Chief Accountant- Arabic Speaker (1 Year Contract)

The job role is a 1 year contract to be based in Dubai, UAE. The ideal candidate will be a Native Arabic Speaker with extensive experience in Dubai, managing accounting and taxation practices in the Egypt and Lebanon regions. This role also requires proven expertise in implementing SAP HANA in previous roles.

Chief Accountant Job Description

• Responsible for timely and accurate financial bookkeeping and reporting in line with Corporate Policies and local regulations. Will be a key contributor to the financial control environment ensuring ownership of local processes and managing company-wide requirements.
• 1-year temporary assignment, with the possibility for extension

Key responsibilities

• Manage the month-end close process and annual finance calendar both directly with financial journals and report review, and indirectly by liaising with support teams. Ensure financial and accounting processes comply with Corporate and local policies (based in US GAAP), statutory requirements under GAAP, and ethical standards with unyielding integrity - Be the main contributor for external and internal reporting, including audits, tax, VAT and other regulatory reporting to local authorities. Manage and review the inputs for this coming from centralised and outsourced teams, external stakeholders and consultants, and using available local resources - Act as key controls manager, ensure compliance with SOx requirements, internal Quality Management, and act as key point of contact for enforcing controls with other functions/divisions/teams - Manage the balance sheet, enforcing company policies and safeguard company assets, including fixed asset register management, assessing completeness of accruals, and reviewing manual payments, disbursements, etc - Provide accounting support in other areas attached to local Finance such as accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable, accruals and prepayments, and payroll. Support the Country Finance Manager in local, EMEA or Global Finance projects and handling accounting and finance queries from non-finance teams - Foster a diverse workplace that enables all participants to contribute to their full potential in pursuit of organizational objectives - Support the Country Finance Manager in directing and controlling the activities and budget of one or more functional areas.

Key skills and abilities

• Strong accounting and finance technical background (qualified or part-qualified accounting qualification preferred), and able to apply those principles to business activities such as revenue recognition, inventory and fixed asset accounting, accruals, lease accounting, and cost centre management.
• Experience monitoring, with the support of consultants where appropriate, the external regulatory environment with regards direct and indirect taxes, customs, payroll law, sustainability etc. 
• Problem-solving ability to provide solutions in financial and non-financial situations. Will need to make decisions affecting financial presentation and recognition within a framework of approval limits and associated checks and balances.
• Ability to manage diverse stakeholders when conducting routine business, including outsourced teams, internal decision-makers, external regulators, and expert consultants.
• Proficiency in basic computer and financial systems such as Microsoft Office programs when handling large datasets.
• Attention to detail essential when handling a diverse set of requirements.
• Willing to challenge the status quo with regards business processes and identify efficiencies, and/or cost savings cross-functionally.
• Confidence in leading meetings, briefing non-finance staff on financial controls and policies, and adapting requirements pushed from EMEA

Must Have’s

• Must be a Native Arabic Speaker
• Qualified CA/ACCA/CPA/CMA is a must
• 7-10 years of experience post Qualification working in a similar role into Accounting Practice across Gulf OR Middle East Region.
• Hand on experience on SAP Hana Implementation
• Taxation experience across Lebanon and Egypt market is advantageous.