Accountant (Manufacturing)

Headhunters; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 480,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

Headhunters in South Africa seeks an experienced accountant to support manufacturing finance functions, including general ledger, VAT, payroll and month-end close.

The role requires 4–7 years experience, BCom Accounting, exposure to Cin7 and Xero, strong Excel skills, and the ability to supervise junior staff in a dynamic environment. Articles completed and SAIPA/AGA progress are advantageous; stock-based environment experience preferred.

Qualifications

• 4–7 years of accounting experience

Responsibilities

• Perform hands-on accounting and bookkeeping across GL, intercompany, and adjusting entries
• Lead monthly financial close and prepare journals for accruals, depreciation, payroll, inventory, and intercompany
• Prepare and review monthly management accounts, cash flow, KPI schedules and management commentary
• Review trial balances, balance sheet reconciliations and supporting schedules
• Coordinate supplier payments and maintain fixed asset register and depreciation schedules
• Reconcile inventory, stock counts, variances and costings in Cin7 and Xero
• Prepare VAT201, EMP201 and EMP501 returns and assist with year-end packs and audits
• Liaise with auditors and external advisers; supervise and train junior staff
• Identify process improvements to strengthen financial controls and procedures

Skills

Financial analysis

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Independent worker

Supervisory skills

Education

BCom Accounting or equivalent degree

Tools

Xero

Cin7

Excel (Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP)

Job description

Requirements:

• BCom Accounting or an equivalent relevant degree.
• Approximately 4–7 years of relevant accounting experience.
• Hands-on experience with accounting, bookkeeping, payroll and month-end processes.
• Strong knowledge of general ledger accounting, VAT, payroll accounting, intercompany transactions and fixed assets.
• Experience with balance sheet reconciliations and management reporting.
• Manufacturing, production costing or experience in a stock-based environment is highly advantageous.
• Completed articles would be advantageous.
• SAIPA, AGA(SA) or progress toward a relevant professional designation would be beneficial.
• Practical experience with Xero is advantageous.
• Experience with Cin7 or a comparable inventory/manufacturing system would be valuable.
• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP or equivalent lookup formulas, SUMIFS and data validation.
• Strong analytical, reconciliation and reporting skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative and solve problems through to resolution.
• Ability to supervise, train and support junior finance and administration staff.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a hands-on, changing environment with incomplete information and competing priorities.

Responsibilities:

• Perform hands-on accounting and bookkeeping, including bank, supplier, customer, general ledger, intercompany and adjusting transactions.
• Lead and coordinate the monthly financial close process.
• Prepare and review journals for accruals, provisions, depreciation, payroll, inventory, foreign currency and intercompany transactions.
• Prepare and review monthly management accounts, cash flow information, KPI schedules and management commentary.
• Review trial balances, balance sheet reconciliations and supporting schedules.
• Investigate and resolve reconciling items and accounting discrepancies.
• Prepare and process monthly salaries and oversee weekly wages.
• Review payroll inputs, deductions, leave, overtime, incentives, reconciliations and payment schedules.
• Review debtors, creditors, banking and bookkeeping processes.
• Maintain accurate accounting master data and supporting documentation.
• Maintain rolling cash flow forecasts and monitor short-term funding requirements.
• Review debtor and creditor age analyses, payment proposals and working capital risks.
• Coordinate supplier payments in line with approved authority and banking controls.
• Reconcile inventory and manufacturing data between Cin7 and Xero.
• Investigate stock, WIP, finished goods and negative stock exceptions.
• Review stock counts, stock adjustments, scrap, rejects and production variances.
• Prepare inventory valuations and slow-moving or obsolete stock reports.
• Maintain standard costing inputs, including labour, overhead and landed cost calculations.
• Support product costing, margin analysis and commercial costing models.
• Prepare and review VAT201, EMP201 and EMP501 returns.
• Coordinate year-end files, audit packs, stock certificates and information required by auditors and external advisers.
• Maintain the fixed asset register, depreciation calculations and supporting schedules.
• Manage intercompany reconciliations, group schedules and consolidated financial information.
• Coordinate routine CIPC, payroll and finance-related compliance requirements.
• Liaise with auditors, tax practitioners, legal advisers, system consultants and other external specialists.
• Act as a finance super user for Xero, Cin7 and related financial workflows.
• Maintain practical financial procedures, checklists, control evidence and organised working papers.
• Allocate, oversee and review the work of junior finance and administration staff.
• Train and support junior staff while maintaining quality standards and accountability.
• Identify process improvements and implement practical solutions to strengthen financial controls.