Accounts Receivable (AR) Lead

Finance, Banking & Legal

In short

Arla seeks an Accounts Receivable (AR) Lead for their Dubai office to manage the end-to-end receivables lifecycle for UAE markets. This role involves leading a team, optimizing cash flow, minimizing DSO and bad debt, and ensuring compliance with credit policies and UAE laws. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree, 5-8 years of accounting experience with at least 3 in a senior AR role, and advanced ERP system expertise.

Responsibilities

Directly lead a team of AR accountants and cashiers, mentoring them, establishing KPIs, and driving performance.
Oversee credit evaluation and setup for new key accounts across modern trade, HORECA, and distribution channels.
Monitor credit limits and payment terms, and manage sales order blocking/unblocking based on credit policy.
Implement collection strategies to reduce DSO and mitigate bad debt exposure.
Oversee daily invoicing, debit note, and credit note processing.
Reconcile customer-related trade spend, including fees, rebates, and allowances.
Lead monthly balance confirmations and customer account reconciliations, resolving disputes and variances.
Ensure prompt recording and allocation of incoming payments.
Maintain accurate PDC logs, ensure timely bank deposits, and manage bounced cheque procedures.
Drive process automation and workflow efficiency within the ERP environment (e.g., SAP).
Partner cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Sales, and Logistics for seamless operations.
Prepare weekly and monthly AR aging reports, DSO analysis, and cash collection forecasts.
Perform month-end close activities and ensure sub-ledger to General Ledger reconciliations.
Support internal and external audits.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration.
5–8 years of overall accounting experience.
At least 3 years in a senior or lead AR role within FMCG, Food & Beverage or Dairy distribution in the UAE.
Advanced expertise in tier-1 ERP systems – SAP (SD/FI modules) or Oracle Financials.
In-depth understanding of UAE VAT regulations regarding credit notes, returns and tax invoices.
Expert proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, Power Query, Pivot Tables).
Strong familiarity with Modern Trade claim settlement practices and retail rebate structures in the GCC market.
Exceptional negotiator.
Strong team management and cross-departmental coordination skills.
Dynamic problem-solver.

Desired Qualifications

Professional certification (ACCA, CMA or CPA) is highly desirable.

Benefits

Opportunity to shape the future of dairy with a global leader.
Work in a collaborative culture where everyone feels valued and empowered.
Growth opportunities within an ambitious global cooperative.

Skills

SAPOracle FinancialsMicrosoft ExcelVAT

#accounts receivable#credit control#cash flow#DSO#bad debt#reconciliations#ERP#SAP#UAE VAT#GCC#FMCG#dairy

About Arla

We are more than 23,000 colleagues across 39 countries and 7,624 dairy farmer-owners in Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. We aim to create the future of dairy, to bring healthy and sustainable dairy products to people across the world, and to lead the transition towards sustainable dairy farming and production. We work continuously on the farms, at the dairies, and in our administration to reduce our carbon footprint and environmental impact. We are committed to champion good food habits and inspire a healthy life. We collaborate with NGOs and…

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