Deputy Business Manager

Founded in 1984, APCO Worldwide is an award-winning, independently owned global communication and business strategy firm with offices in major cities throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. APCO combines a global perspective with local expertise to help clients around the world manage challenges, opportunities, perceptions and reputations. APCO clients include corporations and governments; industry associations and nonprofit organizations; and six of the top 10 companies on the Fortune 500. The firm is a majority women-owned business.

The Deputy Business Manager is responsible for supporting the Business Manager and the regional Director of Business management as well as the client facing teams, with all aspects of client invoicing, revenue recognition and credit control. Additional duties will include; assisting with month-end close process by ensuring that the balance sheet accounts of work in progress and deferred revenue are fully reconciled. The role is fully integrated with the client facing teams and as such a solid understanding of the professional services business model is needed. The role will be supporting with the following APCO entities: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and India (offices in Delhi and Mumbai). We would also expect that this role will have some interaction with our affiliates in other markets. These may change according to the business requirements.

The role is based in Dubai with travel to other offices as needed.

Role responsibilities:

• Review all timesheets & deal with timesheet queries/issues (including checking for duplicate time entries);


• Distribute Client Pre Bill Reports to Client Managers for approval;


• Oversee all Labour & Expense transfers as required;


• Organise Client and Intercompany Billing;


• Process the distribution of all clients billing as required.


• Reconcile client accounts as required;


• Maintaining client project files and client invoices;


• Research client billing backup requests;


• Oversight and guidance of the shared service team as it relates to setting up new project codes in the system, maintenance of budgets and allocation of resource;


• Research all complex client billing requests and issues.


• Chasing payment of outstanding invoices and credit control


• Key input into financial statements as it relates to revenue recognition


• Review project activity, support Client Managers and Business Managers with preparation, formatting and collation of activity reports required for invoicing.


• Subject matter expert with regards to e-invoicing requirements as stipulated by local regulations.

Role requirements:

• Professional service industry experience


• Fluent in English. Arabic language skills would be welcomed


• Must already be based in Dubai


• Understand and support the confidential nature of the position


• Possess exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal skills, including ability to articulate recommendations in a concise and timely manner


• Systems literate and very good with Excel; Knowledge and experience with Tableau would be an advantage.


• Ability to deal with high volume email traffic and respond in a timely manner.


• Detailed and organized to allow for quick and accurate data gathering and analysis


• Able to quickly assimilate information and provide output


• Ambitious and keen to learn


• Ready for a challenge

About APCO in the Middle East and North Africa

Home to some of the fastest growing economies in the world, the Middle East and North Africa region has a pivotal role to play in driving global conversations – from environmental policies to religion and pop culture. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are clear leaders in this equation, although the wave of innovation continues to transcend borders.

APCO launched its regional operations in 2006 in Dubai. Growing from a team of less than 10 consultants, APCO today has over 200 people from 26 countries working in teams across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Manama and Kuwait and our projects take us to countries across the region and the Levant. APCO was awarded Best Agency in the Middle East by PRWeek in 2019 and Best Agency to Work for: EMEA Network by PRovoke Media in 2017 and 2019.

With a portfolio of over 100 clients, APCO’s MENA offices deliver public relations and digital communication support across health, food, consumer & retail, finance, technology, real estate & hospitality, non-profit and public affairs practices. The region also offers specialized services, created for the Middle East, such as our Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model and our Compass and License to Operate offerings.

In addition, APCO’s global AI Comms Lab, a first-of-its-kind innovation center which utilizes artificial intelligence to build and protect the reputations of major global brands, governments and organizations is driven from the Dubai office.

From helping governments connect with the private sector and civil society, to supporting the Pope’s historic visit to the region and launching iconic brands and destinations, we understand the nuances of the MENA region and pride ourselves on making an impact.