Accounting lead (UAE, Japan)

Emex DWC (emexdwc.ae), based in Dubai, is the international online wholesale store for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and aftermarket automotive parts. For over 25 years, we have been committed to providing:

• the best customer service and competitive prices on our marketplace,
• comprehensive fulfillment services,
• innovative digital solutions for warehouse management.

Our platform aggregates data on over 40 million automotive products, making it a one-stop destination for buyers and sellers. Thanks to our strategic location in Dubai, we can expand our fulfillment network globally, offering access to millions of automotive parts across more than 40 countries, including the Middle and Far East, CIS, Europe, Africa, South America, the USA, and Australia. This enables us to empower sellers with new growth opportunities while providing car owners with reliable solutions to keep their vehicles on the move.

At Emex, our mission is straightforward:

• We solve car owners' problems to ensure their freedom of mobility.
• We unlock growth opportunities for sellers.
• We provide employees with meaningful challenges to create impact and plenty of creative freedom to realize their potential.

Our vision for the Back-Office Business consists of four seamlessly integrated components:

• Financial asset management
• Human resources management
• Administrative Supply and operations
• Security (physical, technological, and legal)

About the Finance Team

Our Finance Team, an integral part of the group’s Back-Office Busniess, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of the financial function. We provide comprehensive services to our internal business clients, supporting the operations and growth of our diverse business segments, including trading, information, and fulfillment. Currently, we are transforming our finance function to become a more efficient professional organization.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for an experienced Accounting Lead to establish and maintain accurate, timely, and compliant financial reporting in line with accounting and tax regulations. This role is essential for enhancing team efficiency, optimizing financial processes, and driving automation to improve accuracy and operational effectiveness. The role involves supporting other departments, business teams, and management in effectively managing the assets they are responsible for by ensuring accurate accounting, thorough risk assessment, and strong risk control.

Your Responsibilities Will Include:

• Lead and mentor a team of accountants, providing guidance, training, and support to ensure their professional development and the efficient operation of the accounting department.

• Develop and implement accounting policies and procedures in accordance with IFRS, ensuring compliance with local regulations and best practices.

  • Oversee the daily accounting operations, including the preparation and review of journal entries, reconciliations, and financial statements to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with IFRS and and local accounting standards.
• Manage the month-end and year-end closing processes, ensuring timely and accurate reporting of financial results.
• Collaborate closely with other departments, such as FP&A, Treasury, and Operations, to provide timely and accurate financial information and support business decision-making.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and automation of the accounting function.
• Stay up to date on changes in accounting standards and regulations and ensure compliance.
• Lead and participate in internal and external audits.
• Analyze and monitor the financial performance of the business to ensure its overall health, proactively identify and address emerging risks, and verify that assets are being utilized effectively and efficiently.

Your KPIs Will be:

Adherence to Deadlines:

• Achieve 100% compliance with established deadlines for period closings, audits, tax filings, and VAT refunds.

Regulatory Compliance and Risk Mitigation:

• Ensure zero penalties or claims from regulatory authorities due to non-compliance or missed deadlines.

Accuracy in Accounting Practices:

• Maintain zero errors or discrepancies in accounting records, ensuring full compliance with the company’s accounting policy.

Goals for the First 12 Weeks:

1. Review and Enhance Accounting Processes

   • Conduct a thorough review of existing accounting processes and identify opportunities for improvement and automation.
   • Develop a plan to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of accounting operations and get approval for its implementation.
2. Identify and mitigate 3-5 key financial risks, implementing strategic solutions to minimize losses
3. Identify and implement automation for 2–3 manual accounting processes to improve efficiency and reduce errors.
4. Streamline and enforce the month-end closing process to ensure it is completed on schedule, following the established procedural checklist.
5. Accomplish audit of Financial statements for 2024.

Goals for the First 26 Weeks:

1. Create and Implement an Accounting Policy

   • Develop a comprehensive accounting policy that aligns with business needs and regulatory requirements.
   • Communicate the policy to the finance team and ensure its consistent application across the organization.

2. Establish Robust Internal Controls

   • Design and implement improved internal control systems to reduce fiscal risks and improve compliance with company policies and regulations.
   • Develop a framework for monitoring risks and ensure proper documentation of controls and procedures.
3. Restore accounting of the Japaneese subsidiary.
4. Organize and oversee the on-time submission of corporate tax returns for five legal entities in the UAE for the 2024 tax year, based on verified accounting data.
5. Transfer accounting of 5 UAE based Legal Entities to the new ERP system - Odoo.

How to Know if You Are the Right Fit

Level, Experience and Qualificatons:

• Level - Lead.
• Proficiency in English (B2+).
• Ex. Big4, Ex. FMCG, Ex. E-commerce and Marketplaces.
• Qualification: You have a Bachelor's degree in finance and also Professional qualification such as ACCA, CPA, CIMA, or CMA (or you are partially qualified).

Hard Skills:

• Accounting Expertise: Comprehensive expertise in accounting principles and financial reporting under IFRS and US GAAP. Skilled in developing accounting policies, automating accounting processes, and implementing new accounting systems.
• Financial Reporting: Proven track record in preparing and analyzing financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, ensuring accuracy and compliance with international standards.
• Tax and Regulation Compliance: Proficient in communicating with tax authorities to represent business interests. Skilled in identifying optimal opportunities for tax reduction and risk management, implementing preventive measures, and developing internal guidelines to ensure tax compliance.
• Internal Controls: Expertise in optimizing, designing, and implementing comprehensive internal control and risk management systems to enhance operational efficiency and ensure regulatory adherence.
• Accounting Software and Systems: Advanced proficiency in accounting software and ERP systems, with a focus on streamlining financial operations and leveraging automation for process improvement.
• Project Leadership: Extensive experience leading full-cycle projects within cross-functional teams, ensuring timely and successful delivery of strategic initiatives.
• Team Leadership: Proficient in managing teams through onboarding, performance evaluation, hiring, motivating, and exit processes. Skilled in setting clear goals inline with the corporate strategy, streamlining management processes, and fostering a results-driven team culture.

Soft Skills:

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Leadership

• Effectively organizes teamwork between departments to improve processes and results. Builds trust and creates a culture where teams share information and work well together. Ensures key financial data is clear and accessible to support decisions. Listens to the needs of others and provides practical, business-focused solutions.

Clear and Effective Communication

• Explains financial ideas and tasks clearly, adapting to different audiences, including senior leaders and external partners. Provides useful feedback that helps the team grow and improve. Leads important meetings with clear goals and creates reports that are easy to understand. Handles disagreements calmly and finds solutions that work for everyone.

Proactive Leadership and Initiative

• Takes full responsibility for delivering results and solving challenges, even when they go beyond usual procedures. Works independently to set and achieve goals. Spots opportunities to improve processes and takes the lead in making those improvements happen.

Why Join Us

• As an Accounting Lead, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and compliance of our accounting and financial reporting. This position offers the opportunity to lead and develop a team of talented accountants, while also contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of our finance function. You will have the opportunity to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, where you can make a significant impact on the success of our company.
• We are looking for an individual who thrives on tackling complexities and is passionate about building innovative solutions. If you are a highly motivated and experienced accounting professional with a strong commitment to excellence and a passion for leading and developing others, we encourage you to apply.