Senior Accountant - Payables

About:

Alef Group is a pioneer in developing premier lifestyle communities, destinations, and experiences through investment and strategic joint ventures. As part of its continued growth, Alef Group is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant - Payables (Bilingual/Native English Speaker) overseeing the accounts payable function, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing of supplier, contractor, consultant, and other vendor invoices and payments across the real estate development business, to join the team in Sharjah. Immediate Joiner Preferred.

Job Purpose:

The Senior Accountant – Payables is responsible for managing and overseeing the accounts payable function, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing of supplier, contractor, consultant, and other vendor invoices and payments across the real estate development business. The role is responsible for maintaining accurate vendor accounts, performing reconciliations, managing payment cycles, supporting project-related accounting requirements, and ensuring compliance with company policies, UAE Corporate Tax and VAT regulations, and applicable accounting standards.

Key Accountabilities:

1.Accounts Payable Management

• Manage the end-to-end accounts payable process, including receipt, verification, approval, posting, and payment of supplier and contractor invoices.
• Review invoices against purchase orders, contracts, delivery notes, work completion certificates, and other supporting documentation.
• Perform three-way matching, where applicable, between the purchase order or contract, goods receipt or service confirmation, and supplier invoice before posting the transaction.
• Ensure invoices are accurately recorded in the ERP system against the appropriate company, project, cost centre, budget and account code.
• Monitor outstanding payables and ensure invoices are processed and paid within agreed contractual and payment terms.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date vendor master and payable records.
• Ensure appropriate segregation of duties and adherence to delegated authority and approval policies

2.Real Estate Development & Project Payables

• Manage payables relating to construction contractors, consultants, architects, authorities, project management companies, subcontractors, suppliers, and other development-related service providers.
• Review project invoices and supporting documentation to ensure alignment with contracts, purchase orders, budgets, and approved work completion certificates.
• Coordinate with project, Contract & Procurement teams on interim payment certificates, variations, retention amounts, advances, and final settlements.
• Monitor contractor and supplier advances and ensure timely adjustment against subsequent invoices.
• Track retention payable and other contractual deductions and ensure accurate accounting and settlement.
• Support project cost reporting by ensuring development-related expenses are correctly classified and allocated to the relevant project.

3.Vendor Reconciliation & Account Management

• Perform regular vendor statement reconciliations and resolve discrepancies, duplicate invoices, credit notes, and unmatched transactions.
• Reconcile accounts payable sub-ledger with the general ledger on a monthly basis.
• Investigate and resolve outstanding items and aged balances in coordination with internal stakeholders and vendors.
• Maintain accurate records of vendor balances, advances, deposits, retentions, and other payable obligations.
• Respond to vendor queries regarding invoice status, payment schedules, deductions, SOA, and account balances.

4.Payment Processing & Cash Flow Support

• Prepare payment proposals and payment batches based on approved invoices and contractual payment terms.
• Ensure all payments are appropriately authorized and supported by complete documentation before processing.
• Coordinate with Treasury/Finance teams to ensure timely processing of supplier and contractor payments.
• Support cash-flow forecasting by providing accurate information on upcoming payables and contractual commitments.
• Monitor payment due dates and prioritize payments based on contractual obligations, business requirements, and approved payment schedules.
• Ensure accurate accounting of bank transfers, payment settlements, and supplier-related transactions.

5.VAT, Corporate Tax, Compliance & Financial Controls

• Ensure appropriate treatment and recording of UAE VAT on supplier and contractor invoices, and accurate classification of related expenses for UAE Corporate Tax purposes, in accordance with applicable tax regulations.
• Validate VAT invoices and supporting documentation before processing payments.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, internal controls, IFRS, and applicable UAE accounting and tax requirements.
• Maintain complete and audit-ready documentation for all payable transactions.
• Support internal and external audits by providing reconciliations, schedules, invoices, payment records, and supporting documentation.
• Identify and report control weaknesses, duplicate payments, unusual transactions, or potential financial risks.

6.Month-End & Year-End Closing

• Prepare accounts payable schedules and reconciliations as part of the month-end and year-end closing process.
• Ensure all invoices received within the accounting period are accurately recorded.
• Prepare and review accruals, provisions, prepayments, advances, retentions, and outstanding liabilities relating to suppliers and development projects.
• Support the Finance team with accounts payable ageing and liability reporting.
• Assist in ensuring accurate cut-off of project and operating expenses at period-end.

7.Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare weekly and monthly accounts payable ageing reports and outstanding liability reports for management review.
• Provide analysis of overdue and upcoming supplier/contractor payments.
• Prepare project-related payable reports, including contractor commitments, advances, retentions, and outstanding payment certificates.

Educational Qualifications, Work Experience, and Skills Required:

Educational Qualifications:

• Must have a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or a related discipline.
• Professional accounting qualification such as ACCA, CMA, or CA is preferred.
• Knowledge of IFRS, UAE VAT, Corporate Tax and relevant regulations is required.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 5–7 years of relevant accounting experience, with strong exposure to Accounts Payable.
• Previous experience within a UAE-based real estate developer, construction, property development, or related industry is highly preferred.
• Strong experience handling contractor, consultant, supplier, and project-related payables.
• Experience with payment certificates, retention, advances, accruals, provisions, and project-related expenses is preferred.
• Strong understanding of UAE VAT, Corporate Tax, IFRS, financial controls, and month-end closing processes.
• Experience working with ERP/accounting systems such as Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle, SAP, Yardi, MRI, or similar systems.
• Experience managing high-volume invoices and multiple vendors/entities/projects is preferred.

Skills required:

• Strong knowledge of Accounts Payable and general accepted accounting principles.
• Strong understanding of real estate development and project-related accounting.
• Excellent numerical, analytical, and reconciliation skills.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong knowledge of MS Excel, MS Office and ERP/accounting systems.
• Ability to analyse vendor statements, ageing reports, payment schedules, and project-related financial information.
• Strong understanding of internal controls and financial governance.
• High integrity and accountability when handling financial transactions and vendor payments.
• Good communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work effectively with Finance, Contract & Procurement, Projects, and external vendors.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict month-end and payment deadlines.