Head of Accounting

Job Title: Head of Client Accounting

Location: Dubai

Salary: Up to AED 28,000

Job Code: 014/001/235

Industry: Tax & Accounting

Job Brief:

The Head of Client Accounting is responsible for managing and overseeing client accounting, tax, and compliance operations across the Dubai and Pakistan operations teams. The role involves leading large operational teams, managing a high-volume client portfolio, ensuring regulatory compliance, driving operational excellence, and maintaining strong client relationships. This position plays a critical role in ensuring service quality, team performance, and client satisfaction while supporting organizational growth objectives.

Job Responsibilities:

Operations

• Provide leadership in developing short- and long-term strategic operational objectives.
• Oversee department operations, set goals and objectives, and design frameworks to ensure these objectives are met.
• Formulate departmental budgets in alignment with divisional and organizational budgets, track expenses, and ensure adherence to approved budgets.
• Review, investigate, and correct errors and inconsistencies in accounting entries, documents, and reports.
• Ensure a strong operational control environment to safeguard assets and improve operational efficiency and profitability.
• Ensure quality control and accurate recording, filing, and reporting of all transactions.
• Ensure all reporting systems comply with government regulations and legislative requirements.
• Develop and manage all operational reports required for daily management and leadership review.
• Train, coach, mentor, and lead the operations team to maintain high performance standards.
• Review audit findings and ensure appropriate corrective actions are implemented.
• Develop, document, and continuously improve business processes and policies to strengthen internal controls.

Team Leadership and Performance

• Supervise, coach, and guide team members to drive consistent high performance.
• Motivate teams to achieve short- and long-term objectives and performance targets.
• Proactively manage team performance, set objectives, and develop individual training and development plans.
• Define objectives, evaluate trends and options, determine courses of action, and assess outcomes.
• Establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and ensure team alignment with business objectives.
• Prepare and present team performance reports to senior management.

Operational Excellence

• Lead and manage day-to-day operational activities, ensuring service delivery consistency.
• Develop, document, and implement business processes and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Handle a portfolio of premium clients and act as a key point of contact for clients managed by the back-office team.
• Coordinate with relevant authorities to resolve client-related issues when required.
• Monitor client deadlines and deliverables to ensure timely completion of services.

Client Relationship Management

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of tax, accounting, and compliance regulations to provide high-quality client services.
• Enforce quality standards and customer service benchmarks across all client engagements.
• Direct and oversee client operations managed by offshore teams.
• Build a strong management culture through coaching, skill development, and ongoing guidance.
• Ensure all services comply with government regulations and that clients remain fully tax compliant.
• Address and resolve client complaints and service issues to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Ensure timely completion of renewals and proactively highlight delays to relevant teams.
• Work closely with senior management to develop and communicate client relations strategies and targets.
• Collaborate with other department heads to ensure effective cross-functional coordination.
• Lead initiatives to build a customer-centric culture focused on continuous improvement.
• Deliver high-quality, professional, and personalized support to address complex client requirements.

Resource Management

• Coordinate with the sales team to ensure client requirements are delivered on time.
• Optimize resource allocation and utilization to manage high client volumes efficiently.
• Ensure team competency across accounting, tax, and compliance regulations.
• Monitor and assess operational team performance and provide timely feedback.

Continuous Learning, Growth, and Communication

• Design processes and programs to keep teams updated on regulatory changes.
• Mentor interns and new joiners on operational and compliance processes.
• Ensure appropriate pricing support is provided to the sales team for customized client requirements.
• Ensure internal communication and client-facing deliverables are completed on time and to the highest quality standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental and organizational objectives.

Job Requirements:

• Fully ACCA qualified (mandatory).
• University graduate in Finance and Accounting.
• CA / CPA / CMA qualification is an added advantage.
• 5 to 10 years of relevant work experience in the UAE.
• Proven experience managing a minimum of 350 clients per month.
• Proven experience managing a team of at least 10 employees.
• Strong background in tax, accounting, and compliance services.
• Excellent knowledge of Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable.
• Strong understanding of accounting and financial reporting principles.
• Proficient in tax computations and compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of quality standards, quality assurance policies, and procedures.
• Strong leadership, people management, and customer service skills.
• Proficient in English.