Senior Associate - Audit & Assurance (Arabic Speaker)

About BDO

BDO UAE provides audit and assurance, advisory, tax and business outsourcing services to companies across all sectors of the economy.

As one of the world’s leading audit and accounting organizations, we have clients of all types and sizes, from large corporate organizations to private businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals across various industry sectors.

From a global beginning in 1963 with five firms, today BDO extends across 166 countries and territories, with 115,661 people working out of 1,776 offices.

About the Role

BDO UAE is currently looking for an Assistant Manager to join their dynamic Risk Advisory team in UAE. The location will be based in Dubai or Abu Dhabi depending on business requirements.

This role will entail being:

1. Responsible to complete allocated complex assignments/tasks within the engagements as per BDO methodology in line with respective timeline.
2. Responsible to draft/guide the team in preparation/review financial statements of the allocated assignments as per IFRS, ensuring that all notes and disclosures are complete.
3. Lead the allocated assignments, coordinate with clients in respect of allocated assignments at the start of the allocation, prepare detailed project plan and communicate/agreed on dates and schedules with the client.
4. Provide assistance and support to AM/Managers on assignments as and when required. Respond promptly and accurately to queries and requests.
5. Understand the client's requirement in detail, discuss with colleagues (AM), whenever required, organize ideas logically and present thoughts rationally and confidently.
6. Identify audit & accounting issues on a timely basis and discuss with the engagement team and the client. Identify a proper resolution of these matters.
7. Demonstrate effective two-way communication and skills to resolve the issues.
8. Be a team player, treat everyone equally & respectfully. Be open to accept the work. Support senior colleagues in the allocated work. Discuss with the senior team members or colleagues any technical or project management issues faced. Demonstrate collaboration.
9. Support junior team members and guide them to perform various tasks. Ensure proper mentoring of the staff allocated. Prepare reports and communicate findings and recommendations to the client and agree with them. Lead the client audit closing meetings.
10. Develop an understanding of the client’s needs, commercial focus and business objectives, and timely anticipate issues and questions. Discuss with the senior team members and propose relevant services and solutions to the client and seek new opportunities.
11. Take ownership of self-assessment, ensure to complete appraisal at the end of each file, quarter & year, be receptive and accept constructive feedback.
12. Understand and follow BDO core values; Ownership, Collaboration, Respect & Ethics and demonstrate exceptional client services (ECS). Uphold the brand values at all times.
13. Ensure continuous professional development. Identify your key technical improvements areas and put efforts to develop required skills.
14. Contribute effectively in the organized training sessions to achieve required results.
15. Contribute in any technical matters discussed within the teams.
16. Extend support to junior team members or others in any technical issues faced.

Key Attributes:

1. Good communication skills – both written and verbal.
2. Confident and comfortable in client interactions.
3. Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams.
4. Able to assimilate and communicate new information (e.g. legal and practice developments) quickly and accurately.
5. Able to draft proposals, reports and other documentation to a high standard as per the internal guidelines.
6. Flexible - able to adapt quickly to market and practice changes.

Key Experience Parameters:

1. The applicant must be a Qualified CA / ACCA with 2-5 years of experience.
2. Good command of written and spoken English. Strong technical knowledge of IFRS Accounting Standards required.
3. Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, and Excel – which includes preparing PowerPoint presentations).

Given the nature of the role, proficiency in Arabic is required.