Finance Officer

Job description

Position Code: HRD-SA/11-001

Department: Finance

Reporting To: Head of Finance, South Africa

Employment Type: Full-time (Contractual)

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Job Purpose

Responsible for managing the day-to-day processing of vendor invoices, expense reports, and payments in a timely and accurate manner. S/he will also ensure compliance with company policies, maintain vendor relationships, and assist with the month-end closing process.

Responsibilities

• Review and verify invoices for appropriate documentation and approval prior to payment. Match purchase orders to invoices and resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare and process electronic transfers, checks, and bank payments to vendors. Ensure all payments are made on time.
• Review and process employee expense reports, ensuring adherence to company policies and guidelines.
• Maintain accurate records and communicate with vendors regarding billing discrepancies, payment status, and any other inquiries.
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts, including vendor statements, bank recons and other balance sheet recons. Resolve discrepancies and assist in month-end closing.
• Maintain files and documentation thoroughly and accurately, in accordance with company policy and accepted accounting practices.
• Ensure proper internal controls are maintained in the accounting processes to prevent fraudulent activities.
• Assist with audits by providing supporting documentation and ensuring records are complete and accurate.
• Generate and provide financial reports as required by management, such as aged payable reports and cash requirement forecasts.
• Maintain a fixed asset register that reconciles with the balance sheet accounts. Calculate and process depreciation journals.
• Assist with special projects and ad-hoc requests as needed by the finance or accounting department.
• Capture general journals for payroll and reallocations.
• Manage high transaction volumes while ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Manage tight deadlines and vendor relationships to prevent strain, late fees, or disruptions in deliverables.
• Ensure accuracy and address any unresolved discrepancies promptly.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations to mitigate the risk of penalties or audits observations.
• Responsible for addressing discrepancies to prevent delays in payment processing.
• Ensure effective cash flow management to prevent liquidity issues that could impact the company's overall financial health.
• Able to communicate effectively with both internal and external parties.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSA)

Required Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Bookkeeping or Accounting Certifications (Optional but advantageous).

Required Experience:

• 1-3 Years of Experience in Accounts Payable or General Accounting.
• Experience with Accounting Software and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word) (Required).
• Strong skills in Microsoft Excel, including the use of formulas and pivot tables.
• Familiarity with VAT regulations (Required).
• Understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and practices.

Required Skills:

• Self-motivated and a fast learner who is ready to hit the ground running.
• Organised, detail-oriented, and problem solver with an elevated level of curiosity.
• Good listener and maintains accountability for their actions.
• Ability to work independently and under tight timelines.
• Ability to convey financial information clearly and concisely.
• Ability to interact positively with various departments and build relationships with external vendors.
• Attention to detail.