Mahmoud Adel Farouk
Senior Accountant with 8 years of experience, 5 of them in Saudi Arabia, covering month-end close, IFRS reporting, VAT returns and ZATCA e-invoicing compliance. Hands-on with SAP FI and Oracle, and used to working with external auditors and Arabic and English documentation. Notice period: 1 month.
- Lead the monthly close for 3 entities and deliver IFRS management accounts within 6 working days
- Prepare quarterly VAT returns and reconcile them to the general ledger with no penalties raised in any filing
- Coordinated the move to phase 2 e-invoicing with IT and the system vendor, testing invoice formats before go-live
- Prepare zakat working files and supporting schedules for the external zakat advisor
- Reduced unreconciled bank items by 70% by introducing weekly reconciliations across 9 bank accounts
- Handled accounts payable for 250+ suppliers and processed weekly payment runs in SAP
- Maintained the fixed asset register and monthly depreciation for 4 factories
- Prepared audit schedules for the annual Big Four audit, closing all queries before deadline
- Graduated with Very Good grade
IFRS • VAT returns • Zakat calculation support • ZATCA e-invoicing (Fatoorah) • SAP FI • Oracle Financials • Month-end close • Bank reconciliation • Accounts payable • Fixed assets • Advanced Excel • Audit support
Arabic (Native) • English (Professional working proficiency)
Nationality: Egyptian • Visa Status: Valid iqama, transferable • Driving License: Saudi driving license • Marital Status: Married
The accountant job market in Saudi Arabia
Accounting jobs in Saudi Arabia cluster in Riyadh (headquarters, holding companies and banks), Jeddah (trading, import and retail) and the Eastern Province around Dammam, Al Khobar and Jubail (energy, contracting and industrial services). Audit and advisory firms, and companies linked to Vision 2030 projects, also hire regularly.
- Local tax: what sets accountants apart here is practical experience with VAT, zakat and the portal of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA).
- E-invoicing (Fatoorah): companies that have implemented phase 2 value people who worked on system integration or invoice review.
- Systems: SAP and Oracle dominate large companies; Odoo and QuickBooks are common in mid-sized firms.
- Standards: IFRS is the reporting baseline, so name it explicitly.
Some accounting job titles may fall under Saudization rules or give priority to Saudi nationals, which can affect the roles open to expatriates depending on the employer and title. See the Saudi Arabia CV guide for general norms.
Licensing and certifications
The professional body for accountants and auditors in the Kingdom is the Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA). Statutory audit and signing financial statements carry specific licensing requirements; in-house accounting roles usually have lighter requirements, though some employers or titles may ask for professional registration.
- Professional qualifications: SOCPA fellowship, CPA, CMA and ACCA all strengthen a CV. List only what you hold; if you are studying, write "in progress".
- Degree attestation: your degree will usually need attestation and possibly equivalency for the visa or professional registration.
- Training: recognised VAT or zakat courses can go in the certifications section.
Rules change, so always verify with the official authority or your employer before stating anything about accreditation.
Keywords from accountant job ads in Saudi Arabia
Use only the terms that truly describe your experience. Have a specific job ad? Match your CV to it →
Experience bullet examples
Edit them with your real numbers and never claim results you did not achieve.
- Prepared and filed quarterly VAT returns on the ZATCA portal, reconciling output and input VAT to the general ledger
- Supported the rollout of phase 2 e-invoicing (Fatoorah) by testing invoice fields and QR codes with the ERP vendor
- Prepared zakat base working papers and supporting schedules for the zakat advisor and annual filing
- Closed monthly books for 3 legal entities under IFRS as adopted in the Kingdom within 6 working days
- Reduced aged payables beyond 90 days by 40% by agreeing payment schedules with key local suppliers
- Coordinated the year-end audit with an external audit firm, delivering all PBC schedules on time
- Built Excel and Power BI reports on branch profitability for management across Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam
- Reconciled intercompany balances between the Saudi entity and the GCC head office every month
Tips for a accountant CV in Saudi Arabia
1. Name local taxes explicitly
"Prepared quarterly VAT returns on the ZATCA portal" beats "handled taxes". ATS filters and recruiters search for VAT, zakat and ZATCA.
2. Show your e-invoicing role
If you took part in Fatoorah implementation or e-invoice review, state exactly what you did, even if it was testing invoices with IT.
3. Put systems in skills and in experience
List SAP FI, Oracle Financials or Odoo in skills and mention them inside job descriptions so it is clear you used them.
4. Iqama and notice period up front
If you are in the Kingdom, write "Valid iqama, transferable" and your notice period in the summary or personal details; local candidates can start faster.
5. Real numbers, no inflation
Close timelines, number of entities, number of bank accounts: simple, honest figures build trust. Never add numbers you cannot back up.
CV norms in Saudi Arabia
| Photo | ◐ | Very common in Saudi Arabia and some employers ask for it. Keep it formal. |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | ✓ | Almost always included, as it ties into hiring procedures and Saudization. |
| Usual length | ⓘ | Two pages usually suffice; senior engineers with major projects may need slightly more. |
| Language | ⓘ | English in large private companies; Arabic is very important in many organizations. |
Full CV guide for Saudi Arabia → · General accountant CV example →
FAQ
Do I need SOCPA membership to work as an accountant in Saudi Arabia?
Not for every role. Statutory audit has its own licensing, while many in-house accounting roles have different requirements depending on the employer and title. Verify with SOCPA or the employer.
Should my CV be in Arabic or English?
Usually English for larger companies, while stating your Arabic level since many documents are in Arabic. Our builder outputs English, and you can type your details in Arabic for translation.
I'm an accountant from abroad with no Saudi VAT experience. What should I write?
Describe your real tax experience in your country and any VAT courses you actually completed. Do not claim you filed Saudi returns if you did not.
Which template suits an accountant?
A single-column template such as Executive or Minimal, which reads cleanly in the ATS used by large employers. Start in the <a href="/en/?country=saudi-arabia&job=accountant#start">CV builder</a>.
Can I list qualifications I'm still studying for?
Yes, as long as you mark them clearly, e.g. "CMA (Part 1 passed)". It is honest and shows you are developing.
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