Manager - VAT

About BDO

BDO UAE provides audit and assurance, advisory, tax and business outsourcing services to companies across all sectors of the economy.

As one of the world’s leading audit and accounting organizations, we have clients of all types and sizes, from large corporate organizations to private businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals across various industry sectors.

From a global beginning in 1963 with five firms, today BDO extends across 166 countries and territories, with 115,661 people working out of 1,776 offices.

About the Role

BDO UAE is looking for a Manager, with a specialization in VAT, to join their dynamic Taxation team in the Dubai Office. This role entails delivering a broad range of VAT tax advisory and compliance services to clients.

The primary focus of your responsibilities will be VAT tax advisory and compliance, although you will also be expected to contribute to business development efforts, Economic Substance Regulations (ESR), and possess a foundational understanding of Corporate Tax.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the VAT department with a focus on clients operating in the UAE or globally from both an advisory and compliance perspective.
• Be able to deliver and manage complex VAT projects. Knowledge of the BEPS initiatives and GCC VAT will be an advantage.
• Manage and deliver projects by developing the project team, assessing engagement risks throughout, driving conclusions, and reviewing / challenging the output produced by the team.
• Shape and deliver projects to meet and exceed the expectations of our clients and our own quality criteria.
• A thorough understanding of the VAT rules and keeping abreast of the constant evolving legislative changes in the UAE.
• Be responsible for building close relationships with a wide range of clients and leading a team to deliver VAT services, including VAT tax advisory, tax planning, tax strategy, tax compliance, and providing guidance and recommendations to achieve the best VAT practices.
• Driving business development to identify opportunities, both independently and across other lines of services, to have conversations and win work with new and existing clients.
• Proactive targeting of clients and through referral to ensure business development target of the department is met in alignment with the firm’s business development strategy.
• Be the UAE point of contact for inbound referrals from overseas BDO offices, building your network within the BDO firm.
• Be responsible for performing conflict checks or any inbound leads and proactively taking steps to mitigate the conflict if any by the guidance provided as per IESBA.
• Train, coach, and supervise team members.
• Build a culture of quality within the department.

About You

• A minimum of 8 to 10 plus years of post-qualification experience in a large accounting firm having multi-jurisdictional presence
• Knowledge of ESR, Transfer Pricing, BEPS 2.0 and CbCR is an advantage
• Good command of written and spoken English
• ACA, ACCA, CTA, ADIT or equivalent professional qualification along with basic graduation in accounting.

BDO's Story

The BDO story is truly remarkable one, built on solid foundations laid by our visionary founder. BDO is fundamentally a people-centric business with a proven track record of exceptional client service.

In 2018, we unveiled our leadership ambition: “Our Dream” - emphasizing that it’s time for BDO to lead— for our people to lead, each of us in our own right. Whether in our markets, through innovation, or as future advisors, our purpose, or “WHY,” drives us forward.

Our WHY is “People helping People achieve their Dreams”. Our “WHY” defines our identity – serving as our motivation and guiding principle. This principle is at the heart of BDO because people’s dreams matter to us.

We are driven to help our colleagues, clients, and communities become their fullest. At BDO, a career is distinguished by our unique culture—a fusion of people, passion, and results that defines and shapes everything we do.

What It's Like to Work at BDO UAE

While many accounting firms offer professional services, few match our rich culture of opportunity, personal fulfillment, and long-term growth.

We are dedicated to the sustainable development of our people, respecting their talents and fostering their growth. Accountability and personal responsibility are encouraged at all levels, supported by structured career planning and training.

Our global culture respects local cultural nuances and strives to be ethical, socially, and environmentally responsible everywhere we operate.

At BDO UAE, our diverse team is united by a shared ambition to make a meaningful impact and become the industry’s top choice.