Audit Team Leader - Dubai

Kreston Awni Farsakh & Co.; Dubai; On-site; AED 150,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Kreston Awni Farsakh & Co. in Dubai seeks an experienced Audit Team Leader to guide audit engagements from planning to completion while supervising teams and maintaining strong client relationships. The role requires delivering high-quality audit services under IFRS, ISA, and UAE regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise, proven leadership, and the ability to manage multiple engagements while supporting business development and growth objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of external audit experience, preferably in UAE.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and ISA.
• Professional qualification such as ACCA, CA, CPA, or equivalent.
• Ability to manage multiple engagements and budgets.
• Excellent client management and leadership skills.
• Good command of written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Manage audit engagements from planning through to completion, ensuring compliance with IFRS, ISA and UAE regulations.
• Review and approve audit working papers and financial statements for technical accuracy and compliance.
• Lead engagement teams, allocate tasks, monitor progress, and manage budgets and timelines.
• Perform risk assessments, evaluate internal controls, and identify significant audit risks.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop audit seniors and juniors with technical guidance.
• Communicate audit findings, risks, and recommendations to clients and partners.
• Review and finalize management letters and audit reports.

Skills

Leadership

Audit management

Client relations

IFRS knowledge

ISA knowledge

Caseware

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/related

Tools

Caseware

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Audit Team Leader to lead an audit team in the UAE. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing audit engagements from planning through to completion, supervising and developing audit teams, maintaining strong client relationships, and ensuring the delivery of high‑quality audit services in accordance with applicable auditing and accounting standards.

The ideal candidate will have strong technical expertise, proven leadership capabilities, and the ability to manage multiple engagements while supporting the firm’s business development and growth objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage audit engagements from planning and risk assessment through to completion, ensuring compliance with applicable auditing standards, accounting standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Review and approve audit working papers and financial statements, ensuring technical accuracy, completeness, and compliance with IFRS and ISA.
• Lead engagement teams, allocate assignments, monitor progress, and ensure that engagements are completed within agreed timelines and budgets.
• Perform and review risk assessments, evaluate internal controls, and identify significant audit risks and areas requiring management attention.
• Review complex accounting matters, assess audit findings, and determine appropriate audit conclusions and reporting implications.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop audit seniors and junior team members, providing technical guidance and performance feedback.
• Communicate audit findings, significant risks, and recommendations to clients, senior management, and engagement partners.
• Review and finalize management letters, audit reports, and other engagement deliverables.
• Ensure compliance with IFRS, ISA, UAE corporate tax and VAT requirements, and other applicable UAE regulatory requirements.
• Manage client relationships, address client queries, and maintain a high standard of client service throughout the engagement lifecycle.
• Monitor engagement budgets, resource allocation, recoverability, and billing, taking appropriate action to address delays or budget overruns.
• Coordinate with partners and other service lines on complex accounting, audit, tax, and regulatory matters.
• Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships and contribute to the firm’s business development initiatives.
• Support the implementation of audit methodologies, quality management procedures, and applicable professional and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of external audit experience, preferably with a reputable audit firm and substantial experience in the UAE.
• Demonstrated experience in managing audit engagements and supervising audit teams.
• Strong technical knowledge of IFRS and International Standards on Auditing (ISA).
• Good understanding of UAE corporate tax, VAT, and other relevant regulatory requirements.
• Professional qualification such as ACCA, CA, CPA, or an equivalent internationally recognized qualification; full qualification is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to manage multiple audit engagements, meet deadlines, and deliver work within agreed budgets.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, communication, and report‑writing skills.
• Excellent client management, leadership, and team development capabilities.
• Good command of written and spoken English.
• Proficiency in Caseware and other relevant audit software.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound professional judgment, and handle complex audit and accounting matters.