Accountant - Port Elizabeth

Requirements:

• BCom Accounting or an equivalent relevant degree.
• Approximately 4-7 years of relevant accounting experience.
• Hands-on experience with accounting, bookkeeping, payroll and month-end processes.
• Strong knowledge of general ledger accounting, VAT, payroll accounting, intercompany transactions and fixed assets.
• Experience with balance sheet reconciliations and management reporting.
• Manufacturing, production costing or experience in a stock-based environment is highly advantageous.
• Completed articles would be advantageous.
• SAIPA, AGA(SA) or progress toward a relevant professional designation would be beneficial.
• Practical experience with Xero is advantageous.
• Experience with Cin7 or a comparable inventory/manufacturing system would be valuable.
• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP or equivalent lookup formulas, SUMIFS and data validation.
• Strong analytical, reconciliation and reporting skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative and solve problems through to resolution.
• Ability to supervise, train and support junior finance and administration staff.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a hands-on, changing environment with incomplete information and competing priorities.

Responsibilities:

• Perform hands-on accounting and bookkeeping, including bank, supplier, customer, general ledger, intercompany and adjusting transactions.
• Lead and coordinate the monthly financial close process.
• Prepare and review journals for accruals, provisions, depreciation, payroll, inventory, foreign currency and intercompany transactions.
• Prepare and review monthly management accounts, cash flow information, KPI schedules and management commentary.
• Review trial balances, balance sheet reconciliations and supporting schedules.
• Investigate and resolve reconciling items and accounting discrepancies.
• Prepare and process monthly salaries and oversee weekly wages.
• Review payroll inputs, deductions, leave, overtime, incentives, reconciliations and payment schedules.
• Review debtors, creditors, banking and bookkeeping processes.
• Maintain accurate accounting master data and supporting documentation.
• Maintain rolling cash flow forecasts and monitor short-term funding requirements.
• Review debtor and creditor age analyses, payment proposals and working capital risks.
• Coordinate supplier payments in line with approved authority and banking controls.
• Reconcile inventory and manufacturing data between Cin7 and Xero.
• Investigate stock, WIP, finished goods and negative stock exceptions.
• Review stock counts, stock adjustments, scrap, rejects and production variances.
• Prepare inventory valuations and slow-moving or obsolete stock reports.
• Maintain standard costing inputs, including labour, overhead and landed cost calculations.
• Support product costing, margin analysis and commercial costing models.
• Prepare and review VAT201, EMP201 and EMP501 returns.
• Coordinate year-end files, audit packs, stock certificates and information required by auditors and external advisers.
• Maintain the fixed asset register, depreciation calculations and supporting schedules.
• Manage intercompany reconciliations, group schedules and consolidated financial information.
• Coordinate routine CIPC, payroll and finance-related compliance requirements.
• Liaise with auditors, tax practitioners, legal advisers, system consultants and other external specialists.
• Act as a finance super user for Xero, Cin7 and related financial workflows.
• Maintain practical financial procedures, checklists, control evidence and organised working papers.
• Allocate, oversee and review the work of junior finance and administration staff.
• Train and support junior staff while maintaining quality standards and accountability.
• Identify process improvements and implement practical solutions to strengthen financial controls.