Senior Accountant

Job Objective To ensure that organisation has a robust system of financial management, accurate reporting, effective financial controls, and compliance with applicable UAE financial regulations. The Senior Accountant oversees all accounting activities, including financial closing, auditing, taxation, budgeting, and financial planning, with a strong focus on programme cost control Key Responsibilities 1. Financial Accounting and Reporting • Oversee and conduct all accounting activities, ensuring accurate and up-to-date financial records in accordance with applicable accounting standards. • Manage the general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, bank reconciliations, accruals, and other accounting transactions. • Ensure timely and accurate monthly and year-end closing of accounts, including all necessary reconciliations and adjustments. • Prepare monthly and quarterly financial statements and management reports for stakeholders, including analysis of financial performance and significant variances. • Maintain an effective financial reporting schedule and ensure all reporting deadlines are met. 2. Budgeting and Financial Planning • Prepare and monitor the organisation's annual operating budget in coordination with the management and relevant departments. • Develop and review programme-specific budgets and cost estimates in collaboration with the Operations team, ensuring alignment with financial proposals and approved budgets. • Monitor actual programme expenditure against approved budgets, identify variances, and provide recommendations to ensure cost efficiency and profitability. • Prepare budget-versus-actual reports, programme profitability analysis, and financial forecasts to support management decisions. • Monitor cash flow and provide financial advice to management regarding financial planning and resource allocation. 3. Tax Compliance and Auditing • Ensure compliance with applicable UAE financial and tax regulations, including VAT, Corporate Tax, and Federal Tax Authority (FTA) requirements. • Prepare and ensure timely submission of accurate tax returns and maintain all supporting documentation. • Coordinate internal and external audits, ensuring financial records, reconciliations, and supporting documents are accurate, complete, and audit-ready. • Address audit findings, identify financial risks, and implement corrective actions to strengthen internal financial controls. 4. Financial Operations and Controls • Ensure timely processing of supplier invoices, payments, and receivables, including follow-up on outstanding payments. • Verify monthly payroll prepared by HR and execute salary payments through the relevant banking channels. • Maintain and improve financial policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and compliance. • Ensure effective utilisation of Oracle for accounting transactions, reconciliations, and financial reporting. • Supervise and support the Accountant, ensuring accuracy and timely completion of assigned financial activities. • Perform other accounting and finance-related duties within the scope of the role. Required Qualifications and Experience • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or a related discipline. • Professional accounting qualification such as ACCA, CPA, ACA, or equivalen. • Minimum 7–10 years of relevant accounting and finance experience, including experience in a senior accounting capacity. • Strong practical knowledge of UAE VAT, Corporate Tax, financial reporting, and statutory compliance requirements. • Proven experience in financial closing, reconciliations, external audits, and preparation of financial statements. • Demonstrated experience in budgeting, project costing, financial forecasting, and budget-versus-actual analysis. • Hands-on experience with Oracle accounting or ERP systems is essential. • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency in financial reporting and analysis. • Experience in project-based, training, consultancy, or professional services environments is preferred. • Fluency in English is essential; Arabic language proficiency is preferred.

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or a related discipline. Professional accounting qualification such as ACCA, CPA, ACA, or equivalent. Minimum 7–10 years of relevant accounting and finance experience, including experience in a senior accounting capacity. Strong practical knowledge of UAE VAT, Corporate Tax, financial reporting, and statutory compliance requirements. Proven experience in financial closing, reconciliations, external audits, and preparation of financial statements. Demonstrated experience in budgeting, project costing, financial forecasting, and budget-versus-actual analysis. Hands-on experience with Oracle accounting or ERP systems is essential. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency in financial reporting and analysis. Experience in project-based, training, consultancy, or professional services environments is preferred. Fluency in English is essential; Arabic language proficiency is preferred.

1. Financial Accounting and Reporting: Oversee and conduct all accounting activities, ensure accurate and up-to-date financial records, manage the general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, bank reconciliations, accruals, and other transactions; ensure timely monthly and year-end closings; prepare monthly and quarterly financial statements and management reports with analysis of performance and variances; maintain an effective financial reporting schedule and meet reporting deadlines. 2. Budgeting and Financial Planning: Prepare and monitor annual operating budget; develop and review programme-specific budgets with Operations; monitor actual expenditure against budgets and provide cost efficiency recommendations; prepare budget-versus-actual reports, profitability analysis, and forecasts; monitor cash flow and advise on financial planning and resource allocation. 3. Tax Compliance and Auditing: Ensure compliance with UAE tax regulations (VAT, Corporate Tax, FTA); prepare and submit tax returns; coordinate internal and external audits; address audit findings and strengthen internal controls. 4. Financial Operations and Controls: Process supplier invoices and payments and receivables; verify payroll; maintain and improve policies and controls; utilize Oracle for accounting and reporting; supervise and support the Accountant; perform other accounting duties as needed.