Accountant

DLA Piper; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

DLA Piper seeks a dynamic Financial Accountant for its Johannesburg office. The ideal candidate will manage accounting records, ensure compliance with local regulations, and support financial oversight across departments. You'll collaborate within a global team, developing insights to assist in budget management and operational efficiencies. Join a leading firm committed to innovation and inclusion, where your skills will enable exceptional client service.

Qualifications

• Approx. 5 years of relevant experience in law firm accounting.
• Strong knowledge of VAT legislation and accounting rules.
• Experience in finance function of an international organization.

Responsibilities

• Providing financial support and analyzing KPIs.
• Managing local accounting records and preparing financial statements.
• Submitting local tax and regulatory reporting.

Skills

Excel

Client Service Orientation

Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Professional Accounting Qualification

Tools

SAP

Job description

As a Financial Accountant at DLA Piper in Johannesburg, you will work in an established ambitious organisation that is constantly evolving internationally and growing its people to meet the challenges. You will work and interact with internal stakeholders such as lawyers, HR, IT, Business Development, other departments as well as with colleagues in our international network of offices, external parties such as banks, authorities and accountants.

You are responsible for a range of duties from supporting the commercial development of the firm to the management and maintenance of detailed accounting and regulatory records, production of statutory accounts and maintaining a range of external relationships.

The ideal candidate has an extensive experience in bookkeeping and everyday operational finance matters, with approx. 5 years of practical working experience in an accounting department of a law firm and the desire to add value to the service offering of the team.

Main duties and responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Senior Financial Accountant and while being autonomous in your work your tasks cover but are not restricted to:

Commercial

• Providing financial support for the local management team, which will include assistance with monitoring of the annual budget and provision of variance updates, interpreting centrally provided financial data on KPIs including around billing and cash
• Working with local teams to ensure cost control and accurate accounting of costs
• Interpreting centrally provided financial data on KPIs including around billing and cash
• Provide support to the Litigation & Regulation team

Accounting, Control & Compliance

• Maintaining the local accounting records, processing month end journals, providing monthly analysis on figures and preparing the annual consolidation package
• Preparing monthly balance sheet recons
• Maintaining monthly management accounts and preparing financial statements at year end
• Processing of foreign and urgent payments. All other payments processed by our central team in Poland
• Assisting to establish an adequate system of internal control and compliance with Group accounting policies on a range of issues
• Assisting to comply with Law Society of Soth Africa accounting rules or equivalent company requirements around client money management
• Submitting local tax and regulatory reporting, VAT and PAYE
• Financial and BBB-EE audit support

Risk management

• Assisting in the maintenance of the local business and financial Risk Logs

The above list is not exhaustive and there will be opportunity to develop your skills depending on your abilities

About you

• You will possess approx. 5 years of relevant experience and appropriate professional accounting qualification
• Experience in the professional services of a law firm is required
• You have excellent knowledge of Excel
• You have gained experience in a finance function of an International organisation
• You have a strong knowledge of local accounting rules, VAT legislation and preferably of International Financial Reporting Standards
• Has a strong knowledge of local statutory reporting requirements
• Experience with SAP will be an advantage
• You have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and are fluent in English
• You are a self-starter, who is able to work on their own initiative as well as being part of a team, and you have a strong client service orientation
• You feel comfortable operating in sometimes ambiguous situations, demonstrating a flexible and collaborative personal working style
• You feel comfortable multi-tasking and working to conflicting timescales on multiple priorities in a robust and fast-paced environment
• You possess the interpersonal skills and experience to work with colleagues throughout the International firm

About us

We're a global law firm helping our clients achieve their goals wherever they do business. Our pursuit of innovation has transformed our delivery of legal services. With offices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, we deliver exceptional outcomes on cross-border projects, critical transactions and high-stakes disputes.

At DLA Piper, we understand that inclusion is not a one-size-fits-all concept. We embrace and celebrate the range of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences that each individual brings to our firm. By fostering a culture that welcomes and appreciates all aspects of our individuality, we ensure that everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Our commitment to inclusion and positive social impact enables us to provide exceptional service to our clients and communities, while nurturing a unique and inclusive culture for all our people. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people - however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

We are committed to being accessible and accommodating any reasonable adjustments needed throughout the recruitment process to ensure an inclusive experience for all. If you need any support or adjustments, please let us know.

Where local legislation permits, we will conduct relevant pre-engagement screening checks prior to your first day.