Assistant Professor in Accounting and Finance - Dubai Campus

Assistant Professor in Accounting and Finance

(Teaching and Educational Enhancement or Teaching and Knowledge Exchange)

Department: School of Business Design and Social Sciences, Dubai Campus

Grade: 7

Salary – Monthly AED 21,800 - AED 26,000 (G7) including housing allowance, based on experience (dependent on experience and qualifications).

Closing date: 25th November 2026

Duration: Open Ended

Location: Dubai Campus

Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business and languages.

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and practical, leading-edge research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for business and industry. We connect with industry at every level and develop programmes to match their needs – so employers get work-ready industry-fit graduates. Heriot-Watt is also Scotland's most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort.

We have an established set of values that help us to nurture innovation and leadership and show our commitment to continuous improvement and development in all our activities.

WHO WE ARE

Heriot-Watt’s School of Business Design and Social Sciences is a global leader in high-quality, accessible, practice-oriented business education and research. With campuses in the United Kingdom, Dubai, and Malaysia, we inspire and empower a diverse and inclusive community of students. We partner with businesses and governments to translate knowledge into practice and deliver innovative solutions that improve the world. Our industry-leading research projects in logistics, supply chain management, industrial decarbonisation, inclusive workplaces, and sustainable capitalism connect across disciplines to address society’s most pressing challenges.

At EBS, we are practical, engaged, connected, and inspired. We foster a community that nurtures collaboration and ambition, and we aim to transform lives and organisations through our innovative approach to education and research. We pursue excellence through relevance, providing transformative lifelong skills and outcomes for our students. We leverage our vibrant research community, our strategic partnerships, and our talented network of faculty and staff to make a difference and create lasting global change.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

At School of Business Design and Social Sciences, we envision a future where our contributions improve the world and leave a meaningful legacy for generations to come. We are eager to welcome faculty and staff who will help us forge the future through groundbreaking research, innovative pedagogy, and dynamic professional services. We are looking for colleagues who:

• Understand and embrace the value of accessible, practice-oriented learning and research.

• Pursue excellence both individually and collectively.

• Know the value of collaboration.

• Embrace our inclusive, global community.

• Are passionate about making a difference.

WHAT WE PROVIDE

At EBS, our pursuit of fairness and inclusivity makes us a destination of choice for academic talent. Our global network, engaged community, receptive leadership, and flexible management allow our people to thrive. We freely foster ambition. We are agile and open-minded. We listen, and we adapt. Through opportunities, support, resources, and recognition, we strive to ensure that every member of staff feels a genuine sense of fulfilment, belonging, and potential. Our collaborative efforts are geared towards our fundamental purpose and drive: at EBS, we make a difference. And we are committed to supporting our people every step of the way.

Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus was first established in 2005. Home to nearly 4,000 students and over 200 staff, it is the largest and most successful international campus in Dubai and has received a 5-star rating from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in each successive year since the ratings scheme’s introduction. In 2024 all our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes were approved by CAA.

About our Dubai Campus

Following the continued growth of student numbers and our imminent campus extension, we are delighted to be expanding the academic team at our School of Business Design and Social Sciences Dubai Campus with a number of new roles. We are looking for academics seeking a new challenge and who are passionate about delivering high-quality, accessible, practice-oriented education and research that promotes responsible business.

School of Business Design and Social Sciences Dubai is the largest of five Schools in Dubai. We are organised into five Departments and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate taught and research degrees across a wide range of discipline areas. We are a global University and this is reflected in the way that we manage our programmes and courses. We are currently expanding our Executive Education provision to organisations throughout region.

Our research groups are actively involved in teaching, research, and consultancy activities across our three campus locations. Our team has a strong commitment to our communities, offering a full range of programmes leading to the awards of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science, and Master of Arts. Our Incubator Centre and diverse professional body and business partnerships confirm our commitment to Dubai’s vibrant business culture, UAE national priorities Strategy and regional start-up eco-system.

Job Description

Due to the continued expansion of student numbers on our Dubai Campus we are looking for highly motivated and qualified academics to join us at an exciting time in our growth. Applicants must have a Doctoral qualification and experience of teaching, scholarship and course management.

Successful candidates will be expected to have evidence of their scholarship including research publications. Successful candidates will also be expected to develop strong links to colleagues at the Edinburgh and Malaysia campuses to deliver high-quality learning and teaching, to contribute to the continued development of the programmes offered to students, and to develop external engagement endeavours in association with the Academic Schools in Edinburgh, Dubai, and Malaysia. Membership of the HEA is also a mandatory requirement to reflect the importance of learning and teaching in our School.

The ideal candidate will have experience of teaching across both finance and accounting. They will be able to evidence how they have developed research-rich teaching and integrate professional practice into the classroom. Successful candidates will be expected to undertake supervision of research projects at all levels of study.

We have recently updated our induction programme to ensure that new colleagues are provided with appropriate support from day one, additional support is offered to new colleagues who are relocating from outside of the UAE. All our new staff will be allocated a buddy to help them settle into our School. We are passionate about providing CPD opportunities for all our staff through a combination of in-person and online programmes.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Undertake teaching and assessment duties on academic programmes. Support colleagues in Edinburgh Business School and other Schools at Heriot-Watt University in the delivery of courses and other activities to support the delivery of HWU's aims.

