Description:
This is a permanent, full-time, in-office role for a Senior Accountant supporting the day-to-day financial accounting and back-office operations of a family office. The successful candidate will serve as the operational accounting backbone, managing the full spectrum of financial recordkeeping, regulatory compliance, and business administration functions.
Reporting directly to the CFO, this individual will be responsible for maintaining accurate and timely financial records, supervising VAT and Corporate Tax filing obligations, coordinating with external auditors and regulatory bodies, and managing licensing and business back-office requirements. The role demands someone detail-oriented, discreet, and capable of operating with a high degree of autonomy in a principal-led environment.
Prior hands-on exposure to IFRS as adopted and applied in the UAE is required. The candidate must be comfortable navigating FTA correspondence, supporting audit readiness, and ensuring continuous good standing across all regulatory and compliance obligations.
Key Responsibilities
Start-up environment:
- Responsibilities will be all-encompassing and offer a strong opportunity to develop a wide range of practical skills across accounting, advisory, and operational domains.
Financial Statement Preparation:
- Prepare and analyze financial statements in compliance with IFRS and UAE regulatory standards.
- Maintain organized and up-to-date internal working paper files and management reporting dashboards to support ongoing business reporting requirements; compile and present the necessary documentation packages to external auditors and VAT/CT specialists upon request.
Bookkeeping & Back-Office Support:
- Manage full-cycle bookkeeping, including AP, AR, payroll, and bank reconciliations.
- Maintain accurate general ledger records and reconcile subledgers on an ongoing basis.
- Support licensing renewals, business registration requirements, and related back-office administrative obligations.
Regulatory Compliance:
- Support the timely filing of UAE VAT and Corporate Tax obligations.
- Liaise with the FTA and other regulatory bodies on correspondence and compliance matters.
- Ensure continuous good standing across all business licensing and statutory requirements.
Audit Coordination:
- Serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors.
- Maintain audit-ready documentation and support audit engagements from preparation through to completion.
- Perform internal control reviews and advise on process improvements to optimize financial operations.
Budgeting, Forecasting & Analysis:
- Budgeting, financial forecasting, and cash flow projections to support strategic decision-making.
- Perform monthly and quarterly variance analysis with advisory insights for senior leadership.
Stakeholder Communication:
- Coordinate with legal, tax, and operations teams to ensure financial alignment with broader business objectives.
- Handle communications with auditors, regulators, and third-party service providers with professionalism and discretion.
Software & Process Automation:
- Identify and implement process automation tools to streamline accounting operations.
- Maintain accurate documentation and workflows in cloud-based environments.
Qualifications
- Professional certification as a CPA, CA, or ACCA is highly preferable.
- A minimum of 10 years of total accounting experience, with at least 2 years in a Big 10 firm or equivalent professional services firm and at least 2 years of that overall experience accumulated working in the UAE.
- Currently residing in Abu Dhabi on a valid UAE local visa, ideally in or around the Tourist Club Area (preferred)
- Prior experience in a family office or private wealth environment (considered a strong asset)
- Proficiency in cloud accounting systems and advanced MS Office skills.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- A proactive approach to identifying and resolving challenges with innovative solutions.