Group Reporting Accountant

About Unifi

Boldly different. Fiercely human. Proudly African.

Unifi is redefining credit in Africa with simple, fast personal loans delivered through online, mobile and branch channels. We make life easy for our clients across Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and Tanzania. Unifi has conviction in the African continent and its people, and our products enable our clients to achieve even more. As one of the fastest-growing lenders in Africa, we combine exceptional client service with the very best tech and data analytics.

Purpose of the role

The Group Reporting Controller reports to the Group Reporting Manager and acts as a key second-in-command in the team. You’ll help make sure Unifi’s group numbers are right, our reporting is strong and our finance function keeps getting better as we grow. You’ll support consolidated financial reporting, technical accounting, ERP maintenance and our financial control environment. Working closely with finance teams across Africa, you’ll challenge what can be improved and drive simpler, more consistent and automated ways of working that can scale with Unifi.

Responsibilities

• Own the preparation and review of Unifi’s monthly, quarterly and annual consolidated management accounts and financial statements.
• Review country management accounts and financial statements, making sure reporting is accurate, consistent and aligned across the group.
• Work through complex accounting matters and develop clear technical accounting positions in line with IFRS and relevant laws and regulations.
• Own the year-end audit alongside the Group Reporting Manager, working with external auditors and country finance teams to keep requests moving and achieve timely group-wide sign-off.
• Step in for the Group Reporting Manager in auditor and leadership discussions when needed.
• Spot and drive opportunities to automate, simplify and strengthen our reporting processes and controls, particularly through NetSuite and other finance technology.
• Work with the Group FP&A team on budgeting, forecasting and group-level variance analysis.
• Support group-wide tax, secretarial and statutory reporting requirements.
• Build and improve standardised templates, tools and processes that help country finance teams close accurately, consistently and on time.
• Develop and deliver practical training that strengthens financial accounting and reporting capability across our finance teams.
• Help drive group reporting initiatives, keeping timelines on track and contributing to the wider group finance strategy.
• Perform quarterly valuations in line with group policies and make sure KPI and other key calculations are consistently applied across the group.
• Own the administration of NetSuite and its integrations with other systems across Unifi, making sure the system supports how Finance needs to work.
• Help build and strengthen Unifi’s financial control environment, without adding unnecessary complexity.
• When a country team needs support to meet a group deadline, roll up your sleeves and help get it done.

Requirements

• Registered as SAICA .
• 5+ years of post-article accounting experience, including hands-on ownership of multi-currency, multi-entity consolidations.
• Strong IFRS knowledge and the confidence to stand behind your thinking with auditors and other stakeholders.
• Comfortable getting into the detail of an ERP such as NetSuite and finding ways to make the system, processes and controls work better.
• A clear, practical communicator who can make complex finance matters easier for others to understand.
• Comfortable asking hard questions and challenging something that doesn’t look right, while building strong relationships with the people around you.
• Takes real ownership, cares about the detail and speaks up early when something is going off track.
• Brings high standards and discipline without making things unnecessarily complicated.
• Naturally looks for simpler, faster and better ways of working — and is willing to get stuck in to make them happen.
• Comfortable working across different countries, teams and ways of working.
• Willing to get stuck in, put in the extra effort and help the team deliver when deadlines are tight.
• Willing to travel across Africa when needed.
• Excited by the opportunities in Africa and eager to help build something meaningful.