Manager l UAE National l External Audit

Grant Thornton UAE; Dubai; On-site; AED 450,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Grant Thornton UAE is seeking an External Audit Manager to lead high‑quality audit engagements with robust planning, execution, and review in line with professional standards. You’ll manage client relationships and portfolios, guiding teams to deliver with professionalism and efficiency.

You will support audit strategy with Partners, oversee engagements, and coach Senior Associates and Associates to maximise potential while ensuring deadlines and quality are met.

Qualifications

• Five years of External Audit experience in a top international firm.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Extensive post-qualification experience in audit and working with diverse businesses.

Responsibilities

• Lead on audit reviews and briefing the audit team; monitor timetables and budgets.
• Ensure work is delivered profitably and to the firm’s standards and client expectations.
• Develop teams, mentor staff, and build strong client relationships across engagements.
• Support Audit Partner in setting objectives and overall scope of audits; finalise reports for management.

Skills

External Audit experience

Communication skills

Networking skills

Education

ACA/CPA/ACCA

Job description

Join us as an External Audit Manager, where you’ll lead the delivery of high‑quality audit engagements, ensuring robust planning, execution, and review in line with professional standards. Working closely with Partners and senior stakeholders, you’ll manage client relationships, oversee a portfolio of audits, and guide teams to deliver with professionalism, efficiency, and excellence.

You’ll take a lead role in supporting the Partner on audit strategy, overseeing a portfolio of engagements, and ensuring work is effectively planned, organized, and reviewed. Managing a team of Senior Associates and Associates, you’ll also serve as a key point of contact for clients, driving high-quality delivery with professionalism and efficiency throughout.

Discover your purple and make your mark with our External Audit Team today!

Let us paint a picture for you

Imagine being part of a team that puts "we before me", where flexibility is a mindset, and where you trust your colleagues to have your back.

Imagine working for an organization that believes in the power of authenticity in everything that we do. Whether you're steering discussions in a client meeting, tackling your fear of heights at the top of the Burj Khalifa or ziplining across Jebel Jais – bring your true self to work. Be a part of a team driven by a purpose of shaping the world that we live in, based on trust and integrity in markets, dynamic businesses, and communities where businesses and people thrive.

Join us to expand your horizons, be inspired, face challenges, and most importantly, be yourself.

About the External Audit team

Providing a wide range of Audit and Assurance services to private, public and international companies across various sectors. We work closely with over 700 companies annually, ranging from SMEs to international listed companies. The client base is exciting and fast growing. Our people are committed to delivering best-in-class assurance services in locations where you are. We respond to the challenges of our clients with high quality, value for money technical solutions every time.

As a Manager, some of your responsibilities will include:

• Leading on audit reviews, agreeing audit timetables, briefing the audit team (including other specialists) and monitoring budgets
• Ensuring that all work allocated is carried out profitably and on a timely basis in accordance with the firm's professional standards and to the satisfaction of clients and engagement partners
• Ensuring that all employees are developing to the maximum of their potential and assist in the development of the office
• Managing a key client portfolio and building and maintaining good working relationships with all colleagues and clients
• Assisting the Audit Partner in establishing audit objectives and overall scope
• Checking that audit work papers have been properly reviewed and that audit files are completed in a timely manner and are properly filed and maintained on the network
• Finalising draft reports to management
• Following through on any concerns regarding an audit assignment with the Audit Partner and managing to balance risks and commercial returns
• Planning and co‑ordinating all aspects of audit planning, including resourcing requirements
• Managing audit teams on specific assignments, with specific line management
• Managing, motivating, and coaching team members and providing feedback through regular communication
• Consistently achieving deadlines and understanding the commercial implications of actions relating to productivity, recoverability, fee income and client service
• Adhering to the firm’s risk management policies

Think you've got what it takes to join our External Audit team? Like the color purple? Great. Here's a few more boxes we're also hoping you can tick:

• At least five years of External Audit experience in a top international firm
• Professionally qualified (ACA, CPA, ACCA)
• Extensive post-qualification experience in audit and being keen to work with a diverse range of businesses, across differing industry lines
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English
• Strong networking skills
• Comprehensive understanding of key reporting standards
• Genuine interest in our clients. We want to provide a distinctive service and unlock potential for growth in dynamic organisations
• Knowing that what you do matters. As an organisation we want to be known for how we do business, not simply what we do. So, we need people who know that every act matters from the simple things to the insights we bring to clients
• Seizing opportunities. We want to adapt quickly and wisely to changing conditions to optimise growth for both our clients and ourselves
• Applying critical reasoning to bring clarity and insight. We do it by asking great questions, listening, and drawing on our collective knowledge and experience to really help others grow