Chief Accountant

About CARMA

CARMA is a globally-trusted media intelligence leader with decades of experience helping PR and communications professionals monitor what matters, measure what’s meaningful, and demonstrate the value of their work. We combine cutting-edge technology, including AI-enabled media monitoring across print, online, broadcast, and social channels in 100+ languages - with deep human expertise to deliver actionable insights that inform strategy and drive business-critical decisions. With a diverse global team supporting thousands of organizations worldwide, CARMA empowers partners to turn complex media data into clarity and context, elevate the impact of earned media, and deepen understanding of stakeholder influence across markets.

Role Overview
We are looking for a Chief Accountant to take ownership of the day-to-day accounting, monthly management accounts, statutory compliance, and balance sheet integrity of our UAE entity.

Based in Dubai, the role reports to the Head of Finance and will act as the primary finance owner on the ground, responsible for delivering a clean and timely month-end close in line with the Group timetable, maintaining strong financial controls, and ensuring all UAE tax and statutory obligations are met.

You will work within an international, multi-currency environment, primarily across AED, USD, GBP and EUR, reporting under IFRS and collaborating closely with the wider Group Finance, FP&A, payroll, tax, and operational teams.

Role & Responsibilities

Management Accounts & Group Reporting

• Prepare monthly management accounts, including P&L, balance sheet and cash flow, for the UAE entity in line with the Group close timetable.
• Deliver accurate month-end submissions to the London-based Finance Business Partner in the required Group reporting format, including variance analysis and commentary against budget, forecast, and prior year.
• Prepare and post month-end journals, including accruals, prepayments, deferred revenue, payroll, depreciation, provisions, and IFRS 16 lease accounting entries.
• Maintain complete monthly balance sheet reconciliations, including ageing and timely clearance of reconciling items.
• Review the general ledger and ensure all transactions are correctly classified, supported, and recorded.
• Support the annual budgeting and periodic forecasting processes in collaboration with the Finance Business Partner and FP&A team.
• Ensure month-end and year-end close activities are completed accurately and within agreed deadlines.

Revenue & Cost Accounting

• Maintain deferred and accrued revenue schedules for annual, subscription-based, monitoring, and project-based contracts in accordance with IFRS 15.
• Ensure customer billing is complete, accurate, and recorded in the correct accounting period.
• Review revenue recognition across different service arrangements, including subscriptions, reporting services, and ad-hoc projects.
• Track and accrue third-party content, supplier, technology, and data-platform costs, ensuring costs are recognised in the appropriate period.
• Monitor gross margin by client and service line, investigating significant movements and highlighting potential margin erosion to the Finance Business Partner.
• Review supplier invoices and expenses to ensure correct coding, supporting documentation, and appropriate approvals.

UAE Tax & Statutory Compliance

• Own the UAE finance compliance calendar and ensure all required filings and payments are completed accurately and on time.
• Prepare and coordinate UAE VAT returns, ensuring accurate treatment of output VAT, input VAT, reverse-charge transactions, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain appropriate VAT records and reconciliations and coordinate with external tax advisors where required.
• Support the preparation of the Company's UAE Corporate Tax calculations, returns, supporting schedules, and tax reconciliations.
• Maintain appropriate accounting records and documentation to support Corporate Tax positions and potential Federal Tax Authority reviews.
• Monitor related-party and intercompany transactions from a UAE transfer-pricing perspective and maintain appropriate supporting documentation in coordination with Group Finance and external advisors.
• Support compliance with applicable UAE accounting, tax, company, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate regulatory or corporate filings with the Company's local corporate services provider or relevant authority, as applicable.
• Keep up to date with changes in UAE accounting and tax regulations and highlight relevant changes to Group Finance.

Payroll & Employee-Related Accounting

• Coordinate monthly payroll accounting with HR and the payroll provider.
• Review payroll journals, employee benefits, leave provisions, bonuses, end-of-service benefit provisions, and other employee-related liabilities.
• Reconcile payroll records to the general ledger each month.
• Support payroll payment processes and Wages Protection System (WPS) requirements where applicable.
• Ensure employee-related accruals and provisions are appropriately recorded in accordance with UAE requirements and Group accounting policies.

Intercompany & Group Accounting

• Reconcile all intercompany balances with Group entities each month and resolve differences before month-end close.
• Process Group cost allocations, management charges, and recharge entries in accordance with Group policies and transfer-pricing arrangements.
• Maintain appropriate supporting documentation for intercompany transactions.
• Manage foreign exchange revaluation of monetary balances across AED, USD, GBP, EUR, and other relevant currencies.
• Review foreign exchange gains and losses and ensure appropriate accounting treatment.
• Work closely with Group Finance to ensure UAE reporting is aligned with Group accounting policies and IFRS requirements.

Audit & Financial Controls

• Prepare statutory financial statements and supporting schedules in accordance with IFRS and applicable UAE requirements.
• Coordinate the annual external audit and act as the main finance contact for local auditors.
• Own and coordinate audit PBC (Prepared by Client) requests, ensuring documentation is provided accurately and on time.
• Support Group auditors during interim and year-end audit processes.
• Maintain effective internal financial controls and ensure compliance with Group finance policies and the Delegation of Authority.
• Identify control gaps or accounting risks and recommend appropriate improvements.

Cash & Working Capital

• Monitor accounts receivable and support the collection of outstanding customer balances.
• Prepare monthly reporting on DSO, overdue balances, and collection status.
• Prepare short-term cash-flow forecasts and flag potential funding requirements to the Finance Business Partner in advance.
• Monitor bank balances and complete monthly bank reconciliations.
• Manage supplier payment runs, ensuring payments have appropriate supporting documentation and approvals.
• Liaise with banks and internal stakeholders regarding routine banking and payment matters when required.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Maintain accurate accounting records within the Company's ERP system.
• Support improvements to month-end reporting, reconciliations, financial controls, and accounting processes.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual finance processes and improve reporting efficiency.

Work closely with Finance colleagues across different countries to standardise processes and support Group-wide finance initiatives.

Requirements

Technical Competencies / Skills

• Strong practical knowledge of UAE accounting, VAT, Corporate Tax, and statutory compliance requirements.

• Good understanding of IFRS, particularly IFRS 15 Revenue Recognition and IFRS 16 Leases.

Education

Qualified or finalist accountant such as ACCA, ACA, CIMA, CPA, CMA, CA, or equivalent professional qualification.

Experience

·        Approximately 5+ years of accounting experience, including strong exposure to management accounting, month-end close, and financial reporting.

·        Previous experience working in a Chief Accountant, Senior Accountant, Management Accountant, or similar role.

·        Experience preparing complete monthly management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations, and financial analysis.

·        Experience with intercompany accounting, related-party transactions, and multi-currency environments.

·        Experience supporting or managing external audits.

·        Strong understanding of accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash flow, and working-capital management.

·        Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

·        Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or a comparable ERP system is preferred.

·        Fluent English is required, as this is the working language of the Group.

·        Strong attention to detail with a high level of accuracy and financial discipline.

·        Self-sufficient, organised, and deadline-driven, with the ability to manage the UAE finance function

Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with both finance and non-finance stakeholders across different locations.

Licenses and certifications

·        Contract Management Certification is preferable.

·        Corporate Governance Certificate is preferable.

·        Legal Drafting or Legal Translation Certificate is preferable.