Manager - Value Added Tax (VAT)
Job Fit Check
Base Career helps you apply smarter for this job.
Key skills for this role
About the Role
BDO UAE is seeking a VAT Manager to lead and deliver high-quality VAT advisory and compliance services to a diverse client portfolio. The role involves managing complex VAT engagements, building client relationships, driving business development, and mentoring junior team members.
Key Skills for This Role
Responsibilities
- Support the VAT department in delivering high quality VAT advisory and compliance services across a diverse portfolio of clients
- Lead and manage complex VAT engagements from inception to completion
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with clients
- Act as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of clients
- Drive business development by identifying and pursuing new client opportunities
- Ensure client retention by maintaining high standards of service quality
- Research and interpret UAE VAT legislation, FTA public clarifications, etc.
- Monitor GCC VAT developments and apply relevant regional precedents
- Review and occasionally prepare VAT returns, advisory memorandum, technical opinions
- Manage FTA audit processes, voluntary disclosures, reconsideration requests, and objections
- Supervise, coach, and mentor junior and mid level VAT Consultants
- Contribute to the training and development of the VAT team
Requirements
- Professional qualification from a recognised accountancy or tax body (ACCA, CPA, ICAI, CA, CIOT, ADIT or comparable)
- Minimum of 5 years of post qualification experience, majority in UAE VAT focused role within a professional services firm
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Law, Economics, or related discipline
- UAE Tax Agent accreditation is a strong advantage
Full Job Posting
About the Role
- Support the VAT department in delivering high quality VAT advisory and compliance services across a diverse portfolio of clients spanning multiple sectors, including Financial Services, Real Estate, FMCG, Hospitality etc.
- Lead and manage complex VAT engagements from inception to completion, exercising sound judgement on technical positions, risk areas, and client specific considerations at every stage of delivery.
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with clients by understanding their business models, commercial priorities, and VAT risk exposure, and proactively anticipating their needs.
- Act as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of clients, ensuring consistent, high quality communication, timely delivery of outputs, and a professional client experience throughout the engagement lifecycle.
- Drive business development by identifying and pursuing new client opportunities, actively participating in pitches and proposals, and converting prospects into long term client relationships.
- Ensure client retention by maintaining high standards of service quality, responsiveness, and proactive advisory support that adds measurable value beyond transactional compliance.
- Research and interpret UAE VAT legislation, FTA public clarifications, Cabinet decisions, and Ministerial resolutions to provide clients with accurate, well reasoned, and commercially practical guidance.
- Monitor GCC VAT developments and apply relevant regional precedents and cross border considerations where applicable to client matters.
- Review and occasionally prepare VAT returns, advisory memorandum, technical opinions, and client correspondence, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with applicable laws and FTA guidance.
- Manage FTA audit processes, voluntary disclosures, reconsideration requests, and objections on behalf of clients, leading engagements professionally and safeguarding client interests throughout.
- Supervise, coach, and mentor junior and mid level VAT Consultants, providing regular feedback, technical guidance, and support to strengthen their professional capabilities and career development.
- Contribute to the training and development of the VAT team by sharing technical knowledge, delivering internal training sessions, and promoting a culture of continuous learning within the department.
Key Experience Parameters
- A professional qualification from a recognised accountancy or tax body is mandatory acceptable qualifications include ACCA, CPA, ICAI, CA, CIOT, ADIT or a comparable qualification.
- A minimum of 5 years of post qualification experience, with the majority of that experience gained in a UAE VAT focused role within a professional services firm.
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Law, Economics, or a related discipline from a recognised institution.
- UAE Tax Agent accreditation issued by the Federal Tax Authority is a strong advantage.
- Evidence of continued professional development in UAE and GCC tax matters, including attendance at relevant seminars, training programmes, or technical courses.
Key Attributes
- Thorough and up to date knowledge of UAE VAT law, Executive Regulations, FTA administrative procedures, and the broader UAE tax legislative framework.
