Assistant Financial Manager

Bluedesk; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A music promotion platform in Cape Town is seeking a financial assistant to support the CFO in various accounting and tax planning tasks. The position offers growth in a dynamic startup environment, providing a steep learning curve in international tax. Ideal candidates are self-starters with strong organizational skills and a proactive learning attitude.

Benefits

Market-related CTC

Performance bonus (discretionary)

15 days annual leave + public holidays

Contribution to professional membership (SAICA CPD)

Qualifications

• Proven record of academic excellence.
• Hands-on experience with Xero is preferred but not essential.
• Any additional tax education is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Take over duties from the CFO, including basic accounting.
• Work on international tax planning alongside the CFO.
• Monthly management accounts for multiple companies.

Skills

Proactive learner

Strong admin skills

Excellent communication

Education

Articles completed at a mid-tier or Big-4 firm

Tools

Xero

Job description

Location :

Cape Town (Hybrid – initially more office-based; evolving to more flexibility)

Reports to :

CFO

Employment type :

Full-time (permanent)

Start date :

Early

About the Business

The client is an independent music promotion platform founded in

• , empowering over 1 million international artists, labels, and publicists to transparently promote their music and grow their online fanbase.

Even though the business has matured into a multinational conglomerate with international footprint, we maintain a company culture akin to a start-up tech company.

We're a lean team of just 6 full-time employees, spread out across the globe.

This means that each team member takes ownership of their specific function.

Since there is little oversight, we require each team member to work diligently and take ownership of tasks.

As the CFO, I everything from customer support to monthly management accounts to delving deep into company strategy and international tax structuring.

As an international group of companies with a small finance department, we outsource routine tax compliance tasks to accountants in both the USA and South Africa, allowing our core team to focus on tasks with the highest ROI.

This includes the ever changing world of international tax, meticulous planning to ensure all international deadlines are met, fast customer support and solid accounting.

Duties & Responsibilities

You will start off in the role by taking over duties from the CFO.

This will include doing basic accounting and getting to know the business.

As you mature in the role, you will work alongside the CFO on international tax planning, potentially progressing into a more senior role that involves complex tax matters.

The role will initially include the following :

Monthly management accounts (3 US companies and one SA company) :

P&L and Balance Sheet

The bank statements feed into Xero, so you will simply allocate to the right account

For certain accounts you'll download csv files, modify and import before reconciling

Bank reconciliations to ensure accuracy

Credit card reconciliations

Monthly financial department report

Inter-company admin like bank transfers

Tax calendar planning

Maintaining inter-company agreements

Learning about US corporate law and taxes

Once you're comfortable with the accounting tasks, what the company is all about, and if you show affinity for more strategic tasks, there are further progression opportunities.

You'll learn about corporate structuring and the basics of the corporate law and tax laws in the USA as the CFO transitions these functions.

This is a steep learning curve – It involves getting first hand education on SA corporate and high net worth individual tax guidance from the top tax lawyers in the county.

It also involves the same on the DTA between SA and USA, and education on US taxes from some of the top US tax attorneys.

You need a higher than average ability to self-educate

, (with help of the CFO) but you'll have full access to our network of US accountants and attorneys for guidance.

We're seeking a smart, driven, self-starter.

Someone who can both thrive in a dynamic environment, but is strong with admin and routine.

Someone who is eager to learn and who enjoys challenging work.

Our company footprint is big, but our organigram taking care of everything is compact.

We need someone who can buy into the start-up culture.

This means that you need to take responsibility for tasks, since there's no elaborate structure that signs off on tasks.

To help you focus on complex tasks, you need to be good at creating schedules and calendars and sheets that help you remember everything you need to do.

Desired Experience & Qualification

Articles completed at a mid-tier or Big-4 firm

(preferred but not mandatory)

Hands-on experience with

Xero

(Preferred but not essential)

Any additional tax education is a plus

The candidate should have a proven record of academic excellence

Desired Skills & Attributes

Proactive learner with proven ability to source and apply online resources

Strong admin and organizational skills, with a detail-oriented mindset

Excellent communication—able to distil complex US / SA tax concepts for a non-finance music industry team

Thrives in a flexible, independent environment

Comfortable with ambiguity and high-growth challenges

Package & Remuneration

Market-related CTC

Performance bonus (discretionary)

15 days annual leave + public holidays

Contribution to professional membership (SAICA CPD)