Accountant

Legends Employer of Record; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Legends Employer of Record in Cape Town seeks a Mid-Senior Financial Accountant to manage month-end reporting, maintain financial controls, and drive process automation across SA and UK entities. You will oversee the Junior Financial Accountant and lead EOR billing operations.

The role requires a BCom Accounting with 3-5+ years of experience, expertise in Xero and PaySpace, and strong SA SARS tax knowledge. Collaboration with Group Finance and external auditors is essential.

Qualifications

• Education: BCom Accounting and professional qualification (CIMA/SAIPA/SAICA) preferred.
• Experience: 3–5+ years in a senior/mid-level accounting role, multi-currency or multi-entity exposure.
• Tech: Proficiency in Xero and PaySpace; advanced Excel/Google Sheets.
• Knowledge: SA SARS VAT, PAYE, SDL, UIF; strong intercompany cross-charging principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead Month-End Close across SA and UK entities with reconciliations and variance analysis.
• Own EOR billing; review invoices against payroll master and manage client deposits and reconciliations.
• Submissions of SA statutory returns (VAT201, EMP201/PAYE) and assist with statutory filings.
• Oversee intercompany cross-charging matrix and automate data flows between systems.

Skills

Financial accounting

Intercompany accounting

Audit readiness

Mentoring junior staff

Multi-currency / multi-entity

Education

BCom Accounting

CIMA/SAIPA/SAICA qualification

Tools

Xero

PaySpace

Excel/Google Sheets

Job description

Job Title: Mid-Senior Financial Accountant

Reporting To: Group Finance Manager

Direct Oversight: Junior Financial Accountant / Bookkeeper

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Mid-Senior Financial Accountant to join our finance team in Cape Town. Reporting directly to the Group Finance Manager, you will play a critical role in our day-to-day financial operations, managing month-end reporting, driving process automation, and maintaining financial control across our South African (Employer of Record & Recruitment) and UK (Financial Services / Brokerage) entities. You will also oversee the work of our Junior Financial Accountant and act as the financial lead for our high-volume EOR billing operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Month-End Close & Reporting: Lead the month-end close process across all SA and UK group entities, ensuring accurate balance sheet reconciliations, trial balance reviews, and variance analysis.
• EOR Billing & Operations: Serve as the primary finance lead for monthly Employer of Record (EOR) billing. Manage Xero invoice drafting and review billing against the payroll master (percentage margins, gross salary fees, and fixed rates) to catch discrepancies. Oversee client deposits, recruitment placement billing, and all accompanying reconciliations.
• Statutory Compliance: In-source and submit SA statutory returns (VAT201, EMP201/PAYE) directly to SARS. Collaborate with our external accounting firm on annual financial statements, corporate tax filings, and COIDA/UIF submissions.
• Intercompany & Process Automation: Oversee the intercompany cross-charging matrix between SA cost centers and UK trading entities. Identify workflow bottlenecks and automate data flows between Xero, PaySpace, and operational Google Sheets.
• Team Oversight & Mentorship: Direct and review the output of the Junior Financial Accountant, ensuring strict control over Accounts Receivable (debtor chasing across SA and UK), allocations, and bank reconciliations.
• Audit & Advisory: Prepare annual audit packs, liaise with external auditors, and work alongside HR and Payroll teams to maintain cross-departmental alignment.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: BCom Accounting, CIMA, SAIPA, or SAICA qualification preferred.
• Experience: 3-5+ years in a senior/mid-level accounting role, ideally with exposure to multi-currency or multi-entity structures (SA and UK exposure is a strong plus).
• Tech Stack: Proficiency in Xero and PaySpace or equivalent is highly desirable. Advanced Excel / Google Sheets skills are required.
• Technical Knowledge: Solid understanding of SA statutory tax (SARS VAT, PAYE, SDL, UIF) and sound intercompany cross-charging principles.
• Key Traits: Strong attention to detail, process-driven mindset, and the ability to operate independently while mentoring junior team members.