Chief Accountant

About the role

Athar, a legacy business evolving from a family office with more than three decades of history, is looking for a Chief Accountant to join its founding team. The group owns an active, revenue-generating portfolio of commercial, residential and industrial properties, from newly built to those needing major renovation, and aims to create asset value in the short term while planning to expand its property management portfolio.

Key responsibilities

• Run the full accounting cycle: ledger, reconciliations, month-end and year-end close, and IFRS financial statements.
• Account for rent, tenant deposits and each building's income and costs, and reconcile leasing records to the books.
• Prepare financial statements for property owners and other clients alongside internal corporate statements.
• Track receivables and arrears, forecast collections and agree recovery priorities with the leasing team.
• Prepare the annual budget, budget-versus-actual reports, a weekly cash position and a rolling 13-week cash flow forecast, and flag cash risks early.
• Manage payables, accruals, fixed assets and payment runs, backed by proper documents and approvals.
• Keep VAT and corporate tax filings complete and on time, working with auditors and tax advisers.
• Run monthly payroll through WPS, including leave and gratuity accruals, and keep HR and employee records confidential.
• Provide the Managing Director with timely financial statements, building performance reports, risks and recommendations.
• Support decisions on renovation works and new projects with cost, cash flow and return analysis.
• Work with the leasing and facilities teams on tenancy data, billing, receipts, deposits and exceptions.
• Resolve financial queries from tenants, suppliers and contractors, and manage relationships with banks, auditors and advisers.
• Set up the chart of accounts, finance procedures, reporting calendar and an accounting system suited to the company's size.
• Put written controls in place over approvals, payments, bank access and reconciliations, reviewed by the Managing Director where one person cannot split duties.
• Track and close audit and control findings and keep the Managing Director informed of material risks.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or a related field.
• CA, ACCA, CPA or CMA qualification highly desirable.
• Minimum of 10 years of accounting experience, with a majority in the UAE; accounting and tax experience in the UAE real estate market highly desirable.
• Demonstrable knowledge of month-end and year-end close, financial reporting, reconciliations and internal controls.
• Extensive knowledge of IFRS financial reporting.
• Fluency in English and Arabic.
• Valid UAE driving licence.

Required skills

• Experience with accounting software recognised and approved by the FTA.
• Payroll and WPS administration experience desirable.