Chief Accountant

Job Purpose

Financial Accounting & Reporting

• Oversee the full accounting cycle including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, and bank reconciliations.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with IFRS.
• Ensure timely month-end and year-end closing processes within agreed deadlines.
• Prepare consolidated financial statements for the group and its subsidiaries / SPVs.
• Coordinate with external auditors for statutory audits and ensure timely completion.

Real Estate Specific Accounting

• Manage project accounting including cost capitalization, work-in-progress (WIP), and project profitability analysis.
• Apply IFRS 15 revenue recognition for off-plan and ready property sales (point-in-time vs. over-time recognition).
• Oversee escrow account reconciliations and reporting in compliance with RERA / Dubai Land Department (DLD) regulations.
• Manage service charge accounting for owners' associations and managed properties.
• Handle leasing accounting (IFRS 16) including straight-lining of rental income, deferred rent, and lease incentives.
• Track and account for land bank, property under development, investment properties (IAS 40), and inventory of completed units.
• Coordinate with project managers and engineers on cost-to-complete estimates and budget variance analysis.

Taxation & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with UAE VAT regulations, including timely and accurate filing of VAT returns and management of input/output VAT on real estate transactions (zero-rated vs. exempt vs. standard-rated supplies).
• Oversee UAE Corporate Tax compliance, registration, computation, and filing as per Federal Tax Authority (FTA)

requirements

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• Manage Economic Substance Regulations (ESR) and Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) reporting where applicable.
• Ensure compliance with AML/CFT requirements relevant to real estate transactions.
• Liaise with FTA, RERA, DLD, and other regulatory bodies as required.

Cash Flow, Budgeting & Treasury

• Manage cash flow forecasting and working capital across multiple projects and entities.
• Prepare annual budgets, rolling forecasts, and variance analysis reports.
• Monitor banking facilities, loan covenants, and project financing arrangements.
• Oversee collections from buyers, milestone-linked receivables, and developer receivables.

Internal Controls & Team Leadership

• Develop, implement, and maintain robust internal controls, accounting policies, and SOPs.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop the accounting team (senior accountants, accountants, AP/AR officers).
• Drive automation and ERP improvements (e.g., Oracle, SAP, Yardi, MS Dynamics, Tally, Focus, Sage).
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to senior management to support strategic decision-making.

& ExperienceEducation

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (mandatory).
• Professional qualification preferred: CA, CPA, ACCA, CMA, or equivalent.

Experience

• Minimum 8–12 years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 4–5 years in a senior/chief accountant role.
• Mandatory experience within real estate, property development, or real estate investment companies in the UAE.
• Demonstrated experience handling RERA escrow accounts, off-plan sales accounting, and DLD-related compliance.
• Proven track record managing audits with Big 4 or top-tier audit firms.
• Experience in a group structure with multiple SPVs / subsidiaries is highly desirable.

Technical Skills

• In-depth knowledge of IFRS, particularly IFRS 15 (Revenue), IFRS 16 (Leases), IAS 40 (Investment Property), and IAS 2 (Inventories).
• Strong working knowledge of UAE VAT Law, UAE Corporate Tax Law, and FTA filing procedures.
• Familiarity with RERA, DLD, ADGM, and JAFZA / free zone compliance requirements.
• Proficiency in ERP systems commonly used in UAE real estate (Odoo, Yardi, Oracle, SAP, MS Dynamics, Sage, Focus, Tally).
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (pivot tables, financial modeling, large dataset analysis).
• Knowledge of Power BI or similar reporting tools is an advantage.

Behavioral Competencies

• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.
• Effective communication skills in English; Arabic is an advantage.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight reporting deadlines.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and professional ethics.
• Proactive, organized, and able to manage multiple priorities across projects.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Timeliness and accuracy of monthly/quarterly/annual closing.
• Audit completion within agreed timelines with minimal adjustments.
• 100% compliance with VAT, Corporate Tax, and regulatory filings.
• Accuracy of project costing and revenue recognition.
• Effective cash flow management and DSO improvement on receivables.
• Team performance, development, and retention.