Senior Accountant – Africa and Middle East Region

As an established international services company, we are looking for a senior accountant to join a growing team to support the accounting, reporting and compliance of group companies in the Africa and Middle East region.

Working in a dynamic and deadline-driven finance environment, the candidate will ensure the efficient functioning of the Africa and Middle East finance team by supporting regional finance colleagues with accounting, reporting to stakeholders, reporting to group head office and compliance with recognised international accounting standards and legislation in the respective countries. The role is a hands-on role with expectation that the candidate will be involved and able to support every member and function of the finance team at all levels.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Full accounting function for select companies within the region including day-to-day bookkeeping, reconciliations, reporting, compliance and treasury.
• Supervise accounting function of at least 14 companies and support of finance colleagues in those companies
• Ensure complete and accurate reporting by each company in line with the group finance manual
• Ensure timely reporting in line with strict group finance deadlines
• Ensure compliance to statutory and tax legislation in the respective countries
• Train finance colleagues on group systems and in improving accounting function
• Support finance colleagues to prepare monthly management accounts and supporting analyses of Balance Sheet
• Support finance colleagues to prepare monthly Profit and Loss Statement with detailed costing and gross margin reporting
• Support finance colleagues to prepare annual budgets and periodic forecasting
• Support finance colleagues to analyse results against budget, forecasts and KPIs and summarize financial status
• Liaise with external financial auditors for audit, tax, statutory and secretarial matters
• Supervise year-end audit process in line with group deadlines
• Supervise periodic group reporting including intercompany reconciliations
• Manage netting of payments in region
• Support Management and Regional Financial Controller in matters relating to business in Africa and Middle East region.

Desired Qualification, Experience and Skills:

• B Compt or B Com degree in accounting is a minimum
• Completed articles or relevant certification (e.g. CMA or CPA) are an advantage
• Proven experience of full accounting function from source document to audit pack (minimum 7 years)
• Proven experience as Senior Accountant or Accounting Supervisor in a corporate environment with people management skills (minimum 3 years)
• Strong computer literacy – Microsoft Office 365, Word, Outlook, Teams and advanced MS Excel skills
• Hands-on experience with accounting software packages like Sage, Quick books, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or similar ERP software
• Good understanding and working experience of IFRS, GAAP principles, statutory and tax legislation in South Africa

Key Attributes:

• Professional person with an exceptional sense of responsibility and integrity
• Management skills to successfully organise and supervise finance colleagues towards common objectives of the group, while offering hands-on support as needed
• Professional work ethic and excellent interpersonal skills across all levels of organisation
• Deadline driven
• Able to maintain focus on group goals and ‘see the big picture’ in the small detail.
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Strong mathematical and accounting acumen
• Ability to work well under pressure and respond to tight deadlines
• Demonstrate ability to multi-task, organise and efficiently prioritize work.
• Strong personality to enforce internal controls and adherence to company policies
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Approachable manner, respectful and able to communicate where English is not the first language.

Remuneration and company benefits are subject to terms and conditions.

Permanent, full-time. Available immediately. Office based in Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa.

Send CVs to Global HR Manager, Francois de Kock at fdkock@pcugroup.com

Only applicants with relevant CVs to apply.

Please include title ‘Senior Accountant (Africa and Middle East Region) in the subject line.