Chief Accountant

About the Role

A fast-growing mobility and car-rental technology startup in Riyadh is seeking a foundational Chief Accountant to establish and oversee its entire financial operations independently. This key position involves building the finance function from the ground up, including setting up accounting systems, ensuring compliance, and developing financial models that influence strategic choices. Reporting directly to the leadership team, this role demands a highly analytical, self-reliant professional ready to take full ownership of finance in a dynamic startup environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the complete accounting process hands-on, including general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, month-end closing, and financial reporting, all initiated and maintained from scratch.
• Ensure full compliance with Saudi regulations such as ZATCA VAT and e-invoicing (Fatoorah), Zakat and corporate tax obligations, GOSI, and payroll processes through WPS, handling government portal filings personally.
• Develop and maintain financial models for budgeting, forecasting, and monitoring burn rate to provide actionable data that drives business decisions.
• Oversee cash flow management and deliver accurate reports to maintain awareness of the financial runway.
• Prepare detailed investor and board-level reports and maintain audit-ready books to facilitate due diligence processes.
• Establish financial controls, policies, and manage the accounting/ERP system, including configuration of e-invoicing.

Candidate Profile

• Extensive hands-on experience in accounting with strong knowledge of accrual accounting and IFRS standards as applied in Saudi Arabia beyond basic bookkeeping.
• Practical expertise in Saudi tax laws and compliance including ZATCA VAT, e-invoicing, Zakat, corporate tax, GOSI, and WPS, with personal experience navigating relevant government portals.
• Proficiency in financial modeling using advanced Excel skills, capable of developing scenarios and interpreting numbers strategically rather than just reporting.
• Analytical and commercially minded, showing curiosity about the underlying drivers behind financial figures to support business direction.
• Fluent in both Arabic and English, with the ability to work with Arabic government filings and portals.
• Self-driven with excellent organizational skills, able to independently manage the complete finance function in a startup setting.

Additional Qualifications

• Professional certifications such as SOCPA, CPA, ACCA, or CMA are desirable but substantial practical capability is the priority.
• Previous experience working in startups or high-growth firms, with a solid understanding of cash flow management, runway, and investor communications.
• Experience contributing to fundraises or financial due diligence processes is advantageous.
• Knowledge of SaaS or marketplace business models and subscription revenue recognition is preferred.