Payroll Accountant jobs in United Arab Emirates

Job Title: Chief Accountant

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

Organization: International Community Schools (ICS)

The Chief Accountant will oversee and manage the financial operations of all school branches under the ICS Group. This role involves supervising the accounting team, ensuring compliance with UAE financial regulations, preparing consolidated financial reports, and developing effective financial strategies to support growth and sustainability. The ideal candidate will be a proactive leader capable of modernizing financial systems, optimizing resources, and guiding management decisions with data-driven insights.

• Oversee and manage all accounting functions across six branches, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and timeliness of financial reporting.
• Prepare consolidated financial statements and management reports for the group.
• Develop and implement financial policies, internal controls, and procedures in alignment with best practices and UAE regulations.
• Lead annual budgeting and forecasting processes, ensuring effective cost control and financial planning.
• Conduct financial analysis to identify performance trends, variances, and improvement opportunities.
• Coordinate and liaise with external auditors, banks, and relevant government authorities.
• Supervise, mentor, and build the capabilities of the existing accounting teams across branches.
• Monitor cash flow, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and ensure optimal working capital management.
• Ensure compliance with VAT and other statutory reporting requirements.
• Support top management with strategic financial insights for business development and expansion planning.
• Recommend and implement ERP / financial software improvements to streamline operations.

• Strong organizational skills with excellent communication (preferred both Arabic and English)
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Professional certification such as CPA, CMA, or ACCA is highly desirable.
• Minimum 5 –10 years of progressive accounting experience , with at least 3 years in a leadership or group-level role (preferably within the education or service sector in the UAE).
• Strong knowledge of UAE accounting standards, VAT regulations, and financial compliance .
• Proven experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and consolidation .
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems (e.g., Orison, Dynamics 365 or similar) .
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strategic mindset with strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and senior management.

• Competitive salary package based on experience and qualifications.
• Supportive and professional working environment.
• Opportunity to play a key role in shaping the financial future of a growing education group.