Senior Accountant - Payroll & Expense; UAEN

We are looking for an Senior Accountant - Payroll & Expense who will be responsible for payroll processing, employee expense accounting, and financial reconciliation for our client based in Abu Dhabi — a semi-government organization.

A suitable candidate is someone who is a finance professional who can ensure IFRS-compliant payroll accounting, manage employee expense claims and reconciliations, and support ERP automation initiatives within payroll and expense modules. You should also have experience in executing month-end payroll accruals and closings, Delegation of Authority (DoA) compliance, and coordination with HR, Treasury, and Finance teams.

• Prepare and process monthly payroll transactions in coordination with HR to ensure timely and accurate salary disbursements.
• Validate payroll inputs such as attendance, bonuses, overtime, and deductions to ensure accurate payroll computation across all entities.
• Record and reconcile payroll expenses in ERP/business systems, ensuring correct posting of salaries, benefits, and deductions.
• Prepare payroll-related accounting entries, accruals, and adjustments during month-end and year-end closings in line with IFRS.
• Ensure correct allocation of payroll costs across departments, projects, and entities to support cost accuracy and reporting transparency.
• Monitor advances, deductions, and allowances in coordination with HR to ensure policy compliance and payroll integrity.
• Process and record employee expense claims, travel advances, and settlements in compliance with financial policies and Delegation of Authority (DoA).
• Validate supporting documentation for expense claims and ensure correct cost center and project allocation.
• Monitor and reconcile employee advances and petty cash accounts to ensure timely clearance and control over outstanding balances.
• Perform monthly reconciliations of payroll control accounts, employee advances, and expense ledgers to ensure ledger integrity.
• Prepare payroll and expense schedules for financial reporting and consolidation, supporting accurate month-end and year-end disclosures.
• Collaborate with Financial Control and Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting (PB&F) teams to align payroll and expense data with reporting and forecasting cycles.
• Coordinate with Tax and Compliance teams on VAT treatment for employee-related expenses.
• Monitor Delegation of Authority (DoA) adherence in payroll and expense approvals to prevent unauthorized transactions.
• Support ERP enhancement and automation initiatives within payroll and expense accounting modules.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Business Administration, Data Analytics, or a related discipline; master's degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred.
• Professional certification preferred, such as CFA, CMA, ACCA, or CPA, or equivalent.
• Proven experience in end-to-end payroll processing, validation, and accounting, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant salary disbursements in line with UAE labour law.
• Hands-on experience in employee expense processing, travel advance management, and reimbursement accounting.
• Strong understanding of IFRS, WPS regulations, and financial governance frameworks to ensure transparency, statutory compliance, and audit readiness.
• Experience in payroll reconciliations, expense ledger management, and interdepartmental coordination with HR, Treasury, and Finance.
• Proficiency in ERP/business systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) for payroll and expense accounting modules.

Preference will be given to candidates available immediately or a maximum of 30 days.

We are looking for a candidate who will be able to work in the United Arab Emirates.