Accounting Manager

About us: WKC Group is an environmental consultancy firm offering high-value advisory services and technical studies. WKC offers expertise in areas such as Environmental Impact Assessment, environmental modelling, marine and biodiversity studies and a range of assurance-related services. WKC's award-winning team is strategically located in the Middle East, the UK, the Philippines and South Africa, enabling global reach across multiple sectors, including energy, mining, transportation, industrial and residential development, and government.

The role: The Accounting Manager leads WKC Group’s accounting operations and ensures the completeness, accuracy and integrity of accounting records, close, consolidation, reconciliations and audit-supporting information. This is an accounting management role and does not own strategic Finance, management performance analysis or systems housekeeping. Two Accounts Officers (AP & AR) will report to the Accounting Manager, and there will be frequent collaboration with General Managers, the Finance Team (forward looking strategic analysis) and the Finance Committee (who ultimately make decisions based on present and historic data (accounts) and future projections (finance).

The question this role answers

Are the numbers correct and compliant? Key Ownership

• Local statutory accounting and compliance coordination (in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Durban, London, Manilla and Al Khobar)
• General ledger and balance-sheet integrity
• Month-end and year-end close
• Group consolidation and elimination entries
• Intercompany accounting and reconciliations
• Audit-supporting accounting information and statutory schedules
• Accounting procedures, close calendar and control documentation
• Data accuracy and input into management reports and dashboards
• Quality and delivery of the AR and AP workstreams

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate accounting information required for local statutory, VAT, payroll and tax filings through local advisers and service providers
• Own the monthly and annual accounting-close timetable
• Review journals, accruals, prepayments, provisions, depreciation and reconciliations
• Validate entity trial balances and prepare the Group consolidation
• Prepare approved consolidation, elimination and foreign-currency translation entries
• Resolve intercompany mismatches and aged or unsupported balances
• Review revenue, WIP, fixed assets, expenses and intercompany classifications from an accounting perspective
• Coordinate audit schedules, evidence and routine auditor queries
• Coordinate accounting information required by local accountants and tax advisers
• Maintain accounting procedures, continuity files and close checklists
• Manage, coach and cross-train the Accounts Officers (x2)
• Coordinate and collaborate with the Finance Team (located in Dubai)
• Assess whether local office administration or external support is required while retaining central accounting control

Role Boundaries

• Does not own strategic Finance, capital allocation or executive decision support
• Does not own management reporting interpretation, budgeting or forecasting
• Does not own system housekeeping or project-performance analysis
• Escalates material accounting-policy decisions to the Finance Controller or Finance Committee
• Provides validated accounting information to Finance

Candidate Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting
• Accounting certification, such as CPA, CMA, ACCA, CA or equivalent
• Minimum five years of progressive accounting experience
• At least one to two years in a senior or supervisory role
• Multi-entity month-end close and reconciliation experience
• Group consolidation and intercompany accounting experience
• Strong command of IFRS
• Advanced MS Excel capability

Candidate Preferences

• Ten or more years of progressive accounting experience
• Master’s degree in accounting or finance
• Experience with ERP systems such as Sage, QuickBooks or Odoo
• Audit coordination and statutory reporting experience
• Multi-currency and multi-jurisdictional accounting experience
• Experience in a project-based or professional-services business

Key Performance Indicators

• Close completed according to timetable
• Accurate and documented consolidation
• Reduction in aged reconciling items
• Timely audit submissions and query resolution
• Timely data input into management reports
• Accurate data input into management reports
• Accuracy of AR, AP and balance-sheet records
• Effective team supervision, documentation and cross-cover

Note: The indicative salary target is a planning benchmark for the role and is not an individual offer. Final remuneration should reflect the approved scope, internal relativities and current market evidence.