Chief Accountant

Palms Agro Production Company; Kuwait City; On-site; KWD 13,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

Palms Agro Production Company in Kuwait City seeks a senior accountant to lead the full accounting function and mentor the accounting team. You will oversee daily operations and drive closing processes, journal entries, and financial reporting.

The role requires strong IFRS knowledge, advanced Excel, ERP experience, and bilingual Arabic/English. You will coordinate audits and ensure regulatory compliance in a project-based business environment.

Qualifications

• Must have bachelor's degree in accounting/finance or related field.
• 7–10 years progressive accounting experience with senior roles.
• Experience in construction, contracting, engineering, or project-based business.
• Proven ability to supervise an accounting team and manage full-cycle accounting.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the company's full accounting function and daily accounting operations.
• Manage, supervise, and develop the accounting team, including Senior and Junior Accountants.
• Plan and control monthly, quarterly, and year-end closing processes.
• Review and approve journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, provisions, and adjustments.
• Prepare and review financial statements, management reports, and analyses.
• Monitor project accounting, job costing, WIP, profitability, and cost variances.
• Ensure control of project costs, overheads, and operating expenses.
• Oversee AP, AR, GL, bank reconciliations, and payroll accounting.
• Maintain controls over inventory, fixed assets, cash, receivables, and payables.
• Lead budgets, forecasts, cash flow, and variance analysis.
• Ensure IFRS, Kuwait requirements, and tax/compliance adherence.
• Coordinate external audits and respond to auditor queries.
• Establish and improve internal controls and accounting policies.

Skills

Full-cycle accounting

IFRS knowledge

Advanced Excel

Arabic-English

Leadership

Project-based accounting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

ERP systems

Accounting software

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the company's full accounting function and daily accounting operations.
• Manage, supervise, and develop the accounting team, including Senior and Junior Accountants.
• Plan and control the monthly, quarterly, and year-end closing processes and ensure timely completion.
• Review and approve journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, provisions, and accounting adjustments.
• Prepare and review financial statements, management reports, and financial analyses.
• Monitor project accounting, job costing, WIP, project profitability, and cost variances.
• Ensure proper allocation and control of project costs, overheads, and operating expenses.
• Oversee Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, bank reconciliations, and payroll accounting.
• Maintain effective controls over inventory, fixed assets, cash, receivables, payables, and other financial assets.
• Lead the preparation of budgets, forecasts, cash flow reports, and variance analysis.
• Ensure compliance with IFRS, Kuwait statutory requirements, and applicable tax and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate and manage external audits, including preparation of audit schedules and responding to auditor queries.
• Establish, maintain, and improve internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Minimum 7-10 years of progressive accounting experience, with substantial experience in a Senior Accountant, Accounting Supervisor, Chief Accountant, or similar role.
• Mandatory experience in construction, contracting, engineering, infrastructure, maintenance, landscaping, or another project-based business.
• Proven experience managing and supervising an accounting team.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of full-cycle accounting, financial closing, project accounting, job costing, WIP, and IFRS.
• Strong knowledge of ERP systems and accounting software.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Bilingual Arabic and English.