Job Description – Senior Leadership Role (Statutory Audit Function) Position Title: Senior Manager – Audit / Director – Audit & Assurance / Audit Partner / Partner Designate (Depending on profile and experience) Location: Dubai / UAEReporting To: Managing Partner / Senior Leadership Team
About the Company: A well-established and highly regarded firm in the UAE, specializing in Accounting, Audit & Assurance, and Advisory services.
About the Role: We are looking to hire a senior audit professional to lead and strengthen our Statutory Audit & Assurance practice in the UAE. The ideal candidate should be a highly experienced Chartered Accountant with strong UAE market exposure, proven leadership capabilities, and substantial experience in managing statutory audits for medium to large-sized clients.
The candidate must possess strong technical audit knowledge, client relationship management capabilities, and commercial acumen including business development and cross-selling opportunities.
This is a leadership role involving team management, direct client handling, audit quality oversight, practice development, and contribution toward the growth of the firm.
KEY REQUIREMENTS:
Educational Qualification Qualified Chartered Accountant (CA) Additional qualifications such as CPA, ACCA, CIA, or Dip IFR would be an added advantage
Experience Requirements Minimum 10 years of post-qualification experience Minimum 3 years of relevant experience working in the UAECore experience must be within an audit/assurance practice or audit firm environment Must currently hold or have previously held a senior leadership role within an audit firm Strong exposure to conducting and leading statutory audits Experience managing medium to large client portfolios across multiple sectors Proven experience leading and mentoring audit teams Strong track record of long-term continuity with previous employers Candidates with frequent job changes (every 1–2 years) will not be entertained
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Audit & Assurance Leadership Lead and manage statutory audit engagements from planning through completion Review audit files, financial statements, and working papers to ensure compliance with applicable standards Ensure compliance with:International Standards on Auditing (ISA) IFRS / IFRS for SMEsUAE regulatory and compliance requirements Manage engagement risk, timelines, budgets, and quality standards Handle complex technical accounting and audit matters
Client Management Serve as the primary relationship manager for key clients Independently manage discussions with CFOs, finance teams, promoters, and senior stakeholders Present audit findings and recommendations to clients Maintain strong client satisfaction and long-term relationships
Team Leadership & People Management Lead, mentor, and develop audit teams across multiple engagements Review work performed by managers, seniors, and audit staff Build a high-performance culture within the audit practice Assist in recruitment, performance evaluation, and training initiatives
Business Development & Practice Growth Identify new business opportunities within existing and prospective clients Support cross-selling of other service lines including:Tax Advisory Outsourcing Compliance services Participate in networking, relationship-building, and business development initiatives Contribute toward expansion and growth of the audit practice
Operational & Strategic Responsibilities Support leadership in practice management and strategic initiatives Assist in strengthening audit methodologies and internal quality controls Contribute to process improvement and operational efficiency initiatives Support regulatory inspections and quality review processes where applicable
Compensation: Open and negotiable, depending on the candidate’s experience, market standing, client handling expertise, and potential contribution to the growth of the practice.