GL Accountant

TMF Group; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 420,000 - 680,000; Full time

Job summary

TMF Group in Cape Town is seeking a General Ledger Accountant to support the Germany Client Accounting Team. You will deliver high-quality financial reporting under German GAAP (HGB) and IFRS, manage SPV structures, and liaise with banks, auditors, and tax advisors.

You will reconcile data across several ERP systems, support VAT and statutory reporting, and contribute to process improvements within a cross-border accounting environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• ACCA progression is advantageous but not mandatory.
• 2+ years in general ledger accounting, SPV accounting.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review monthly/quarterly financial reporting and reconciliations per HGB and IFRS.
• Onboard new SPVs; review legal documents and financing agreements.
• Prepare VAT returns and statistical reports for the Bundesbank.
• Record journal entries with focus on assets, equity, accruals and loans.
• Reconcile data across DATEV, SAP, Yardi, and other systems.
• Oversee payments managed by AP team and follow up as needed.
• Assist with ad-hoc client reporting and process improvements.

Skills

Fluent English

German language

MS Excel

Team player

Attention to detail

Multi-deadlines

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance

ACCA (advantageous)

Tools

SAP

Yardi

DATEV

Job description

We never ask for payment as part of our selection process, and we always contact candidates via our corporate accounts and platforms. If you are approached for payment, this is likely to be fraudulent. Please check to see whether the role you are interested in is posted on our career website.

About TMF Group

TMF Group is a leading provider of administrative services, helping clients invest and operate safely around the world.

As we’re a global company with 12,000+ colleagues based in over 125 offices across 87 jurisdictions, we actively seek out people with the talent and potential to flourish at TMF Group, whatever their background, and offer job opportunities to the broadest spectrum of people. Once on board we nurture and promote talented individuals, making sure that senior positions are open to all.

Our Cape Town office is an integral part of TMF’s European delivery teams, collaborating with TMF Germany’s Accounting & Tax Team located in Frankfurt to provide our clients in the sectors Real Estate, Private Equity and Capital Markets with high‑quality cross‑border accounting solutions across a wide range of investment structures.

Discover the Role

As General Ledger Accountant, you will play a critical role in supporting the TMF Germany Client Accounting Team which services clients in the markets of Capital Markets, Private Equity and Real Estate (Financial Services). You will be responsible for delivering high-quality financial reporting, accounts reconciliations and day‑to‑day bookkeeping under German Commercial GAAP (HGB), IFRS and other relevant GAAP frameworks. In collaboration with the Team Leader – Client Accounting Financial Services South Africa, you will support the TMF Germany Client Accounting Team by delivering excellent support to internal and external stakeholders. You will take ownership of your deadlines to meet internal and external client expectations. The role requires exceptional organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines. You will work with complex special purpose vehicles (SPV) structures.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and review monthly/quarterly financial reporting, day‑to‑day bookkeeping and accounts reconciliations in accordance with German GAAP (HGB) and IFRS
• Support the onboarding of new SPVs, including review of legal documents such as purchase agreements (SPA), intercompany service agreements, external loan agreements and other corporate documents as required
• Support with the preparation of monthly and quarterly VAT returns and statistical reporting for the German central bank (Bundesbank)
• Prepare, post and review journal entries in accordance with HGB and IFRS, with a focus on fixed and financial assets, equity, accruals and provisions, shareholder and external loans
• Manage and reconcile accounting data across different accounting systems (DATEV, SAP, Yardi, etc.), e.g. tenant accounting, bank reconciliations, service charge reconciliations, fund flows, intercompany and external loan schedules
• Oversight of payments executed by dedicated AP team and follow‑up where appropriate
• Produce and review ad‑hoc client reporting
• Be involved in process improvements, system enhancements and workflow automation across the SPV accounting life cycle in cooperation with the TMF Germany Accounting & Tax Team
• Collaborate with internal and external clients and other stakeholders such as banks, auditors, lawyers and tax advisors
• Contribute to client satisfaction and be a trusted TMF business partner for internal and external clients and other stakeholders

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
• Currently studying toward ACCA is advantageous but not mandatory for candidates with strong experience
• Candidates without professional studies but with strong accounting fundamentals are encouraged to apply.
• 2+ years of experience in general ledger accounting, SPV accounting
• Exposure to IFRS and/or any European GAAPs is highly advantageous
• Commitment to developing technical expertise in German accounting, legal and tax compliance is essential
• Fluent in English; German language skills highly appreciated, or a willingness to learn German
• Strong MS Excel and Word skills; exposure to ERP tools (SAP, Yardi, DATEV) beneficial
• Organised, analytical, proactive and team player
• Able to manage multiple deadlines in a fast‑paced, demanding environment

What’s in it for you?

• Build your career from our Cape Town office while working for an international company
• International clients and global best practices in complex cross‑border investment structures
• Professional development opportunities, supported by our TMF education platforms
• Hybrid working model and a competitive salary
• A collaborative, multicultural team environment with strong opportunities for growth

We’re looking forward to getting to know you!