Senior Accountant - Payroll & Expense

We are looking for a 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. Key responsibilities: - 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. Knowledge, skills & experience: - 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. Availability: Preference will be given to candidates available immediately or a maximum of 30 days.