Red Ember Recruitment is seeking on behalf of our client an experienced and detail-oriented Accountant to join their finance team in Plattekloof. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring accurate, complete and timely financial reporting, with a strong focus on month-end accounting, reconciliation, tax and audit support, stock and cash-related financial controls, and management reporting.
Key Responsibilities
- Financial Reporting & Month-End Close
- Prepare accurate monthly management accounts, income statements and balance sheet schedules.
- Process journals, accruals and provisions in line with month-end deadlines.
- Review general ledger transactions for completeness, accuracy and correct classification.
- Maintain supporting working papers for key financial reporting balances.
- Support the preparation of annual financial statements and related schedules.
- Reconciliations & Balance Sheet Control
- Prepare and review monthly balance sheet reconciliations, including creditors, stock, cash-book and VAT control accounts.
- Investigate reconciling items and resolve exceptions.
- Ensure reconciliations are properly supported and completed within agreed deadlines.
- Monitor the accuracy and integrity of financial transactions and account allocations.
- Maintain audit-ready reconciliation files.
- Tax, Statutory & Audit Support
- Prepare VAT reconciliations, submissions and payment packs for review.
- Assist with income tax, provisional tax and deferred tax calculations and schedules.
- Support SARS, external audit and statutory audit requests.
- Ensure tax and statutory records are complete, accurate and submitted on time.
- Track audit queries through to resolution.
- Stock, Inventory & Cost Controls
- Process and reconcile stock-related transactions.
- Support stock take procedures and analyse stock results.
- Investigate stock variances and provide explanations for management review.
- Maintain controls over inventory accounting, cost allocations and related journals.
- Assist operational teams with stock reporting.
- Budgeting, Forecasting & Management Analysis
- Assist with the annual budget process and periodic forecast updates.
- Prepare cost and revenue analysis to support management decision-making.
- Import approved budgets into the accounting system and validate accuracy.
- Prepare cash flow inputs and other management schedules.
- Highlight material variances, risks and opportunities to the Financial Manager.
- Systems, Compliance & Process Improvement
- Process financial transactions accurately using Sage Evolution and related systems.
- Identify opportunities to streamline, standardise and automate finance processes.
- Maintain compliance with company policies, internal controls and finance deadlines.
- Support continuous improvement of reporting templates, reconciliations and procedures.
- Safeguard the quality, integrity and confidentiality of financial data.
Requirements
- BCom degree with completed articles.
- Minimum 5 years' post-article experience.
- Professional certification such as CA, AGA, SAIPA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent will be advantageous.
- 5-8+ years' experience in treasury, revenue reconciliation, cash management or corporate finance.
- Experience within QSR, retail, FMCG or multi-unit franchise environments will be highly advantageous.
- Strong understanding of high-volume cash transactions and POS/merchant settlement processes.
- Advanced Excel skills - non-negotiable.
- High computer literacy.
- Strong reconciliation and financial technical skills.
- Sage Evolution experience will be advantageous.
- Retail experience will be advantageous.
- Payroll knowledge will be advantageous.
- Excellent English communication skills.
Competencies
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Structured and organised approach.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Results-driven and accountable.
- Self-starter who is adaptable, energetic and confident.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical ability.
- Ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders.