Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Accounting Manager to lead the end-to-end monthly close, strengthen financial controls, and ensure audit-ready reporting across a multi-site F&B group (outlets, CPU, and roastery). This role is hands-on and requires strong technical accounting, structured execution, and confident stakeholder management. This role is also expected to modernize finance operations through process automation and digitization, leveraging the Microsoft Power Platform and/or RPA tools to reduce manual effort, shorten close cycles, and improve reporting reliability.

Key Responsibilities

1) Financial Close & Reporting Integrity

• Lead and execute a structured month-end close with a formal close calendar, deadlines, and cut-off governance across outlets, CPU, roastery, and projects.

• Deliver consistent, accurate management accounts and ensure all postings are supported, reviewed, and traceable.

• Maintain disciplined accruals, prepayments, and cut-offs to prevent late adjustments and rework.

2) Balance Sheet Governance & Audit Readiness

• Own the monthly balance sheet reconciliation pack (with supporting evidence) covering all major accounts including bank/loans, AP/GRNI, inventory, leases, fixed assets, and intercompany/transfers (CPU/roastery/outlets).

• Manage external auditors end-to-end: PBC schedules, evidence management, timely responses, and closure of findings.

• Drive closure of historical backlog and ensure the organization remains audit-ready at all times.

3) Internal Controls & Finance Policies

• Implement and enforce controls including approval matrices, segregation of duties, documentation standards, and exception handling.

• Strengthen transactional discipline in coordination with Procurement, AP/Cash, Cost/Inventory, and Operations (e.g., PO/GRN workflows, invoice approvals, stock count controls, outlet cash controls).

• Maintain clear finance SOPs for close, reconciliations, account ownership, and controls testing.

4) Automation, Digitization & Continuous Improvement

• Identify high-impact automation opportunities across close and controllership (e.g., reconciliations, exception reporting, approval workflows, audit evidence capture, recurring journals, vendor statement matching).

• Build and maintain dashboards and reporting views using Power BI; develop lightweight workflow tools using Power Apps and Power Automate where applicable.

• Experience with RPA tools (e.g., UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism, or equivalent) is required—either hands-on build capability or strong experience leading implementation with IT/partners.

• Establish measurable improvements in close timelines, error rates, and manual processing volumes.

5) Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Manage and develop the accounting team, setting clear standards for accuracy, timeliness, documentation, and accountability.

• Partner effectively with Operations, Cost Control, Procurement, and Projects to ensure finance requirements are met (cut-offs, documentation, stock counts, GRNs, approvals).

• Present financial issues clearly to senior leadership with solutions and action plans.

Performance Outcomes

• Month-end close achieved consistently within WD+7, improving toward WD+5.

• 100% of key balance sheet accounts reconciled monthly with evidence and clear ownership.

• External audit queries responded to with complete documentation within agreed service levels (typically 24–48 hours for standard requests).

• Reduction in aged GRNI, unreconciled supplier statements, and recurring audit findings.

• Documented automation initiatives delivered (e.g., reduced manual reconciliations, improved workflow compliance, improved reporting reliability).

Requirements

• 7–12+ years’ experience in accounting/controllership (multi-site retail/F&B strongly preferred; manufacturing/commissary/roastery exposure is a plus).

• Proven track record leading month-end close, balance sheet reconciliations, and external audit processes.

• Strong IFRS fundamentals; UAE VAT experience preferred.

• Strong ERP experience required (Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central preferred).

• Required: demonstrable experience in finance automation/process improvement, including familiarity with Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate and/or RPA platforms (UiPath/Automation Anywhere/Blue Prism/equivalent).

• High standards, structured execution, and strong stakeholder management; able to enforce deadlines and controls.

Preferred (Nice to Have)

• Power Query, SQL basics, data modeling, or experience building a finance data layer for reporting.

• Experience implementing close management tools/checklists, invoice workflow automation, or audit evidence repositories.