Manager - Value Added Tax (VAT)

About BDO

About the Role

• Support the VAT department in delivering high-quality VAT advisory and compliance services across a diverse portfolio of clients spanning multiple sectors, including Financial Services, Real Estate, FMCG, Hospitality etc.
• Lead and manage complex VAT engagements from inception to completion, exercising sound judgement on technical positions, risk areas, and client-specific considerations at every stage of delivery.
• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with clients by understanding their business models, commercial priorities, and VAT risk exposure, and proactively anticipating their needs.
• Act as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of clients, ensuring consistent, high-quality communication, timely delivery of outputs, and a professional client experience throughout the engagement lifecycle.
• Drive business development by identifying and pursuing new client opportunities, actively participating in pitches and proposals, and converting prospects into long-term client relationships.
• Ensure client retention by maintaining high standards of service quality, responsiveness, and proactive advisory support that adds measurable value beyond transactional compliance.
• Research and interpret UAE VAT legislation, FTA public clarifications, Cabinet decisions, and Ministerial resolutions to provide clients with accurate, well-reasoned, and commercially practical guidance.
• Monitor GCC VAT developments and apply relevant regional precedents and cross-border considerations where applicable to client matters.
• Review and occasionally prepare VAT returns, advisory memorandum, technical opinions, and client correspondence, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with applicable laws and FTA guidance.
• Manage FTA audit processes, voluntary disclosures, reconsideration requests, and objections on behalf of clients, leading engagements professionally and safeguarding client interests throughout.
• Supervise, coach, and mentor junior and mid-level VAT Consultants, providing regular feedback, technical guidance, and support to strengthen their professional capabilities and career development.
• Contribute to the training and development of the VAT team by sharing technical knowledge, delivering internal training sessions, and promoting a culture of continuous learning within the department.
• Adhere to all applicable professional ethics standards, including those prescribed by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), and uphold the firm's values of integrity, objectivity, and professional independence in every client engagement.
• Apply Know Your Client (KYC) and conflict of interest assessment procedures at the onboarding stage and throughout the engagement lifecycle, in accordance with the firm's risk and compliance framework and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across the Tax practice and other service lines to ensure integrated, coordinated service delivery and to identify cross-functional opportunities for clients.
• Contribute to the development of the firm's internal knowledge base, VAT technical library, and standard methodologies to support consistent quality across the practice.

Key Attributes

• Thorough and up-to-date knowledge of UAE VAT law, Executive Regulations, FTA administrative procedures, and the broader UAE tax legislative framework.
• Excellent client management skills including the ability to build rapport, manage expectations, navigate difficult conversations, and sustain long-term professional relationships.
• Strong business development instinct with experience in identifying leads, supporting proposals, and converting opportunities into fee-generating engagements.
• Effective people management skills including task delegation, workload planning, performance monitoring, and the ability to develop and motivate team members at different levels of seniority.
• High standard of written and verbal communication in English; Arabic language proficiency is an advantage.
• Ability to produce clear, well-structured technical memorandum, advisory opinions, and client-ready deliverables that are accurate, concise, and appropriately tailored to the audience.
• Sound understanding of professional ethics obligations under IESBA, including independence, conflict of interest and confidentiality.
• Familiarity with KYC, client due diligence, and conflict of interest assessment processes as applied in a regulated accounting, audit, or tax advisory environment.
• Experience with the EmaraTax portal and tax compliance tools is expected.
• Detail-oriented and well-organised, with the ability to manage multiple engagements simultaneously, meet deadlines consistently, and maintain quality under pressure.

Key Experience Parameters

• A professional qualification from a recognised accountancy or tax body is mandatory - acceptable qualifications include ACCA, CPA, ICAI, CA, CIOT, ADIT or a comparable qualification.
• A minimum of 5 years of post-qualification experience, with the majority of that experience gained in a UAE VAT-focused role within a professional services firm.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Law, Economics, or a related discipline from a recognised institution.
• UAE Tax Agent accreditation issued by the Federal Tax Authority is a strong advantage.
• Evidence of continued professional development in UAE and GCC tax matters, including attendance at relevant seminars, training programmes, or technical courses.

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