Senior Accountant

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Financial Accounting & Reporting

• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with IFRS
• Manage month‑end and year‑end closing processes, including journals, accruals, prepayments, and provisions
• Review general ledger accounts and ensure all balance sheet reconciliations are accurate and timely
• Analyze financial performance, operating expenses, and margin movements, and report variances to management

Inventory & Cost Control (Pharmaceutical Focus)

• Oversee end‑to‑end inventory accounting for pharmaceutical products, including:
• Batch/lot‑level tracking
• Expiry date monitoring
• Valuation and reconciliation of inventory balances
• Calculate and manage provisions for expired, near‑expiry, slow‑moving, and obsolete inventory
• Reconcile inventory movements across warehouses, distributors, and logistics partners
• Monitor gross margins by SKU, supplier, customer, and product category

VAT, Compliance & Regulatory Support

• Ensure correct VAT classification of pharmaceutical products (zero‑rated vs standard‑rated)
• Prepare and review VAT returns, reconciliations, and supporting documentation
• Support compliance with pharmaceutical regulatory requirements (e.g., MOH‑related documentation and audits)
• Maintain strong audit trails for stock movements, pricing, and credit notes

Audit & Internal Controls

• Act as the key finance contact for internal and external auditors
• Prepare audit schedules, inventory confirmations, and regulatory documentation
• Ensure adherence to internal control policies and recommend process improvements
• Support implementation of audit recommendations and risk mitigation actions

Commercial & Operational Finance Support

• Support pricing controls, supplier rebates, discounts, and settlement reconciliations
• Review customer credit limits, accounts receivable aging, and bad debt provisions
• Manage credit notes relating to returns, damages, and expiries
• Assist in budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow planning
• Partner with supply chain, sales, and regulatory teams to ensure financial accuracy

Systems, Process Improvement & Team Leadership

• Work extensively with ERP systems, including inventory and distribution modules
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, controls, and automation
• Review and supervise work performed by junior accountants
• Provide guidance, coaching, and technical support to accounting team members

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline
• Professional qualification preferred (ACCA, CPA, CA, CMA)
• Minimum 4–7 years of progressive accounting experience
• Prior experience in pharmaceutical distribution, healthcare products, or FMCG with expiry‑based inventory
• Strong knowledge of IFRS, inventory accounting, and UAE VAT regulations
• Experience working with ERP systems and advanced Excel skills

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• High attention to detail, particularly with inventory and compliance matters
• Ability to work under pressure in a high‑volume environment
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Proactive, hands‑on, and continuous improvement mindset
• High ethical standards and professional judgment

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Finance Manager / Financial Controller
• Supervises: Junior Accountants / Accounts Officers (as applicable)