Grant Thornton
Director, External Audit
- Permanent
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Experience 10 - 15 yrs
- Urgent
Job expiry date: 27/11/2026
Job overview
Date posted
13/10/2026
Location
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Salary
AED 40,000 - 50,000 per month
Compensation
Comprehensive package + relocation
Experience
10 - 15 yrs
Seniority
Director
Qualification
Bachelors degree
Expiration date
27/11/2026
Job description
ADGM and FSRA rules, IFRS and ISA set the standard for the audits this Director leads at Grant Thornton UAE in Abu Dhabi. Clients are ADGM-regulated entities and Financial Services businesses, including banks, asset managers and funds. You act as the main contact for Boards, Audit Committees and Senior Management, and you oversee a team of Managers and Associates across a portfolio of engagements. Audit strategy, work review and technical guidance on complex financial reporting and regulatory matters all sit with you. Relationships matter here, with ADGM stakeholders, regulators and key market participants as much as with clients. Growing the firm's presence within ADGM through business development is a clear part of the brief. Large audits of complex groups, consolidation of financial statements and internal controls should be familiar ground. Expect to bring 11 or more years of External Audit experience in a top international firm, along with an ACA, CPA or ACCA qualification and an established network in Abu Dhabi's financial services market.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Lead audits of ADGM-regulated entities and Financial Services clients
- Build and maintain relationships with ADGM stakeholders, regulators and key market participants
- Ensure compliance with ADGM, FSRA, IFRS and ISA requirements
- Act as the primary contact for Boards, Audit Committees and Senior Management
- Drive business development and expand Grant Thornton's presence within ADGM
- Provide technical guidance on complex financial reporting and regulatory matters to clients and engagement teams
- Mentor and develop senior audit professionals while maintaining the highest audit quality standards
- Prepare audit strategy alongside senior colleagues
- Manage a portfolio of audit engagements
- Review work and oversee a team of Managers and Associates
Experience & skills
- Bring 11 or more years of External Audit experience in a top international firm
- Hold a professional qualification such as ACA, CPA or ACCA
- Demonstrate extensive post-qualification audit experience across a diverse range of businesses
- Apply confident knowledge of IFRS, internal controls and consolidation of financial statements
- Possess experience leading audits of ADGM-regulated entities, including banks, asset managers, funds and other financial services businesses
- Understand ADGM and FSRA regulatory requirements in depth
- Maintain an established network within the UAE Financial Services market, particularly in Abu Dhabi and ADGM, and among Public Sector clients
- Show significant leadership experience in audit within practice
- Handle large audits, complex groups and complex technical matters
- Contribute to business development and to developing strategy for the team
- Inspire and develop people