Accounts Receivable (AR) Lead - UAE

Arla Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 201,000 - 312,000; Full time

Job summary

Arla UAE is seeking an AR Lead to own end-to-end receivables across modern trade, traditional retail, HORECA and distribution channels. You will lead AR accountants and cashiers, drive cash flow and improve DSO while aligning with Arla standards.

The ideal candidate holds a relevant accounting degree with 5–8 years’ experience, including senior AR exposure in FMCG/Dairy, and strong SAP/ERP skills. UAE VAT knowledge and Excel mastery are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration.
• Professional certification (ACCA, CMA or CPA) is desirable.
• 5–8 years accounting experience with 3+ years in senior/lead AR role in FMCG, Dairy or Food & Beverage in UAE.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of AR accountants and cashiers; set KPIs and drive performance.
• Oversee credit evaluation and setup for new key accounts and regional distributors.
• Monitor credit limits and payment terms; block/unblock orders per policy.

Skills

Leadership

Credit control

DSO reduction

Cash flow management

ERP SAP

Excel

Analytical thinking

Team management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business Admin

ACCA/CMA/CPA desirable

Tools

SAP (SD/FI)

Oracle Financials

Job description

At Arla, we do so much more than make some of the world's favourite dairy products. We make healthy taste delicious, mornings worth getting up for and family dinners unforgettable. Puck, Dano, Lurpak and Castello - names like these make us a vital, natural part of modern life in over 100 countries around the world. There are 1,300 employees in the Middle East and Africa and 19,000 global employees at the heart of our business. Every single one of us plays an important role and together we build on our 10bn Euros turnover and establish our position as one of the largest dairy companies in the world.

Are you ready to take ownership of our receivables and turn strong credit control into healthy cash flow for our business? If so, you could become our new Accounts Receivable (AR) Lead for our UAE markets. In this challenging job you will work out of our Dubai office and you will report to our Head of Accounting within Finance & Accounting.

As the new AR Lead, you will oversee the end-to-end receivables lifecycle for modern trade, traditional retail, food service (HORECA) and distribution channels across the UAE. You will ensure maximum cash flow, minimise Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and bad debt risk, and manage customer reconciliations, while leading a team of AR accountants and cashiers in accordance with Arla standards.

You will be responsible for

• You will directly lead a team of AR accountants and cashiers. You will be required to mentor and direct the team, establish KPIs and drive daily performance
• Oversee credit evaluation and setup for new modern trade key accounts (e.g. Carrefour, Lulu, Union Coop), HORECA clients and regional distributors
• Monitor credit limits and payment terms, and block/unblock sales orders based on credit policy compliance and overdue status
• Implement targeted collection strategies to reduce DSO, manage delinquent accounts and mitigate bad debt exposure
• Oversee daily invoicing, debit notes and credit note processing across multiple sales channels and depot locations
• Reconcile customer-related trade spend, including listing fees, shelf space rentals, promotional rebates and damaged/returned goods allowances
• Lead monthly balance confirmations and customer account reconciliations. Identify and resolve price variance disputes, short payments and unapplied receipts
• Ensure prompt recording and allocation of incoming payments via bank transfers, PDC (Post-Dated Cheques), direct debits and cash collections
• Maintain accurate PDC logs, ensure timely bank deposits and manage bounced cheque procedures in accordance with UAE commercial laws
• Drive process automation and workflow efficiency within the ERP environment (e.g. SAP)
• Partner cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Sales and Logistics teams to ensure seamless inventory dispatch and claim settlement workflows
• Prepare weekly and monthly AR aging reports, DSO analysis, cash collection forecasts and trade claim dashboards for senior management
• Perform month-end close activities, ensuring sub-ledger to General Ledger (GL) reconciliations match seamlessly
• Support internal and external audits by providing supporting documentation, schedules and compliance evidence

Ideal Candidate for the role

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration. Professional certification (ACCA, CMA or CPA) is highly desirable
• 5-8 years of overall accounting experience, with at least 3 years in a senior or lead AR role within FMCG, Food & Beverage or Dairy distribution in the UAE
• Advanced expertise in tier-1 ERP systems - SAP (SD/FI modules) or Oracle Financials
• In-depth understanding of UAE VAT regulations regarding credit notes, returns and tax invoices
• Expert proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, Power Query, Pivot Tables)
• Strong familiarity with Modern Trade claim settlement practices and retail rebate structures in the GCC market
• Exceptional negotiator
• Strong team management and cross-departmental coordination skills
• Dynamic problem-solver

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.