Middle East Payroll Accounting Manager

The Boston Consulting Group GmbH; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm is seeking a Payroll Accounting Manager in Dubai to oversee payroll operations and lead a team. This role involves ensuring compliance with payroll regulations across multiple jurisdictions, implementing new accounting software, and mentoring team members to enhance their skills. Candidates should possess a degree in accounting and significant experience in payroll, with strong analytical and leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Relevant bachelor's degree with 5+ years' experience in finance.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing performance and coaching.
• Expertise in payroll processing preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee payroll team operations across multiple jurisdictions.
• Implement new accounting software and ensure compliance.
• Mentor team members and drive process improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Customer Service

Communication

Flexibility

Digital Process Management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting

Tools

Oracle

Ramco

Workday

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

Job description

Who We Are

Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we help clients with total transformation-inspiring complex change, enabling organizations to grow, building competitive advantage, and driving bottom-line impact.

To succeed, organizations must blend digital and human capabilities. Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives to spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting along with technology and design, corporate and digital ventures—and business purpose. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, generating results that allow our clients to thrive.

What You'll Do

As a member of the Middle East Finance team, the Payroll Accounting Manager will lead a team of (2) Payroll and Accounting Specialists in processing all aspects of the payroll cycle with an ongoing focus on process and system improvements. This is a hands-on processing role, focusing on maintaining the appropriate checks and balances to ensure payroll compliance, high levels of accuracy, and timeliness.

Your responsibilities include:

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Payroll Team, who sit within the accounting function, to ensure all compensation payments (across 4 jurisdictions: UAE, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait) are processed timely and in accordance with BCG policy, US tax laws, local pension laws
• Review and approve all compensation payments, salary letters, and ensure high quality and accuracy of all outputs from the Payroll Team
• Ensure payroll journals, intercompany invoices and accounting are completed in line with the accounting standards and BCG’s policies (for management accounts).
• Support the implementation of new accounting software by assisting with data migration, testing, user training, and process alignment to ensure a smooth transition and successful system adoption
• Closely monitor the ILCS (Internal Local Cost Sharing) process to ensure BCG Middle East is correctly reimbursed for the cost of hosting employees from Global business units
• Ensure accuracy of data prepared and provided to BCG auditors, on a timely basis
• Coach, guide and mentor the team members to help them grow and develop the critical skills needed to succeed
• Initiate and promote process and system improvements (such as manage the integration of payroll system with banking partner, leveraging payroll system additional capabilities) to align with business goals and best practices and future growth
• Establish the best way to do things to ensure success as a team, and quality control.
• Maintain and drive improvements to written department policies and procedures
• Manage day to day escalations and act as business partner to resolve issues requiring additional assistance for resolution
• Support HR department on compensation related topics by providing accurate data and analysis
• Be the interface between HR and Finance to support a seamless end to end payroll process for the full employee life cycle
• Support on ad hoc projects and tasks as required

YOU’RE GOOD AT

• Strong leadership around shaping and growing a team of (2) payroll specialist.
• Develop best practices for cross-training staff to build a comprehensive knowledge base
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and multi-task while staying ahead of deadlines
• You are excited about compensation topics and bring a great deal of passion for managing projects in the field of compensation.
• You have a strong analytical mind and a high affinity for numbers.
• You have a structured and solution-oriented working style, and you find the right approach in special situations and complex environments and are able to defend it persuasively.
• You are deeply familiar with the digitalization of processes and enjoy redesigning, managing, and implementing processes.
• Your competent, professional manner earns you the respect of internal and external stakeholders alike.
• You’re flexible, motivated, and hard-working, and keep a cool head even in difficult situations.
• You are open, communicative, and eager to learn, and you enjoy developing and sharing your knowledge at all times.

What You'll Bring

• A relevant bachelor's degree / Accounting qualification with 5+ years relevant experience preferably at a professional services firm / multi-national organization.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in managing performance, coaching, and staff development
• Expertise in payroll processing is preferable
• Knowledge of US taxes and local pensions preferable
• Strong customer service focus
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Excellent problem solving and organizational skills
• Strong affinity for systems and processes, good user knowledge of Oracle, Ramco & Workday
• Strong knowledge of the principles, procedures and practices of general accounting
• Advanced level computer skills; Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
• Ability to respect all BCG information as personal and confidential

Who You'll Work With

You will work closely with the Accounting Team, the wider Finance Team and HR team, and the current Middle East Payroll Accounting Manager who will be commencing maternity leave from October 2025. You will report to the Accounting Director. You will regularly interact with internal teams as well as ME leadership.

Boston Consulting Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under national, provincial, or local law, where applicable, and those with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with applicable state and local laws.
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