Tax & Structuring Advisor

Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Posted on 05/11/2026

Dawia Vision We envision a thriving network of family businesses that have successfully expanded globally, preserving their heritage while embracing new opportunities.

Dawia Mission Empowering African family businesses to expand, thrive, and transition their legacy to the future generation while safeguarding their wealth through comprehensive services and strategic support.

Position Summary The Tax & Structuring Advisor is DFO's primary tax expert, serving both the internal group of companies and the external client portfolio. The role operates on two simultaneous dimensions: advisory structuring and compliance execution.

On the advisory side, the advisor structures tax-efficient solutions for high-net-worth families and businesses expanding into or operating from the UAE, translating analysis into clear recommendations that non-specialist clients can act on confidently.

On the compliance side, the advisor owns the full UAE tax cycle for assigned entities: VAT, Corporate Tax, ESR, and Excise where applicable, maintaining a compliance calendar, managing FTA correspondence, and ensuring all deadlines are met.

DFO's approach to tax advisory is conservative where legal uncertainty is high, commercially practical where law is clear, and transparent about uncertainty at all times. Documentation precedes aggressiveness. Positions are taken on defensible legal grounds—not on what clients want to hear. The advisor is expected to maintain that independence even under client or commercial pressure, and to raise issues early rather than defend a weak position later.

• Client Tax Advisory & Structuring – 35% of time. Advise external clients on tax‑efficient structures for UAE expansion, asset consolidation, and ongoing operations. Analyze entity type, free‑zone versus mainland positioning, holding structures, and the interaction between UAE tax obligations and the client's home‑country framework. Deliver written recommendations in a client‑ready format, ensuring every recommendation has a documented legal basis and a clearly stated risk section.
• UAE Tax Compliance – 25% of time. Own the full UAE tax compliance cycle for assigned DFO internal companies and external clients: VAT registration, return preparation and filing, input/output reconciliation, Corporate Tax registration and return support, ESR notification and report filing, and Excise Tax where applicable. Maintain a compliance calendar. All FTA correspondence is managed and reviewed. Zero missed deadlines.
• International Tax Framework Application – 20% of time. Apply working knowledge of international tax principles to client structuring mandates: treaty frameworks relevant to African jurisdictions, Pillar Two awareness for UAE‑based groups with foreign connections, CRS and FATCA implications for multi‑jurisdictional clients, and transfer pricing principles for inter‑company arrangements. Escalate matters beyond DFO's scope and recommend external specialist engagement.
• Tax Risk Management – 10% of time. Maintain a tax risk register for DFO and the client portfolio, identify emerging risks and brief the CFO before they materialize. Support FTA audits and manage voluntary disclosures where required. Communicate risks to clients constructively.
• Institutional Knowledge & Team Contribution – 10% of time. Document all advisory positions, structuring recommendations, and FTA correspondence in the client record. Archive reasoning, not just conclusions. Issue a monthly tax update briefing to the CFO. Share knowledge with the accounting team on VAT and CT matters that affect their daily work. Build DFO's tax advisory capability as an institutional asset.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Law, Finance, or a related field.
• CPA, ACCA, CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser), or equivalent professional qualification strongly preferred.
• FTA Registered Tax Agent status is a significant advantage. DFO will support the application and cover costs if not yet held.

UAE Tax Knowledge – Must Have

• UAE VAT: registration, return preparation and filing, input tax apportionment, exempt and…