Lead Accountant

MAVI; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

MAVI partners with high-growth US businesses in the UAE, embedding top accounting talent into finance operations. We seek a Lead Accountant with strong US GAAP experience to own the client books, collaborate with US Controllers, and drive the full-cycle close in fast-moving SME environments.

You will be the senior accounting voice, manage journal entries and reconciliations, mentor juniors, and ensure audit readiness and robust internal controls in a remote-friendly, fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of accounting experience with deep US GAAP expertise.
• Ownership of a full close cycle and the financial statements on an independent basis.
• Experience reviewing, supervising, or mentoring other accountants.
• Experience supporting or managing an audit with external auditors.
• Experience working with US clients or international stakeholders.
• ERP/accounting systems experience (QuickBooks, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Xero).
• Advanced Excel or Google Sheets.

Responsibilities

• Own full-cycle accounting operations under US GAAP, from first accrual to final statement.
• Own the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close with calendar and cycle time accountability.
• Own the general ledger and the balance sheet, driving reconciliations to resolution.
• Prepare and finalize financial statements, reporting packages, and schedules.
• Own technical accounting treatment, revenue recognition, accruals, and capitalization.
• Hold final review over journal entries, reconciliations, and schedules prepared by others.
• Review, mentor, and develop the accountants working alongside you.
• Maintain and enforce accounting policies, internal controls, and close procedures.
• Own audit readiness, prepare PBC deliverables, and respond to auditor queries.
• Partner directly with US Controllers and stakeholders as the senior accounting voice.

Skills

US GAAP expertise

Full close cycle

Mentoring

Audit support

English communication

Tools

QuickBooks

NetSuite

Sage Intacct

Xero

Job description

MAVI partners with high-growth US businesses, embedding experienced accounting professionals directly into their finance operations. In the UAE, we build long-term partnerships with professionals who want genuine general ledger ownership and direct exposure to US finance environments. We are hiring a Lead Accountant with strong US GAAP experience to take senior ownership of accounting operations for US-based clients operating in lean, fast-moving SME environments. You will be the most senior accountant on the client books, the person US leadership comes to when an accounting question needs a definitive answer. This role is ideal for professionals who want stable US-facing work, real authority over the general ledger, and direct collaboration with US Controllers and business leaders.

What You Will Own:

Own full-cycle accounting operations under US GAAP, from first accrual to final statement. Own the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close, with accountability for the calendar and cycle time. Own the general ledger and the balance sheet, driving reconciling items to resolution rather than reporting them. Prepare and finalize financial statements, reporting packages, and supporting schedules, and stand behind them. Own technical accounting treatment, revenue recognition, deferred revenue, accruals, and capitalisation, and document the judgements behind each. Hold final review over journal entries, reconciliations, and schedules prepared by other accountants, and send nothing to the client you have not satisfied yourself on. Review, mentor, and develop the accountants working alongside you, and set the standard their work is held to. Maintain and enforce accounting policies, internal controls, and close procedures, and flag where the current design no longer fits. Own audit readiness, prepare PBC deliverables, and respond directly to auditor queries through to resolution. Support US tax advisers with the accounting inputs they depend on. Partner directly with US Controllers, finance teams, and business stakeholders as the senior accounting voice in the relationship. Identify accounting issues early and drive them through to resolution. Build the close checklists and SOPs that keep the close reproducible, and improve the processes that slow it down.

What We're Looking For:

• 6+ years of accounting experience with deep US GAAP expertise.
• Demonstrated ownership of a full close cycle and the financial statements on an independent basis, rather than contribution to someone else's.
• Experience reviewing, supervising, or mentoring other accountants.
• Strong technical judgment, with the ability to reach a defensible conclusion and document it.
• Experience supporting or managing an audit, including direct interaction with external auditors.
• Experience working with US clients or international stakeholders.
• ERP/accounting systems experience (QuickBooks, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Xero, or similar).
• Advanced Excel or Google Sheets, including comfort building schedules others can follow.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills, with the confidence to explain an accounting conclusion to a non-accountant.
• High attention to detail with a problem-solving mindset.
• Ability to work effectively in remote, fast-paced environments.