Job Description

Job Purpose
The Financial Accountant as part of the SSC reporting team will be responsible to prepare, process and deliver financial, transactional and accounting processes, the reconciliation of expenses, and the reporting of financial accounts for the business unit properties. This will include delivering Management Accounts, VAT calcs, Tax calcs (including provisional tax), SARS verifications, AFS, releasing payments in line with Company standards, regulations and legislation, with specific regard to streamlining costs and improving financial operating standards.
Key Performance Areas

• Complete monthly accounting activities and reporting for the respective business operations to ensure the financial performance and reporting position of the business unit is accurate, up-to-date and complete
• Monitor accounts to ensure that all charges and expenses have been accounted for accurately and timeously
• Ensure all the necessary accounting transactions have been posted for a period to ensure that the trial balance is complete, accurate and valid for reporting purposes
• Review and post accruals and provisions respectively to ensure accuracy and completeness
• Review and approve journals completed by the business units
• Process month-end re-evaluations of foreign currency balances
• Provide a basis for allocating expenditure to various cost centres and general accounts
• Monitor intercompany accounts between SIML and the Business Unit, investigating and resolving any intercompany variances
• Process month end journals with informative and precise narrations for finalisation of monthly financial reporting result
• Compile, monitor and review monthly, quarterly and annual Balance Sheet reconciliations, ensuring these are complete and that all outstanding items are investigated and cleared within deadlines
• Reconcile the balance sheet to the relevant sub-Ledger or source document
• Complete VAT calculations timeously - including the preparation and submission of supporting documentation to SARS via eFiling, and the resolution of queries in line with deadlines
• Control opening and closing dates of periods according to timetable
• Identify outstanding items on the workflow system and follow up and or ensure error items are cleared
• Prepare annual financial statements
• Review, release and approve bank payments on various banking platforms (Nedbank, ABSA, Standard Bank, etc.) after verifying validity of payments against valid supporting documentation
• Co-ordinate and complete month-end and year- end in line with deadlines
• Record, file and / or destroy necessary records in line with standards
• Prepare income and deferred tax calculations for the period
• Manage and submit information in response to audit requests for the relevant entities
• Interact with clients and provide professional service standards and solutions
• Handle any escalated complaints, disputes and suggestions as required
• Align practices with governance standards, ensuring all policies and practice is aligned to legislation, regulations and group and SSC standards, escalating any errors
• Liaise with the unit finance department to sign off month-end/financials within stipulated timeframe
• Proactively work with internal stakeholders to identify risk areas and address these, making value-add recommendations for cost savings, based on financial information and evaluating proposed projects
• Partner with Business Unit financial accountants and financial managers to ensure management are kept updated on latest developments; risks identified and recommendations made to find a solution for improved excellence in accounting processes and standards
• Report and consult with top management on risk areas and remedial action to be taken
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.

Education

• Grade 12
• BCom degree with CTA (Honours) with completed articles, CA(SA)

Experience

• 6 years' experience in a financial accounting and reporting environment
• Strong understanding of financial regulations and the legislative environment

Skills and Knowledge
Core behavioural competencies

• Conceptualising
• Analytical skills (including attention to detail)
• Influencing Skills
• Managing Risks, Results and Relationships
• Decision-making
• Emotional Maturity
• Ability to handle pressure and meet deadlines
• Planning & organising

Technical / proficiency competencies

• Knowledge of statutory legal and tax requirements
• Strong technical knowledge including IFRS developments
• Strong knowledge of accounting systems
• Accounting principles (IFRS), practices and procedures
• Balance Sheet Reconciliations
• Process improvement
• Tax calculations
• SARS verifications
• VAT calculations and submissions
• Preparation of AFS
• Networking skills
• Computer Proficiency in MS Office (Advanced Excel); Cognos or similar, IFS (advantage)
• Business acumen
• Full understanding of the budgeting and forecasting process

Equity
Preference will be given to employees from the designated groups in line with the provisions of the Employment Equity Act, No. 55 of 1998, SISA internal recruitment policy as well as units employment equity plans.
POPI Statement

• Please note that when applying for any position, reference checks will be completed and personal information as defined in the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 will be processed. In applying for this position, applicants will be deemed to have consented to such processing as defined in the included Privacy Statement.
• Please also note that if you have not been contacted within 1 month after the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful.

Skills Required