1. Develop relevant materials in appropriate formats for the above programmes. Contribute to the content, design and delivery of the curriculum, and the quality of teaching and learning, in consultation with colleagues and within the international structures and mechanisms established by the University. Review teaching design and delivery by obtaining and analysing feedback from students and peers. Support the accreditation processes of professional bodies.

1. Mentor and supervise students, including PhD students, providing effective, well documented and timely feedback, both formative and summative. Provide pastoral support, recognising when to refer a student for further support. Play a key role in the delivery and support of an excellent student learning and living experience at HWU.

1. Develop the level of subject expertise in line with the latest development in research, and ensure these developments are reflected in teaching materials and methods.

1. Engage in appropriate scholarship activities as required by external accrediting bodies

1. Develop and maintain strong links with business and industry, external organisations and the education sector.

1. Work collaboratively with colleagues in the UK, at other campuses, and with external networks both for the exchange of information, to share learning, and to form relationships for future collaboration.

1. Undertake a proactive role in promoting and marketing the University, ensuring the effective recruitment of students and the achievement of recruitment targets. Play a full role in Open Days and other student recruitment events.

1. Undertake leadership and administrative tasks associated with programme planning, preparation for examination boards and progression boards, etc, as instructed. Participate in relevant committees.

1. Undertake continuous professional development (CPD) and participate in staff development activities.

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post and its general responsibilities. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

Person Specification

Essential

• PhD or equivalent in appropriate discipline

• Fellowship of HEA

• Member of an appropriate professional body

• Teaching experience at undergraduate level

• Experience of reviewing and updating teaching materials

• Clear communicator with good presentation skills and the ability to explain concepts well

• Proven track record of scholarship

• Experience of maintaining and developing new links with the industry

• Experience of working in the UK HE sector

• Fluent (verbal and written) in English

• Skilled in the use of VLEs

• An ability to apply the knowledge acquired from research to teaching materials and methods

• Willingness and potential to identify and develop independent /collaborative portfolio of scholarship and/or knowledge exchange

• Ability to work effectively with colleagues as part of a team.

• Ability to develop and design effective course assessment

• Experience of engaging students through effective pedagogy

• Track-record of connecting course content with industry

Desirable

• Teaching experience at postgraduate level

• Research supervision experience

• Experience of maintaining and developing new links with the industry

• Experience of academic leadership (course and programme leadership, curriculum development)

• Experience of developing materials for online programmes.

• Participation in Business School accreditations.

• Working knowledge of Python applied to accounting or financial contexts

Heriot-Watt University Values

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and professionally relevant, leading-edge research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for business and industry.

We are a vibrant, forward-looking university, well known for the quality of our degrees with employers actively seeking out our graduates. Heriot-Watt is also Scotland’s international university with an unsurpassed international in-country presence. We deliver degree programmes to circa 30,000 students in 143 countries around the world, have a further overseas campus in Dubai and boast the largest international student cohort in Scotland.

At Heriot-Watt we’ve created an environment that nurtures innovation and leadership - where our researchers, staff and students can realise their potential and develop their ambitions.

We are proud of our collegiate atmosphere and integrated teaching and research approach which has helped to build a community of committed academics and highly motivated students. Our focus on careers delivers results and we’ve an excellent reputation for graduate employability.

In addition to the Edinburgh campus, we currently have campuses in the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai and Malaysia. For all of our campuses we aim to provide stimulating, supportive environments conducive to effective learning and research, where staff and students can excel. At Heriot-Watt, we have an established set of values that help us to nurture innovation and leadership, and show our commitment to continuous improvement and development in all our activities.

Our values describe our deeply held beliefs and our community spirit. They characterise not only how we are as a higher education institution but also frame how we want to be.

Our values are:

• Belong
• Collaborate
• Inspire
• Celebrate

As learning, living and working institution, we use our values as the building blocks of how we go about doing our work and how we each conduct ourselves as members of Heriot-Watt University. They represent what binds us together as a University community and help us to become the best at what we do.

For full details on our University, please view our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/about.htm

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We therefore encourage you to submit your application promptly

Any queries about the post should be directed to Dr. Florian Meier (f.meier@hw.ac.uk ) in the first instance.

Applications close on 25th November with interviews expected to take place w/c 7th December via Teams.

‘How to Apply’

Interested applicants must submit via the Heriot-Watt Careers page. (1) Cover letter describing interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full up-to date CV

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University Dubai is (Commission for Academic Accreditation) CAA Licensed; therefore, successful candidates will need to either provide terminal degrees attested from a UAE institution accredited by the CAA or if the degree is not from a UAE Institution, the candidate will need to have MoE (Ministry of Education) Equivalency. More info on attestation can be found here on the MoE website. The candidate is responsible for getting their degree attestations done and these should be completed within six months of joining.

The appointment is conditional upon successful completion of all Labour and Immigration formalities.