Accountant

M&G Investments Southern Africa; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 620,000; Full time

Job summary

M&G Investments Southern Africa is seeking an experienced accountant to join the Finance team. The role supports payroll processing and the administration of general ledgers across multiple entities and trusts connected to variable pay schemes.

You will help with audits, statutory reporting and ensuring robust internal controls. Key tasks include payroll processing, reconciliations, tax filings and maintaining meticulous records for month- and year-end closes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting or related discipline.
• A relevant professional qualification, or progress towards one, would be advantageous.
• Relevant experience in payroll, accounting or finance operations.
• Working with ERP or payroll systems.
• Supporting finance process-improvement initiatives.
• Producing accurate outputs within tight reporting deadlines.
• Improving reporting quality and strengthening the control environment.
• Implementing or applying Group and local financial policies.
• An ability to work in a complex or multi-entity environment.
• Reconciliations and ledger management.
• Understanding of payroll processes, deductions and applicable taxes.
• Process improvement and automation.
• Regulatory and tax reporting.
• Internal controls and governance, including process documentation and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full payroll lifecycle and ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Process payroll changes, including new appointments, terminations, salary adjustments, bonuses and incentive payments.
• Administer payroll deductions, including tax, employee benefits and garnishments, and ensure accurate net-pay calculations.
• Reconcile payroll information to the general ledger and relevant financial accounts.
• Ensure employees are paid accurately, on time and in compliance with applicable requirements.
• Ensure compliance with relevant tax, labour, statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Manage payroll tax filings and statutory submissions.
• Maintain complete payroll records, supporting documentation and a robust audit trail for internal and external audit purposes.
• Ensure the secure and confidential handling of sensitive employee and payroll information.
• Support month-end and year-end financial close deliverables.
• Maintain the general ledgers of trusts and companies linked to variable pay schemes.
• Prepare final trial balances and support the preparation of audited Annual Financial Statements.
• Administer the Staff Dividend Scheme in accordance with the applicable scheme rules.
• Support short-term cash-flow forecasting.
• Support the Financial Accountant in delivering operational excellence within the Finance team of M&G Investments Southern Africa.
• Contribute to Finance projects that enhance the effectiveness of the Finance function.
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls, governance processes and financial documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial reporting, payroll processes and operational efficiency.
• Oversee the work performed by the Payroll Accountant and support ongoing development and performance management.

Skills

Payroll processing

GL accounting

Regulatory compliance

ERP systems

Process improvement

Audit support

Tax reporting

Multi-entity

Internal controls

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting

Professional qualification (advantageous)

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a highly accurate, detail-oriented and experienced accountant to join our Finance team. The role will support the Financial Accountant in delivering two key areas of responsibility. The first is the smooth and accurate monthly processing of payroll, including incentive payments, ensuring that employees are paid correctly, on time and in compliance with statutory, regulatory and internal control requirements.

The second area of responsibility involves the administration and maintenance of the general ledgers of various companies and trusts linked to variable pay schemes. This includes maintaining appropriate internal controls, ensuring accurate and timely financial processing, and supporting the annual audit and preparation of Annual Financial Statements.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the full payroll lifecycle and ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Process payroll changes, including new appointments, terminations, salary adjustments, bonuses and incentive payments.
• Administer payroll deductions, including tax, employee benefits and garnishments, and ensure accurate net-pay calculations.
• Reconcile payroll information to the general ledger and relevant financial accounts.
• Ensure employees are paid accurately, on time and in compliance with applicable requirements.
• Ensure compliance with relevant tax, labour, statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Manage payroll tax filings and statutory submissions.
• Maintain complete payroll records, supporting documentation and a robust audit trail for internal and external audit purposes.
• Ensure the secure and confidential handling of sensitive employee and payroll information.
• Support month-end and year-end financial close deliverables.
• Maintain the general ledgers of trusts and companies linked to variable pay schemes.
• Prepare final trial balances and support the preparation of audited Annual Financial Statements.
• Administer the Staff Dividend Scheme in accordance with the applicable scheme rules.
• Support short-term cash-flow forecasting.
• Support the Financial Accountant in delivering operational excellence within the Finance team of M&G Investments Southern Africa.
• Contribute to Finance projects that enhance the effectiveness of the Finance function.
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls, governance processes and financial documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial reporting, payroll processes and operational efficiency.
• Oversee the work performed by the Payroll Accountant and support ongoing development and performance management.

Attributes, Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting or a related discipline.
• A relevant professional qualification, or progress towards one, would be advantageous.
• Relevant experience in payroll, accounting or finance operations.
• Working with ERP or payroll systems.
• Supporting finance process-improvement initiatives.
• Producing accurate outputs within tight reporting deadlines.
• Improving reporting quality and strengthening the control environment.
• Implementing or applying Group and local financial policies.
• An ability to work in a complex or multi-entity environment.
• Reconciliations and ledger management.
• Understanding of payroll processes, deductions and applicable taxes.
• Process improvement and automation.
• Regulatory and tax reporting.
• Internal controls and governance, including process documentation and risk management.

Competencies & Personal Attributes

• High attention to detail and a strong commitment to accuracy.
• High levels of confidentiality, integrity and professional judgement.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to deliver high-quality work within tight reporting deadlines.
• Comfortable operating within tightly controlled and governed environments.
• Strong focus on accuracy, governance and process efficiency.Able to work effectively across Human Capital, Finance and other parts of the business.
• Resilient and able to perform effectively under pressure.