Accountant - Contracting

The Accountant - Contracting is responsible for supporting the day-to-day finance and accounting operations of the Contracting business, with a practical focus on accounts payable, accounts receivable, project cost records, reconciliations, payment processing, VAT support, and financial documentation.

The role requires accurate recording of transactions against projects, suppliers, subcontractors and clients while maintaining supporting documents required for project execution, audits, and client or consultant approvals.

This is an Accountant-level role suited to a hands-on finance professional who can manage routine accounting tasks independently, coordinate with procurement and project teams and escalate complex commercial, contractual or technical accounting matters to the Head of Finance.

The responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Record daily financial transactions accurately, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, invoicing, receipts, payments, journal entries and reconciliations.

· Ensure complete and properly organised accounting records, including invoices, LPOs, delivery notes, payment certificates, project documentation and approval evidence are maintained.

· Prepare and maintain petty cash reports, expense claims and supporting schedules in line with company policies.

· Ensure transactions are coded to the correct project, supplier, subcontractor, cost category and general ledger account.

· Maintain finance records relating to construction contracts, variations, claims, LPOs, interim payment applications and supporting project documentation.

· Support the preparation and tracking of financial documentation required for project execution, internal reviews, audits and client or consultant approvals.

· Assist in reconciling project-related receivables, payables, advances, retentions and progress billings against approved documentation.

· Coordinate with project, procurement and commercial teams to resolve documentation gaps, approval delays and invoice discrepancies.

· Process supplier invoices, subcontractor invoices, payment certificates, advance payments, expense reports and payment requests accurately and on time.

· Match invoices and payment requests to approved LPOs, contracts, delivery notes, work completion records and relevant internal approvals.

· Maintain vendor and subcontractor records, reconcile supplier and subcontractor statements, and follow up on outstanding differences.

· Track subcontractor advances, retention balances, retention releases and payment status in coordination with procurement and project teams.

· Prepare weekly, monthly and ad hoc payment schedules for review and approval by the Head of Contracting and Head of Finance.

· Prepare or support client invoices, interim payment applications, progress billing schedules and related supporting documentation.

· Track client receivables, certified amounts, amounts billed, amounts collected, retention balances and outstanding approvals.

· Follow up internally on billing documentation and externally on payment status where instructed by management.

· Maintain project cost records, including BOQ-linked cost tracking, subcontractor billing, material cost tracking, supplier invoices, advances, retentions and accruals.

· Assist in reconciling project costs against budgets, BOQs, LPOs, approved subcontractor agreements and progress payment certifications.

· Prepare project-level cost and payable schedules for finance review and month-end reporting.

· Identify unusual cost movements, missing documentation or unmatched project transactions and escalate them promptly.

· Prepare VAT input/output schedules and ensure tax invoices and supporting documents meet UAE VAT documentation requirements.

· Perform month-end closing activities, including accruals, prepayments, reconciliations, payables, receivables and project cost schedules.

· Ensure finance activities comply with internal policies, approval matrices and applicable regulatory requirements.

· Support internal and external audit requirements by providing accurate schedules and supporting documentation.

· Respond to internal team queries professionally and within agreed timelines.

· Work closely with Finance, Procurement, Project and Commercial teams to resolve invoice, payment, costing and documentation issues.

· Support process improvements in filing, approval workflows, reconciliations and project cost tracking.

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Good working knowledge of accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliations, payment processing and general ledger coding.

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Practical familiarity with contracting or construction documents, including contracts, variations, claims, LPOs, interim payment applications and payment certificates.

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Working knowledge of IFRS 15 revenue recognition principles, including Percentage of Completion (POC) calculations, cost-to-complete assessments, and project-based contract accounting.

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Working understanding of project costing, BOQs, subcontractor billing, material cost tracking, retention, advances and progress payment certifications.

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Ability to maintain accurate project, supplier, subcontractor and client account reconciliations.

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Good understanding of UAE VAT documentation requirements and basic compliance support.

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Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain complete supporting documentation.

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Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, including reconciliations, schedules, filters, lookups and basic reporting.

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Clear communication skills and ability to coordinate with procurement, project, commercial, supplier and subcontractor stakeholders.

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Ability to work independently on routine accounting tasks and escalate complex issues appropriately.

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Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, Business Administration or a related field.

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Part-qualified ACCA, CMA, CPA or similar certification is an advantage, but not mandatory.

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Experience using accounting software is required; Zoho Books preferred.

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+5 years of accounting experience, preferably including at least 1 year in contracting, construction, fit-out, real estate development, project-based services or a similar environment.

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Hands-on experience processing supplier invoices, subcontractor invoices, payment certificates, advances, retentions and account reconciliations.

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Exposure to project costing, BOQs, LPO matching, material cost tracking, progress billing or interim payment applications is preferred.