Regional Accounting Manager (Arabic Speaker)

Gateworth are currently supporting a leading international client in the recruitment of a Regional Accounting Manager (Middle East), within the organisation’s Dubai-based centralised finance function. This Regional Manager will hold responsibility for accounting, financial reporting and financial controls across its Middle East offices, ensuring compliance with internal policy, UAE & KSA regulatory requirements and any relevant international accounting standards. The Accounting Manager will also act as a trusted finance business partner to both regional and global leadership.

Main Responsibilities

• Manage the monthly, quarterly and annual close processes for the Middle East offices, including the review and approval of journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, intercompany balances and subledger accounts (accounts receivable, work in process and accounts payable), alongside financial statements and management reporting with clear variance commentary.
• The Accounting Manager shall coordinate statutory audits and year-end reporting, oversee the preparation and the filing of statutory financial statements and regulatory returns, and manage relationships with external accounting firms, regulators, government authorities and professional advisors, whilst monitoring local accounting, tax and regulatory developments.
• The role will lead internal and external audit responses, ensuring audit findings and control observations are documented and resolved in a timely manner.
• In conjunction with management, the role will partner on the preparation of annual budgets and periodic forecasts, deliver budget-to-actual and forecast variance reporting with recommendations for corrective action, and provide ad hoc financial analysis to support operational and strategic decision-making.
• The Accounting Manager will maintain effective internal financial controls, covering approvals, segregation of duties and protection of company assets, whilst identifying opportunities to strengthen processes and supporting finance system implementations, upgrades and standardisation initiatives.
• At a leadership level, the role will develop and train regional accounting staff and build effective relationships across Finance, Operations, HR, IT and senior office leadership, collaborating with global Finance teams to align regional practices with global standards.
• The client will look to recruit a qualified accountant holding a degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field, together with a professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CPA) under an internationally recognised affiliation.
• The successful candidate shall bring a minimum of seven years’ progressive accounting, audit and finance experience, including the management of complex accounting and reporting responsibilities; prior audit or advisory experience with a Big 4 accounting practice is preferred.
• Experience supporting a multinational organisation with international operations and multiple legal entities is required, ideally gained within a complex, matrixed regional or global structure.
• The ideal candidate shall demonstrate strong knowledge of financial reporting, internal controls, audit requirements, statutory accounting and financial close processes, with knowledge of accounting, tax and compliance requirements in the UAE and one or more additional Middle East jurisdictions preferred.
• The candidate shall also be required to display strong leadership, problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across the organisation and cultures, alongside advanced Excel proficiency and working knowledge of a recognised ERP or financial management system.