Overview
Chief Accounting Officer Jobs in Damascus, Damascus Governorate, Syria at Confidential Careers
Title: Chief Accounting Officer
Company: Confidential Careers
Location: Damascus, Damascus Governorate, Syria
The Chief Accountant is responsible for the accurate and timely execution of all core accounting operations. Working closely with and reporting to the Finance Manager, the role ensures that the company's books are maintained to the highest standard, that all transactions are correctly recorded, reconciliations are completed on schedule, and that reliable financial data is available to support management reporting and decision-making. This is a technically strong, hands-on accounting role suited to a detail-oriented professional with deep expertise in real estate and construction accounting.
Key Responsibilities
*General Ledger & Day-to-Day Accounting
- Maintain the general ledger and ensure all journal entries are posted accurately, completely, and in a timely manner.
- Perform and review monthly, quarterly, and year-end closing activities in line with the closing schedule set by the Finance Manager.
- Prepare and post recurring and adjusting journal entries, ensuring proper supporting documentation is in place for all entries.
- Perform and review balance sheet account reconciliations on a monthly basis and investigate and resolve any discrepancies promptly.
- Maintain accurate records of intercompany transactions and ensure timely reconciliation with group entities.
- Ensure all accounting transactions are in compliance with the company accounting policies, chart of accounts, and applicable IFRS standards.
- Flag any deviations from accounting policies or unusual transactions to the Finance Manager in a timely manner.
*Accounts Payable Execution
- Process and verify all supplier invoices, ensuring correct coding, proper approval, and timely posting in the accounting system.
- Prepare weekly AP aging reports and payment run proposals for review and approval by the Finance Manager.
- Coordinate with the procurement and project teams to resolve invoice discrepancies, goods receipt mismatches, and vendor queries.
- Process approved vendor payments and ensure payment records are properly maintained and reconciled.
- Manage the petty cash fund, including disbursements, replenishments, and periodic reconciliations.
- Maintain an organised and audit-ready filing system for all AP documentation.
*Accounts Receivable Execution
- Generate and issue customer invoices and payment notices in accordance with contract terms and the payment schedule provided by the relevant business unit.
- Record all customer receipts accurately and on a timely basis, and ensure correct allocation against outstanding balances.
- Prepare and maintain an up-to-date AR aging report and escalate overdue accounts to the Finance Manager for follow-up action.
- Reconcile customer accounts regularly and resolve discrepancies in coordination with the sales and customer relations teams.
- Maintain complete and accurate records of all customer correspondence and payment activity.
*Project Cost Accounting
- Ensure accurate coding and posting of all project-related costs, including contractor invoices, consultant fees, and direct overheads.
- Maintain project cost ledgers and reconcile them against approved budgets and cost reports on a regular basis.
- Prepare supporting schedules for project cost reports as required by the Finance Manager.
- Track and record any approved variation orders and ensure they are correctly reflected in project cost records.
- Coordinate with the project management team to obtain necessary approvals and documentation for cost postings.
*Financial Reporting Support
- Prepare trial balances, supporting schedules, and working papers required for monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting.
- Prepare draft financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement) for review by the Finance Manager.
- Prepare input data and schedules for management reports, MIS packs, and board presentations as directed by the Finance Manager.
- Compile and organise audit evidence and schedules to support both internal and external audit processes under the Finance Manager's direction.
- Respond to auditor queries and provide requested documentation in a timely and accurate manner.
*Tax & Compliance Support
- Prepare tax schedules and working papers to support VAT filings and any other statutory tax submissions required under Syrian tax regulations.
- Ensure all accounting records are maintained in compliance with local statutory requirements and any applicable regulatory reporting obligations.
- Support the Finance Manager in preparing data and schedules for government statistical reports and regulatory submissions.
- Monitor changes in local tax legislation and accounting standards and bring these to the attention of the Finance Manager.
*Systems, Controls & Documentation
- Ensure the accounting system is maintained accurately, with correct master data, chart of accounts, and cost centre structures.
- Uphold internal controls in day-to-day accounting activities and immediately escalate any control weaknesses or exceptions to the Finance Manager.
- Maintain a well-organised and audit-ready document management system for all financial records.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of accounting processes and procedures as directed by the Finance Manager.
*Team Supervision
- Supervise, guide, and review the work the team.
- Provide on-the-job coaching and training to junior team members to build technical capability.
- Ensure workloads are distributed effectively within the team to meet reporting and closing deadlines.
Qualifications & Experience
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Economics.
- Professional accounting qualification — CA, ACCA, CPA, or equivalent.
Preferred Experience
- 7–10 years of progressive accounting experience, with a minimum of 4–5 years in real estate development or construction.
- Demonstrable hands-on experience managing full-cycle accounting including GL, AP, AR, and fixed assets.
- Exposure to project cost accounting and working closely with project management teams is a strong advantage.
- Experience in an emerging or frontier market environment is preferred.
