Financial Accountant

Wright Energy Storage Technologies; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 620,000; Full time

Job summary

Wright Energy Storage Technologies, an engineering and energy storage specialist, seeks a Financial Accountant to own the day-to-day accounting function and deliver meaningful management information to support growth and decision-making.

Preference will be given to candidates pursuing or holding CIMA, SAIPA, SAICA, or equivalent, with strong management reporting experience. The role offers growth toward senior finance leadership as the company expands locally and internationally.

Qualifications

• Professional accounting qualification: CIMA, SAIPA, SAICA, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5 years' relevant accounting experience.
• Strong understanding of both financial accounting and management accounting principles.
• Experience preparing management accounts and financial reports.
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management.
• Strong knowledge of South African tax, VAT, PAYE, and statutory compliance requirements.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience with ERP systems such as Sage, SAP, Dynamics, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day accounting function.
• Maintain accurate and complete accounting records.
• Process and review accounts payable and accounts receivable.
• Perform bank, creditor, debtor, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Manage VAT, PAYE, and other statutory compliance requirements.
• Prepare monthly financial statements and management accounts.
• Assist with year-end financial statements and external audit requirements.
• Maintain and improve internal financial controls and accounting procedures.
• Prepare and analyse monthly management reports.
• Monitor revenue, gross profit, operating expenses, and overall profitability.
• Perform product, project, and job costing analyses.
• Analyse variances against budgets, forecasts, and prior-period results.
• Provide financial analysis and insights to support commercial decision-making.
• Develop and maintain financial KPIs, dashboards, and management reporting tools.
• Identify financial risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.

Job description

We are an engineering and energy storage company focused on the development, manufacture, and deployment of battery modules, energy storage systems, and renewable energy solutions.

As our business continues to grow, we are seeking a highly capable and commercially minded

Financial Accountant

to take ownership of the day-to-day accounting function while providing accurate financial information and meaningful management insights to support strategic decision-making and company growth.

We are looking for an accounting professional who combines strong technical accounting expertise with a management accounting and commercial mindset. This role offers significant growth potential and is intended to develop into a senior finance leadership position as the company expands locally and internationally.

Preference will be given to candidates pursuing or holding a CIMA qualification, particularly those with strong management reporting and commercial finance experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day accounting function.
• Maintain accurate and complete accounting records.
• Process and review accounts payable and accounts receivable.
• Perform bank, creditor, debtor, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Manage VAT, PAYE, and other statutory compliance requirements.
• Prepare monthly financial statements and management accounts.
• Assist with year-end financial statements and external audit requirements.
• Maintain and improve internal financial controls and accounting procedures.
• Prepare and analyse monthly management reports.
• Monitor revenue, gross profit, operating expenses, and overall profitability.
• Perform product, project, and job costing analyses.
• Analyse variances against budgets, forecasts, and prior-period results.
• Provide financial analysis and insights to support commercial decision-making.
• Develop and maintain financial KPIs, dashboards, and management reporting tools.
• Identify financial risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Assist with annual budgeting and financial planning processes.
• Prepare rolling forecasts and cash flow projections.
• Monitor actual performance against budgets and forecasts.
• Support management with scenario modelling and financial projections.

Cash Flow & Working Capital Management

• Monitor company cash flow and working capital requirements.
• Assist with short-term and long-term cash flow forecasting.
• Monitor debtors, creditors, and payment cycles.
• Identify and proactively manage potential cash flow risks.

Commercial & Operational Support

• Work closely with management, operations, procurement, and sales teams.
• Provide financial input into projects, contracts, and commercial proposals.
• Assist with pricing strategies and margin analysis.
• Evaluate the financial impact of business decisions and operational initiatives.
• Develop financial models to support new products, projects, and business opportunities.
• Professional accounting qualification: CIMA, SAIPA, SAICA, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5 years' relevant accounting experience.
• Strong understanding of both financial accounting and management accounting principles.
• Experience preparing management accounts and financial reports.
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management.
• Strong knowledge of South African tax, VAT, PAYE, and statutory compliance requirements.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience with ERP systems such as Sage, SAP, Dynamics, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar.

Advantageous

• CIMA qualification or active progression towards CIMA.
• Experience in manufacturing, engineering, renewable energy, or project-based industries.
• Experience with inventory accounting, product costing, and project costing.
• Experience working with foreign currencies and multi-entity reporting structures.
• Exposure to international business operations and reporting.
• Excellent attention to detail and numerical accuracy.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Commercially minded with the ability to interpret financial information and provide practical business recommendations.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a growing team.