Senior Accountant

International Schools Partnership; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution in Dubai seeks a Senior Accountant to manage the school's financial operations. The successful candidate will require a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and at least 5 years of experience. Responsibilities include preparing management accounts, performing reconciliations, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. This role offers competitive working hours and a supportive environment to foster professional growth.

Benefits

30 days holiday per year

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience.
• Hands-on experience in financial reporting.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and UAE VAT regulations.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparing monthly management accounts.
• Perform daily bank reconciliations.
• Manage supplier invoice processing.

Skills

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Integrity

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

NetSuite

Microsoft Excel

Job description

DescriptionPosition at The Aquila School Owned by Shaikh Mohammed Maktoum Juma Al Maktoum One Person Company LLC

Job Description Senior Accountant For all staff in school we share a responsibility to ensure that children are safe and properly supervised at all times. Our school is committed to amazing learning- providing enjoyable and meaningful learning experiences so that every pupil makes as much progress as possible. All staff are expected to adhere to The Aquila Professional Code of Conduct and commit to promoting our vision A happy community school with amazing learning at its heart where pupils are empowered to make choices engage in meaningful learning experiences and make exceptional progress. Our focus is providing children with amazing learning and to be the school of choice for the community we serve.The Aquila School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years employment history.Skills & Attributes

• Excellent attention to detail and high level of accuracy.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently in a small team and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to interact with non-finance staff and parents.
• Proactive and adaptable with a hands-on approach to resolving issues.
• High level of integrity confidentiality and professionalism.

Job PurposeThe Senior Accountant will play a key role in managing the day-to-day financial operations of the school. Working as part of a small finance team this role requires a hands-on professional with strong technical accounting skills and the ability to oversee all aspects of the schools finances ensuring compliance with policies procedures and regulatory requirements.Key Responsibilities

• Assist in preparing monthly management accounts.
• Perform general ledger reconciliations and maintain accurate financial records.
• Liaise with external auditors for timely completion of statutory audits.
• Perform daily bank reconciliations and ensure accurate recording of transactions.
• Manage petty cash ensuring proper controls and documentation.
• Monitor cash flow and advise on short-term funding requirements.
• Maintain fixed asset register including additions disposals and depreciation schedules.
• Manage supplier invoice processing approvals and timely payments.
• Reconcile supplier statements and resolve discrepancies.
• Assist with issuing invoices of tuition fees and other school charges.

• Collect payments from families during busy periods and issues receipts.

• Monitor collections follow up on outstanding balances and support debt management efforts.
• Ensure adherence to internal financial controls and recommend process improvements.
• Support compliance with school group policies KHDA and other local regulatory requirements.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of VAT and ensure proper filing and record-keeping.
• Undertake any additional tasks assigned by the Finance Manager to support smooth operations

In addition all staff are required to carry out any tasks required by the school or the regional office to facilitate the smooth day to day running of the schoolQualifications & Experience

• Bachelors degree in Accounting Finance or related discipline (professional qualification such as ACCA/CPA/CA is an advantage).
• Minimum 5 years relevant experience.
• Hands-on experience in all areas of accounting from transactional processing to financial reporting.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and UAE VAT regulations.
• Proficiency in accounting software (NetSuite preferred) and Microsoft Excel.

In addition all staff are required to carry out any tasks required by the school or the regional office to facilitate the smooth day to day running of the schoolTo be line managed by the Finance ManagerHours of work - 8.5 hours Monday to Friday with alternating half day Fridays Holidays - 30 days per calendar year

Required Experience:

Senior IC