IFRS Technical Specialist (Advisor)

Industrial Development Corporation; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Industrial Development Corporation seeks a strategic IFRS leader to provide governance over IFRS technical accounting, opinions to management and the Board, and oversight of financial reporting across the organization.

The role drives the accounting policy framework, monitors IFRS developments, and leads a team to ensure compliant and accurate annual and interim financial statements.

Qualifications

• CA(SA) qualification or equivalent with IFRS leadership experience.
• 8–10 years' experience in IFRS technical accounting.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS 9, IFRS 10, IAS 28 and IFRS 13.
• Experience in financial services, banking, public sector or development finance institutions with PFMA knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Act as the principal IFRS technical advisor to the Corporation.
• Advise management on technical matters affecting portfolios.
• Establish and maintain the accounting policy framework for the IDC Group.
• Develop and approve technical accounting methodologies and interpretations.
• Monitor IFRS developments and assess impact on the organisation.
• Lead technical accounting forums and provide guidance across the Corporation.
• Identify and draft key accounting position papers and maintain repository.

Skills

IFRS knowledge

Financial reporting

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Education

CA(SA)

MCom or Master's in Accounting

Job description

Synopsis

To provide strategic leadership, governance and oversight over all IFRS technical accounting matters, transaction opinions, financial reporting activities and financial control frameworks across the organisation.

The role is responsible for:

• Ensuring that all lending, investment, treasury, funding, restructuring, business rescue, acquisitions, disposals and other significant transactions are appropriately assessed and accounted for in compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), applicable legislation, governance requirements and internal accounting policies.
• The technical integrity and accuracy of the Annual Financial Statements (AFS), Interim Financial Statements and other external financial reports.
• The development and maintenance of accounting policies, technical position papers and accounting governance frameworks.
• Providing authoritative technical accounting opinions to Executive Management, Investment Committees, Audit Committees and the Board.
• Managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders on technical accounting matters.

Qualification and Experience

• Minimum: Chartered Accountant CA(SA)
• Preferred: MCom (Accounting) or relevant Master's qualification
• 8-10 years of relevant experience in IFRS technical accounting leadership.
• Strong practical experience in IFRS 9, IFRS 10, IAS 28 and IFRS 13.
• Representation on, or membership of, a professional accounting technical committee would be advantageous.
• Substantial experience in financial services, banking, the public sector or a development finance institution, together with knowledge of the PFMA.
• Experience presenting to Audit Committees and Boards.

Roles and Responsibilities

IFRS Technical Leadership and Governance

• Act as the principal IFRS technical advisor to the Corporation.
• Advise management on technical matters affecting investment and lending portfolios.
• Establish and maintain the accounting policy framework for the IDC Company and Group.
• Develop and approve technical accounting methodologies and interpretations.
• Monitor emerging IFRS, IASB, IFRIC and regulatory developments and assess their impact on the organisation.
• Facilitate the adoption and implementation of new and revised accounting standards.
• Lead technical accounting forums and provide technical guidance across the Corporation.
• Identify and draft key accounting position papers in line with approved accounting policies and maintain an IDC technical position repository.

Transaction Accounting Oversight

• Review and approve accounting conclusions for all material and complex transactions before execution.
• Provide formal accounting opinions for all material transactions of the Corporation and evaluate appropriate accounting treatment under all key IFRS standards.
• Ensure all transactions are appropriately reflected within financial systems and reporting processes.

Financial Reporting Accountability

• Assume overall accountability for the technical accuracy of the IDC Group and Company Annual Financial Statements.
• Oversee preparation and review of the technical accuracy of:
  • Annual Financial Statements
  • Interim Financial Statements
  • Integrated Reporting disclosures
  • Board Audit Committee reports
  • National Treasury reporting requirements
  • Other reporting requirements
• Ensure consistency of disclosures across all applicable reports.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements.

Audit and Assurance Management

• Serve as primary liaison with internal and external auditors on technical accounting matters.
• Lead resolution of technical accounting issues raised during audits.
• Review audit findings and ensure implementation of corrective actions.
• Present accounting position papers and technical conclusions to auditors and governance structures.

Leadership and Capability Development

• Lead and develop a team of technical accounting and reporting professionals.
• Build technical accounting capability across the Corporation.
• Establish IFRS training programmes for all IDC professionals.
• Mentor finance professionals and technical specialists.
• Promote a culture of financial control excellence and continuous improvement

Job Requirements

TECHNICAL/FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES
Expert IFRS knowledge
Financial Instruments Accounting
Technical Paper Writing
Financial Reporting
IFRS and statutory reporting requirements
Stakeholder reporting and senior management engagement

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES
Persuading and Influencing – Ability to influence process improvements and embed financial discipline
Delivering results and meeting customer expectations
Planning and organising
Writing and reporting
High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
Strong analytical and problem-solving ability
Professional judgement, integrity and confidentiality
Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
Ability to operate effectively in a complex, regulated or governance-intensive environment

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES
Leading & Supervising
Resilience
Decisiveness in Execution
Teamwork
Communication and Engagement
Diverse Stakeholder Management
Strategic Thinking
Business Mindset
Influence