Associate – Financial Reporting & Controllership

Associate – Financial Reporting & Controllership

Location:

Abu Dhabi, UAE

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Associate to join our client's Finance team. This is a junior-level role
, ideal for an ambitious finance professional with 2–4 years of total experience
, including a minimum of 2 consecutive years in a Big 4 external audit firm
, looking to transition into an in-house controllership and financial reporting environment.

The successful candidate will play a key role in the preparation of statutory financial statements, balance sheet reconciliations, financial reporting, and month-end close activities across 4 legal entities
. This role offers significant exposure to IFRS reporting, statutory accounts preparation, and interaction with senior finance leadership.

• Prepare annual and interim financial statements for multiple legal entities in accordance with IFRS and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Draft and maintain financial statement disclosures and notes to the financial statements.
• Support external audit processes and act as a key point of contact for auditors.
• Assist in the implementation and interpretation of new accounting standards and accounting policies.

• Perform month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing activities.
• Prepare and review balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring completeness and accuracy.
• Investigate and resolve accounting discrepancies and reconciling items.
• Support the maintenance of strong internal controls and compliance with corporate policies.

• Analyse financial data and identify unusual transactions, trends, or variances.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing reporting efficiency and data quality.
• Support automation and optimisation of finance processes through effective use of ERP systems and advanced Excel tools.

• Maintain accounting records and ensure the integrity of financial data within ERP systems.
• Collaborate with business and finance stakeholders to improve reporting structures and master data quality.
• Support ERP-related finance initiatives and system enhancements.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• A professional qualification (ACCA, ACA, CPA, CA or equivalent)
  completed or in progress is preferred.

• 2–4 years of total experience in a professional services or finance environment.
• Minimum 2 consecutive years of experience in External Audit at a Big 4 accounting firm (Deloitte, PwC, EY, or KPMG).
• Experience in auditing medium-to-large organisations and preparing IFRS-based financial statements.
• Exposure to complex accounting areas and statutory reporting requirements is advantageous.
• Note: Candidates with experience in Internal Audit, ICFR, or SOX will not be considered for this role.

• Strong knowledge of IFRS and financial reporting requirements.
• Excellent understanding of accounting principles and financial statement preparation.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, data analysis, pivot tables, and financial modelling techniques.
• Experience working with ERP systems;
  SAP experience is highly desirable
  .
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with exceptional attention to detail.

• Ambitious, proactive, and eager to develop within a high-performance finance environment.
• Strong ownership mindset and ability to work independently.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight reporting deadlines.