Audit and Tax Manager

Job Title

Manager Audit & Tax (Operations Lead)

Reporting to

Managing Director

Location

Dubai, UAE

Role Objective

This role exists to run the firm's day-to-day delivery engine. The Manager will own audits, clients, people, and processes so the MD can focus on growth, strategy, and positioning. This is not a support role. This is an ownership role without equity.

Role Description / Core Responsibilities

End-to-End Audit & Assurance Management

Independently manage audit assignments from engagement signing to issuance of audit reports.

Plan audits, allocate resources, set timelines, and ensure compliance with:

• IFRS
• UAE Commercial Companies Law
• Free Zone / Mainland regulatory requirements

Review working papers, resolve audit issues, and ensure quality control before partner sign-off.

Act as the primary audit point of contact for clients, regulators, and external stakeholders.

Ensure audits are delivered on time, within scope, and without rework.

Client Ownership & Engagement Control

Act as firm-level relationship owner for assigned clients. Manage:

• Engagement scope
• Deliverables
• Timelines
• Fee realization

Proactively handle client escalations, scope creep, and expectation management.

Ensure zero surprises for clients and MD.

Maintain professional communication standards across email, calls, and meetings.

Team Leadership & People Management

• Manage and lead a team of 34 accountants/auditors.
• Assign, delegate, and monitor work using clear deadlines and quality benchmarks.
• Conduct:
• Weekly task reviews
• Performance feedback
• Skill-gap identification
• Train junior staff on:
• Audit methodology
• Documentation standards
• Professional communication
• Build a high-accountability culture, not a dependency culture.

SOPs, Controls & Operational Excellence

Design, document, and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for:

• Audit engagements
• Client onboarding
• Deliverable tracking
• Internal reviews

Introduce process improvements to reduce turnaround time, errors, and rework.

Track operational KPIs such as:

• Engagement cycle time
• Staff utilization
• On-time delivery ratio

Drive continuous improvement initiatives aligned with firm growth.

Engagement Letters & Commercial Documentation

Draft and finalize Engagement Agreements post commercial approval by MD.

Ensure scope clarity, risk protection, and regulatory compliance in all agreements.

Coordinate with MD on:

• Scope variations
• Change orders
• Additional billing opportunities

Maintain engagement documentation and renewal tracking.

Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure firm compliance with:

• Audit regulations
• AML requirements (to the extent applicable)
• Professional conduct standards

Identify and flag risk clients, risky scopes, and fee-risk situations early.

Capacity Planning & Workload Forecasting

Plan team capacity against incoming and ongoing engagements.

Alert MD in advance on:

• Resource constraints
• Hiring needs
• Seasonal workload spikes

Optimize utilization without burning out the team.

Internal Reporting to Management

Provide weekly operational reports to MD covering:

• Engagement status
• Delays and risks
• Team performance
• Client issues

Act as the MD's eyes and ears inside delivery operations.

Contribution to Firm Growth (Non-Sales)

Support MD in:

• Pricing logic
• Scoping discussions (technical input)
• Proposal structuring

Identify upsell and cross-sell opportunities from existing clients.

Improve client retention through execution excellence.

Authority & Decision Rights

• Authority to manage day-to-day client delivery independently.
• Authority to delegate and re-prioritize internal work.
• Commercial decisions remain with MD, but execution decisions rest with the Manager.

Ideal Candidate Profile (Reality-Based)

• 58 years experience in audit/accounting firms (UAE experience preferred).
• Strong hands-on audit background (not just reviewer).
• Proven experience managing teams and clients.
• Comfortable with accountability, deadlines, and pressure.
• Process-oriented, not ad-hoc.
• Communicates clearly and professionally.

Performance Metrics (How Success Will Be Measured)

• On-time audit completion rate
• Client satisfaction & retention
• Reduction in MD operational involvement
• Team productivity and error reduction
• SOP adoption and operational consistency

Qualifications Required

• CA (Chartered Accountant ICAI or equivalent) or
• ACCA (Affiliate or Member minimum) or
• CPA (US or equivalent) or
• ACA / ICAEW