UAE VAT Specialist

  • Full-time

Job Description

We are currently looking for UAE VAT Specialist for our UAE operations.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Professional qualification: CA, CPA, ACCA, ADIT or equivalent (mandatory).
  • 5–7 years of relevant experience in tax.
  • Experience with Big 4 / UAE Financial Services / Banking sector preferable.
  • Strong working knowledge of UAE VAT and Corporate Tax laws, particularly as applicable to financial institutions.

Skills & Competencies

  • Strong technical knowledge of UAE tax laws and financial services VAT treatment.
  • Good understanding of financial systems and accounting principles.
  • Effective stakeholder engagement across multiple functions.
  • High attention to detail with strong documentation discipline.
  • Excellent English language written and verbal communication.
  • Highly competent in MS Excel, and other MS Office Applications

Key Attributes

  • Strong sense of ownership, integrity and accountability
  • Proactive and solution-oriented mindset
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
  • Resilient under pressure with the ability to manage competing priorities

Key Responsibilities

1. UAE Tax Compliance & Filings

  • Assist in preparation, and submission of VAT returns and Corporate Tax filings in compliance with UAE tax laws.
  • Ensure adherence to requirements set by the Federal Tax Authority (UAE VAT Law, its Executive Regulations and Corporate Tax Law and its Executive Regulations), including documentation, record-keeping, and audit readiness.
  • Monitor changes in UAE tax regulations and assess their impact on the Bank.
  • Ensure accuracy, completeness, process ownership (returns, reconciliations, documentation) and timely submission of all tax filings.
  • Maintain supporting documentation and audit trails for all tax positions.

 

 

2. Operational Tax Support

  • Support day-to-day tax operations, including review of transactions, reconciliations, GL entries, tax returns and product structures from a tax perspective.
  • Review accounting entries and transactions from a tax perspective.
  • Develop, monitor and enhance functional procedures, process and position papers to improve efficiency, compliance and governance.

3. Business Partnering & Advisory

  • Provide tax support on new banking products, digital initiatives, and structured transactions.
  • Work closely with business and finance teams to embed tax controls in processes.
  • Support embedding tax responsibilities within first-line functions to avoid centralization risk.

4. Tax Risk Management & Controls

  • Identify, assess, and mitigate tax risks, particularly those arising from process gaps or unclear ownership across departments.
  • Strengthen internal controls and ensure alignment with tax governance frameworks.
  • Support internal audit, external audit, including responding to tax authority queries.

5. Tax Audits & Authority Engagement

  • Support management of tax audits, inquiries, and reviews by the Federal Tax Authority.
  • Coordinate responses, documentation, and follow-ups with external advisors where required.

6. Process Improvement & Automation

  • Enhance tax processes, controls, and documentation to reduce manual dependency and operational risk.
  • Support tax-related system enhancements, including tax reporting and automation tools.

Joining time frame: 2 weeks (maximum 1 month)