- Excellent client management skills including the ability to build rapport, manage expectations, navigate difficult conversations, and sustain long term professional relationships.
- Strong business development instinct with experience in identifying leads, supporting proposals, and converting opportunities into fee generating engagements.
- Effective people management skills including task delegation, workload planning, performance monitoring, and the ability to develop and motivate team members at different levels of seniority.
- High standard of written and verbal communication in English; Arabic language proficiency is an advantage.
- Ability to produce clear, well structured technical memorandum, advisory opinions, and client ready deliverables that are accurate, concise, and appropriately tailored to the audience.
- Sound understanding of professional ethics obligations under IESBA, including independence, conflict of interest and confidentiality.
- Familiarity with KYC, client due diligence, and conflict of interest assessment processes as applied in a regulated accounting, audit, or tax advisory environment.
- Experience with the EmaraTax portal and tax compliance tools is expected.
- Detail oriented and well organised, with the ability to manage multiple engagements simultaneously, meet deadlines consistently, and maintain quality under pressure.
Apply for this job in 1 click
Skip the repetitive application forms
Install the Base Career Chrome Extension and autofill job applications across major job boards with your profile.
Trusted by over 500,000 job seekers on Base Career
More from this employer
More jobs at BDO UAE
Join our Emiratization Program - Tekamul
Dubai, UAE
BDO UAE is seeking recent Emirati graduates to join their Emiratization Program, a 12-month development program across Audit, Advisory, and Tax service lines. The program offers on-the-job learning, formal training, ment
Associate / Senior Associate (Business Service Outsourcing)
Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE
BDO UAE is seeking an Associate/Senior Associate for Business Service Outsourcing to manage accounting, payroll, and financial reporting for clients. The role involves setting up accounting systems, preparing financial s
Experienced Consultant - Technical Services (Domain - Natural resources and Energy Only)
Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE
BDO UAE seeks an experienced consultant to join its Risk Advisory / Natural Resources & Energy practice. You will lead internal audit, risk, and consulting assignments for NRE clients, driving innovation with IoT, AI, an
Intern - Transfer Pricing
Dubai, UAE
BDO UAE is offering a 6-month internship in Transfer Pricing. The intern will gain hands-on exposure to transfer pricing rules, client interactions, and regulatory landscape in the UAE. Ideal for students or recent gradu
Assistant Manager - Risk Advisory (Arabic Language skill is mandatory)
Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE
BDO UAE is seeking an Assistant Manager for its Risk Advisory team in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. The role involves managing risk advisory engagements, supervising staff, and supporting business development. Candidates need 5+ y
Associate / Senior Associate (Business Service Outsourcing)
Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE
BDO UAE is hiring an Associate/Senior Associate for Business Service Outsourcing to handle accounting, payroll, and financial reporting for clients. The role requires 2-4 years of relevant experience in the UAE market, a
Assistant Manager - Technical Services
Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE
BDO UAE seeks an Assistant Manager for its Natural Resources & Energy Risk Advisory practice. The role involves leading internal audit, risk assessment, and advisory engagements for energy sector clients, as well as supp
Experienced Senior Consultant (Natural Resources & Energy Domain Only)
Abu Dhabi, UAE
BDO UAE is seeking an Experienced Senior Consultant for its Natural Resources & Energy domain in Abu Dhabi. The role involves planning and executing risk advisory and internal audit engagements in Oil & Gas, Energy, Meta
Join our Emiratization Program - Tekamul
Dubai, UAE
Associate / Senior Associate (Business Service Outsourcing)
Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE
Experienced Consultant - Technical Services (Domain - Natural resources and Energy Only)
Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE
Intern - Transfer Pricing
Dubai, UAE
Assistant Manager - Risk Advisory (Arabic Language skill is mandatory)
Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE
Associate / Senior Associate (Business Service Outsourcing)
Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE
Assistant Manager - Technical Services
Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE
Experienced Senior Consultant (Natural Resources & Energy Domain Only)
Abu Dhabi, UAE