Senior Accountant

Job Description

An experienced accounting professional responsible for overseeing the full financial accounting function, ensuring accurate month-end reporting, compliance, and financial controls. Skilled in managing VAT and PAYE submissions, coordinating year-end audits, and preparing management reports and annual financial statements. Proven ability to oversee creditors and debtors, resolve complex financial matters, and liaise with regulatory authorities. Adept at providing financial analysis and strategic support to management while maintaining high standards of accuracy and compliance. Experienced in supervising and mentoring finance teams to ensure deadlines are met and accounting best practices are consistently applied.

Key Responsibilities

Including, but not limited to:

• Oversee the monthly accounting closing process, ensuring all transactions, journals, accruals, reconciliations, and supporting documentation are accurate, complete and submitted within deadlines.
• Manage and review creditors and debtors’ functions including invoicing, allocations, reconciliations, and outstanding balances with particular focus on overdue, unusual or unreconciled balances and required follow-up actions. .
• Managing of VAT and PAYE compliance, including reviewing calculations and reconciliations, ensuring accurate submissions, and supporting schedules are completed within statutory deadlines.
• Liaise with SARS and other relevant authorities regarding VAT, PAYE, payments, queries and other tax or statutory matters.
• Prepare Monthly Management Reports and financial schedules, including analysis of results, variances, movements, and other relevant financial information for management.
• Manage the year-end audit process, including preparing and reviewing audit schedules, coordinating supporting documentation, liaising with auditors, and resolving audit queries.
• Support the preparation and finalisation of Annual Financial Statements, ensuring information provided to auditors is accurate, complete, and properly supported.
• Supervise and guide junior staff, including allocating responsibilities, reviewing work, monitoring deadlines, and ensuring required accounting standards and internal controls are maintained.
• Maintain ownership of key accounting areas requiring senior-level review, judgement, or direct involvement.
• Provide financial analysis, reporting and support to upper management, including cash-flow information and other ad hoc financial requirements.

Skills:

The following are the minimum skills required to perform the function:

• Windows 10, Microsoft suite (Excel, Outlook, Word).
• Sage experience will be advantageous.
• Analytical Thinker.
• Team player
• Strong communication skills
• Problem solving capabilities
• Interpersonal skills
• Adaptability

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree, Diploma or related other financial qualification, or
• Proven industry related proficiency based on 5 years of experience.

Application Question(s):

• What is your notice period?
• What is your salary expectation (Total Cost to Company) per month?
• Have you independently managed the full month-end accounting close process, including journals, accruals, and reconciliations?
• Have you been responsible for reviewing and managing both creditors and debtors, including resolving outstanding or unreconciled balances?
• Do you have experience preparing and submitting VAT and PAYE returns accurately and within statutory deadlines?
• Have you dealt directly with SARS regarding VAT, PAYE, tax queries, or statutory compliance matters?
• Have you prepared monthly management accounts and financial reports for senior management?
• Have you performed variance analysis and explained financial movements to management?
• Have you managed the year-end external audit process and worked directly with auditors?
• Have you been responsible for preparing or supporting the preparation of Annual Financial Statements?
• Have you supervised, trained, or reviewed the work of junior finance or accounting staff?
• Have you been responsible for maintaining and improving internal financial controls within an organisation?
• Have you provided financial analysis, cash flow reporting, or other ad hoc financial information to senior management?
• Are you confident in making senior-level accounting decisions and exercising professional judgement in complex financial matters?

Work Location: In person