Job Description

Senior Associate / Assistant Manager Accounting, Client Delivery & CFO Advisory

Key responsibilitiesClient portfolio management

• Independently manage a portfolio of accounting and bookkeeping clients
• Plan monthly deliverables and ensure that all agreed deadlines are met
• Follow up with clients for information and resolve outstanding matters
• Maintain clear visibility over the status, risks and next steps for every assigned client
• Act as the primary point of contact for day-to-day client queries
• Attend client offices and face-to-face meetings when required
• Escalate significant matters promptly, together with a recommended course of action
• Build strong and professional relationships with client management teams

Accounting and review

• Review bookkeeping and accounting work prepared by associates and other resources
• Review bank, credit card, receivables, payables and balance-sheet reconciliations
• Ensure that accounting records are complete, accurate and supported by appropriate documentation
• Review trial balances and identify errors, unusual entries and unreconciled balances
• Finalise monthly and quarterly accounts
• Ensure proper month-end and year-end closing procedures
• Review supporting schedules and working papers before partner review
• Improve the quality, accuracy and consistency of client files

Management reporting

• Prepare and review monthly management accounts
• Analyse profit and loss, balance-sheet and cash-flow movements
• Prepare variance analysis, KPI reports and management dashboards
• Identify financial trends, risks and areas requiring management attention
• Translate financial information into clear and practical business insights
• Present selected findings to clients and support management discussions
• Ensure that management reports are accurate, relevant and issued on time

CFO and advisory assignments

• Support the partners on Fractional CFO engagements
• Prepare budgets, forecasts and rolling cash-flow projections
• Analyse profitability by client, service, product, branch or business unit
• Assist with pricing, costing and margin analysis
• Identify cash-flow risks, working-capital issues and opportunities for improvement
• Prepare financial models and scenario analysis
• Support management meetings and follow up on agreed action points
• Assist clients in understanding their financial performance and key business drivers
• Develop toward independently managing selected CFO assignments
• Attend client meetings and provide on-site support where required

VAT and Corporate Tax

• Review VAT workings and supporting reconciliations
• Prepare or review VAT returns and ensure timely filing
• Support UAE Corporate Tax computations and return preparation
• Maintain complete compliance working papers and client records
• Identify potential VAT or Corporate Tax issues and escalate them appropriately
• Coordinate with clients to obtain information required for statutory filings
• Ensure compliance deadlines are properly monitored and met

Team supervision and development

• Allocate and monitor work assigned to junior team members and bookkeeping resources
• Review work constructively and provide clear feedback
• Train team members on accounting, reconciliations, documentation and reporting standards
• Monitor deadlines and intervene before assignments become delayed
• Help establish checklists, templates and standard operating procedures
• Contribute to a culture of ownership, accuracy and continuous improvement
• Support the professional development of junior team members

Required qualifications and experience

• Qualified or part-qualified CA, ACCA, CMA or an equivalent professional accounting qualification
• Approximately five or more years of relevant accounting, audit, financial reporting or advisory experience
• Previous experience managing or reviewing the work of junior accountants
• Strong practical knowledge of accounting, reconciliations and financial statement preparation
• Working knowledge of IFRS
• Practical experience with UAE VAT
• Knowledge of UAE Corporate Tax and related compliance requirements
• Experience preparing or reviewing monthly management accounts
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting or cash-flow reporting
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills
• Experience using accounting platforms such as Xero, QuickBooks, Zoho Books or similar systems
• Strong written and spoken English
• Must currently be based in Dubai or willing to relocate to Dubai
• Ability to travel to client offices within Dubai and other Emirates when required
• Ability to work effectively and independently in a remote environment

Preferred experience

• Experience working in an accounting, audit, outsourced finance or advisory firm
• Experience managing multiple client assignments simultaneously
• Experience dealing directly with SME owners, finance teams and management
• Experience supporting or managing Fractional CFO assignments
• Experience preparing budgets, forecasts, financial models and cash-flow projections
• Familiarity with UAE business practices and regulatory requirements
• Experience improving accounting processes and internal controls
• UAE driving licence and access to personal transportation would be an advantage

The person we are looking for

The ideal candidate:

• Takes ownership and follows assignments through to completion
• Reviews work carefully rather than relying on others to identify errors
• Understands the difference between preparing accounts and critically analysing them
• Can connect financial results to the operational performance of a business
• Communicates confidently and professionally with clients
• Is comfortable attending client meetings and presenting financial information
• Raises problems early and proposes practical solutions
• Can manage competing deadlines without repeated reminders
• Is willing to remain hands-on when an assignment requires it
• Is comfortable supervising and developing junior team members
• Is interested in progressing from accounting and compliance into CFO advisory work
• Values accuracy, accountability and professional integrity

What we offer

• Exposure to a diverse portfolio of UAE businesses
• Opportunities to work across accounting, reporting, compliance and CFO advisory assignments
• Direct interaction with Xcel’s partners and senior client management
• A structured opportunity to develop management and advisory capabilities
• A primarily work-from-home arrangement
• Opportunities to attend client meetings and gain direct business exposure
• A collaborative working environment
• Career progression based on demonstrated capability, ownership and client impact