Chief Accountant

This is a hands-on management role suited to a technically strong accounting professional with extensive experience across general ledger, month-end close, reconciliations, statutory compliance, tax, operational accounting and financial controls.

This role is based in Sandton.

Key Responsibilities:

Accounting Team Leadership

• Lead, allocate and review the work of the accounting team.
• Coach and develop team members while ensuring adequate back-up and continuity.
• Monitor accounting deadlines, quality and outstanding matters.
• Escalate significant accounting, compliance and control risks to the Financial Controller.

• Manage the month-end close timetable and ensure all accounting activities are completed within deadlines.
• Prepare and review journals, accruals, provisions, prepayments and supporting schedules.
• Ensure appropriate cut-off, completeness and classification of transactions.
• Review and submit the completed close file and outstanding matters to the Financial Controller.

• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and chart of accounts.
• Review balance-sheet reconciliations and ensure aged items are actively resolved.
• Investigate unusual transactions and accounting discrepancies.
• Ensure appropriate supporting documentation is maintained for material balances and accounting estimates.

• Oversee accounts payable, cash book, bank reconciliations, fixed assets, inventory, payroll accounting, intercompany accounting and foreign-currency revaluations.
• Ensure accurate inventory valuation, cost-of-sales accounting and obsolescence provisions.
• Maintain accurate fixed asset records and accounting.
• Review supplier, payment and banking controls and resolve processing exceptions.
• Coordinate accounting interfaces with the Accounts Receivable function.

• Prepare and review VAT, income tax, provisional tax and other applicable tax schedules and returns for approval.
• Maintain the statutory compliance calendar and supporting documentation.
• Prepare annual financial statement schedules and statutory accounting information.
• Identify and escalate complex or uncertain tax and statutory matters.

• Prepare audit schedules and coordinate supporting accounting documentation.
• Ensure audit requests and agreed accounting actions are completed within required deadlines.
• Execute assigned financial controls and maintain appropriate evidence.
• Support J-SOX / SOX testing and remediation activities.
• Identify control weaknesses and escalate significant issues appropriately.

• Prepare intercompany reconciliations, confirmations, settlements and variance analyses.
• Ensure Group accounting instructions are correctly applied to the local ledger.
• Provide accurate accounting schedules and supporting information for Group reporting.

• Prepare bank reconciliations, payment forecasts and accounting information supporting cash-flow reporting.
• Monitor accounting for foreign currency, bank charges, loans and treasury transactions.
• Provide accounting inputs for working-capital analysis.
• Escalate cash, payment or financial exposure risks when identified.

• Maintain accounting procedures, close checklists and finance record standards.
• Protect master data and transaction integrity within SAP / ERP systems.
• Support finance system testing, upgrades and process changes.
• Identify opportunities for automation, efficiency and continuous improvement while maintaining appropriate controls.

• Provide accurate accounting explanations, schedules and variance information to the Financial Controller.
• Respond to accounting queries from internal departments and clearly communicate Finance requirements.
• Support budgeting and forecasting through accurate historical data and accounting assumptions.
• Participate in ad hoc finance projects and process improvement initiatives.

Job Experience and Skills Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Financial Management or a related field.
• A recognised professional accounting designation will be advantageous.
• Minimum 10 years' progressive accounting experience.
• At least 4 years' experience in a managerial / supervisory accounting role.
• Strong practical experience in:
• General ledger management
• Month-end and year-end close
• Balance-sheet reconciliations
• Financial reporting
• Statutory schedules
• Tax support and compliance
• Financial controls
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and South African statutory and tax requirements.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Practical SAP or comparable ERP experience.
• Experience within a multinational, manufacturing or distribution environment will be advantageous.
• Exposure to J-SOX / SOX-type controls will be advantageous.

Apply now!

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