Accountant job description template for Saudi Arabia
An accountant job description sets out why the role exists, what the accountant does each month, and what they need to know. This template, written for companies in Saudi Arabia, covers bookkeeping, reconciliations, VAT returns, month-end closing and payroll entries, with neutral wording and placeholders for your details. Copy it or download it as Word.
Replace everything in [square brackets] with your details.
Job title: Accountant
Department: [Finance]
Reports to: [Finance manager / Chief accountant]
Location: [City], [on site / hybrid]
Employment type: [Full time]
Job purpose
To keep [Company name]’s accounts complete, accurate and on time, so that management, auditors and the authorities can rely on them.
Key responsibilities
- Record daily transactions in [Accounting system] with supporting documents.
- Process supplier invoices and payments, and follow up customer receivables.
- Reconcile bank accounts, supplier statements and customer balances every month.
- Prepare month-end and year-end closing entries, accruals and prepayments.
- Prepare VAT returns and check that sales invoices meet ZATCA e-invoicing requirements.
- Prepare schedules and supporting files for the annual zakat or tax return.
- Post the monthly payroll journal and reconcile GOSI contributions with the payroll.
- Maintain the fixed assets register and calculate depreciation.
- Track spending against the budget by cost centre and explain variances.
- Manage petty cash and employee expense claims under company policy.
- Prepare the files and explanations the external auditors request.
- Produce monthly financial reports for [Finance manager / management].
Qualifications and experience
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field.
- [Number] years of accounting experience, preferably in [Industry].
- Working knowledge of IFRS as endorsed in Saudi Arabia, VAT and zakat rules.
- Membership of the Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA) where the role requires it.
Skills
- Experience with [Accounting or ERP system] and strong Excel skills.
- Accuracy and attention to detail, with the habit of keeping records audit-ready.
- Clear written and spoken Arabic and English.
- Ability to meet monthly deadlines and handle confidential information.
Working conditions
Working hours: [Days and hours, within the Labour Law limits]
Place of work: [Office address]
Probation period: [Number] days, up to 180 days, as set in the contract
Pay and benefits: [Salary range or “to be discussed”], [Housing and transport allowances], [Medical insurance], [Other benefits]
How to apply
[How to apply and the closing date]
How to adapt it
- Match the scope to your company. In a small company the accountant may also run payroll and purchasing; in a larger one, split the duties into payables, receivables or general ledger roles.
- Name your systems. Replace the placeholders with your accounting system and any tools the person must already know.
- Set the experience honestly. Ask for the years the work needs, not the most you could hope for.
- Ask for SOCPA membership only where the role requires it, for example where the person signs off accounts or audits.
What to avoid in a job ad
- Requirements based on gender, age, nationality or religion. Describe the work and the skills, and let anyone who meets them apply.
- Long lists of “nice to have” software presented as essential.
- Pay or benefits the offer will not match.
Some professions and activities are reserved for Saudis, or need a set share of Saudi employees, under Saudisation decisions. Accounting is one of them: ministerial decision 103108 raises the required share in accounting professions in stages. Check the decisions that apply to your activity on Qiwa before you advertise, and see Saudisation.
RafiqHR’s Recruiting module, in the All-in-one plan, posts the job to your careers site, job boards and Jadarat, and Rafiq AI drafts a first version of any description in the free job description generator.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
What does an accountant do in a Saudi company?
An accountant records transactions, reconciles bank and supplier accounts, closes the books each month, prepares VAT returns and supporting files for zakat, posts payroll and GOSI entries, and gives management regular reports. In small companies, the accountant often handles payroll and purchasing paperwork too.
Does an accountant need SOCPA membership?
Not for every role. Membership of the Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA) is needed for some roles and for public practice, and the Ministry links work permits for listed accounting professions to SOCPA registration for non-Saudi employees. Ask for it where your role requires it.
Is accounting covered by Saudisation?
Yes. Ministerial decision 103108 of 26 January 2025 raises the required share of Saudis in accounting professions in stages, up to 70% over five years, from 27 October 2025. Check the procedural guide and Qiwa for the rate that applies to your company now.
This is general information to help you understand the topic. It is not legal advice. Rules and rates change: always check the official text on the relevant authority’s platform and consult a qualified adviser before acting.
