction that drives action
• Monitor and interpret market developments across the UAE, Gulf, and broader Middle East, and translate these into timely, relevant intelligence for clients
• Design and refine survey instruments that generate data worth having, combining methodological rigour with commercial purpose and regional relevance

Commercial & Client

• Drive the development of RFI's existing client relationships in the UAE and Gulf, maintaining regular, high-quality engagement with senior stakeholders at major financial institutions and ensuring every client feels well-served and well-understood
• Identify and pursue cross-sell and upsell opportunities within the existing client base, understanding each client's agenda well enough to bring them ideas that add genuine value before they think to ask. This includes supporting the sale of our iSKY UX benchmarking product
• Proactively uncover bespoke research opportunities across the wider Middle East region, by building new relationships with institutions beyond the current client base and developing commissioned research briefs that address their specific strategic needs
• Contribute to the renewal and growth of client relationships, working with RFI's commercial team globally to develop proposals, respond to briefs, and secure renewals
• Represent RFI Global at regional industry events and conferences, contributing to our visibility and reputation across the Gulf and broader Middle East financial services community

Collaboration & Ways Of Working

• Work effectively with colleagues across RFI's global research, data, and client teams by sharing regional expertise, contributing to the collective research agenda, and drawing on global datasets to serve clients who want a regional view in a global context
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of RFI's research methodologies, output formats, and client engagement approaches
• Manage your own workload and priorities effectively across a broad and varied regional remit, with the independence and judgement to know when to escalate and when to get on with it
• ****Requirements****

What We're Looking For

• ****Research Skills****
• Research & analytical skills
• Survey design experience
• Strong written communication
• Confident presenter
• Data interpretation & storytelling
• Financial services subject expertise

****Commercial & Personal Skills****

• Client relationship management
• Cross-sell & upsell instinct
• Bespoke research / commissioned work
• Network across UAE & Gulf
• Independent & self-directed
• Strong global team collaborator

Your Background

• The ideal candidate will have:
• Extensive experience in a research, analyst, or advisory role at a financial services research firm, management consultancy, or similar
• Deep knowledge of retail banking, business banking, and/or payments, with meaningful exposure to the UAE and/or broader Middle East market. You understand the region's financial services landscape, its regulatory environment, and the strategic priorities of its leading institutions
• A demonstrable track record of producing research that is used in board papers, referenced in strategy documents, or acted on by senior decision-makers
• Experience designing quantitative research instruments (surveys) and working with large consumer or business datasets
• Excellent written English. You can write a crisp executive summary and a detailed analytical section with equal confidence
• A strong existing network of senior relationships within the UAE and Gulf financial services community: you know the market and the market knows you
• Proven commercial instincts in terms of experience of growing client accounts, identifying bespoke research opportunities, and translating a client's strategic agenda into a research brief
• ****Benefits****

What We Offer

• Work that matters
• Your research reaches the senior executives shaping banking across the Gulf, and your relationships mean you see that impact directly.
• A genuinely global platform
• Drive development in one of RFI's strongest regional markets with the backing of a world-class research team.
• Real commercial exposure
• This is a role where relationships and research are equally valued.
• You will have scope to be entrepreneurial in pursuing growth in our UAE business.
• A collaborative, expert team
• Join a team of specialists who take research seriously, support each other's development, and enjoy the work they do.
• ****Benefits****
• Competitive salary
• Great opportunity to work with a global team
• 25 days' annual leave + public holidays + birthday leave + 2 charity days
• Wellness and education contribution fund
• Learning and development budget to help your professional growth
• Loyalty leave
• Perkbox