Head of Collections

Job description / Role

The Head of Collections (UAE) owns the end-to-end performance, compliance, and scalability of UAE operations. This role is responsible for translating enterprise client expectations, regulatory requirements, and Managing Director priorities into disciplined, high-performing frontline execution.

Client Details

Our client is a fast-growing, technology-driven financial services company specializing in digital debt recovery solutions.

Description

* Own overall collections performance across all UAE portfolios, including recovery rates, roll rates, compliance, quality, and customer experience.
* Directly lead, coach, and performance-manage all collections staff, including Senior Collections Specialists and future hires.
* Build and enforce a performance-driven culture with clear KPIs, scorecards, and accountability.
* Translate client strategies, regulatory obligations, and MD direction into clear operational workflows and daily priorities.
* Ensure strict compliance with UAE collections regulations, data sovereignty requirements, and client-specific policies.
* Act as the primary escalation point for complex customer cases, disputes, complaints, and sensitive client matters.
* Partner closely with the Managing Director on hiring plans, capacity planning, portfolio readiness, and operational scaling.
* Support enterprise client onboarding from an operational perspective, ensuring portfolios launch cleanly and perform to expectations.
* Work with global operations, product, and compliance teams to localise tools, scripts, and processes for the UAE market.
* Monitor collector activity, quality, and conduct closely, intervening early when standards slip.
* Provide accurate, timely reporting on performance, risks, trends, and improvement opportunities to the Managing Director.

Job Offer

* Ground-floor leadership role with real scope
* Strong career upside within a fast-growing global business.

* 8-12+ years of collections experience, including significant people leadership responsibility in regulated environments.
* Direct experience leading collections operations in the UAE or GCC; local market knowledge is mandatory.
* Strong working knowledge of UAE collections laws, enforcement boundaries, and regulator expectations.
* Proven ability to drive recovery performance through teams while maintaining strict compliance and quality standards.
* Experience managing relationship-sensitive portfolios for banks, telcos, utilities, BNPLs, or other regulated lenders.
* Strong judgment and decision-making in high-pressure, high-consequence situations.
* Credible leader with the presence to manage frontline staff and engage confidently with enterprise clients when required.
* Fluent English required; Arabic strongly preferred and a meaningful advantage.
* Comfortable building operations from an early-stage baseline rather than inheriting mature structures.

About the Company

Michael Page is one of the world's leading professional recruitment consultancies, specializing in the placement of candidates in permanent, contract, temporary and interim positions with clients around the world.

The Group has operations in the UK, Continental Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. In the Middle East we focus on the areas of:

Finance & Accounting Banking & Financial Services Procurement Property & Construction Engineering & Supply Chain Oil & Gas Technical and Engineering Human Resources Sales Marketing Technology Secretarial Executive Search Legal

The Group operates through 161 offices in 33 countries and employs over 5,000 employees worldwide.