Project and Cost Accountant

SmartStart; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 480,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial management organization in Johannesburg is seeking a Project and Cost Accountant to ensure accurate financial management for its projects. The role includes analyzing project costs, preparing financial reports, and managing grants. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting (Honors) and 3-4 years of relevant experience. This position offers a collaborative environment and opportunities for growth.

Qualifications

• 3-4 years of experience in a similar position.
• Experience in project reporting, preferably in fast-paced environments.
• Knowledge of accounting best practices.

Responsibilities

• Analyze project costs and maintain cost accounting systems.
• Prepare financial reports and assist in budgeting.
• Manage grants and related financial activities.

Skills

Data analysis

Cost accounting

Budget management

Financial reporting

Education

Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting (Honors)

CIMA or finance accreditation

Tools

Sage Intacct

Job description

Job Description
Project and Cost Accountant

Purpose

The purpose of a Project and Cost Accountant is to ensure accurate financial management and reporting for projects and cost-related activities within SmartStart. This role involves analysing and monitoring project costs, maintaining cost accounting systems, preparing financial reports, and providing insights on cost trends and variances. The Project and Cost Accountant is also crucial in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis to support decision-making and ensure projects are within budget. Additionally, they will be responsible for managing grants and fund-related financial activities, ensuring compliance with funding requirements, and preparing reports for funders. The Project and Cost Accountant contribute to effective project financial management, cost control, and accurate financial reporting to support organizational success.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Accounting and Analysis

• Analyzing Hub and Franchisor operations and providing insights on trends in cost movements.
• Performing month-end cost accounting close.
• Maintaining cost accounting system and cost ledger.
• Performing life cycle cost-benefit and cost drivers analysis.
• Monitoring unit cost variance.
• Implementing cost standards for materials and labor.
• Reviewing standard costs on Sage Intacct against actual costs per invoices for inaccuracies in selling prices of finished products.

Financial Reporting and Analysis

• Explaining deviations (comparison of budget to actual results) of Franchisors.
• Liaising with operational departments regarding any variances.
• Preparing year-end accounts and coordinating with external auditors.
• Carrying out the preparation of monthly, quarterly, ad hoc & year-end reporting as required by management.
• Assisting in the budget process, specifically the Franchisor Budgets.
• Ensuring appropriate external audit arrangements and managing the audit process for funder-related audits are in place.
• Supporting the Financial Manager in resolving audit findings relating to Franchisors and Funders before yearly audits.
• Attending regular meetings with project leads and operational teams.

Project Accounting

• Match project income and cost monthly.
• Generate project income and cost reports to provide a list of all the invoices generated and costs incurred per project.
• Analyze the data for correctness and completeness.
• Update the internal month-end reports, and check information to ensure that project costs remain within budget.
• Identify discrepancies and provide reasons for variances as part of the internal monthly management report.

• Produce external funding reports required per funder and per project and submit them to Financial Manager for review.
• Predict project cost to completion.
• Issue a Cost to Completion standard template to Project Leads together with guidelines to determine labor and material cost:

o Project hours until project completion

o Labor rates

o Material cost

o Direct Project Cost

• Complete the calculations for the total cost per project for a bi-annual review according to the required format.
• Set up the review meeting with Programme/Project Managers to review cost to date vs budgets.

Franchisor Management
• Ensure all franchisors supporting documents are checked each month, and all missing documents are noted and followed up on with franchisors.
• Liaise with franchisor finance staff and resolve all queries from above and any other general spending queries.
• Follow up on outstanding monthly submissions and ensure all submissions are in
• Ensure all documents are stored on One Drive accurately and complete.
• Process all monthly expenditures in Sage Intacct via import journals each month.
• Send out notifications to FM and CFO regarding submission status and journal status consistently to show progress, especially for the first 2 weeks of each month.
• Ensure journals processed match up to franchisor submissions.
• Request supplier invoices from all VAT-registered franchisors to be able to make payments.
• Send payment listing each franchisor and invoices above to Creditors to process payment during their payment run.
• Reconcile the 8300 accounts for each franchisor to ensure amount paid matches listing above and amount recorded matches to expense report.

Project Budget Management

• Assist in compiling the income, Opex and Capex budgets required for the projects.
• Liaise with the project managers to obtain input into the budgets following the overall budget guidelines, analyze and identify abnormal items or discrepancies and resolve and then pass on the information to the Financial Manager for incorporation into the overall budget.

Grants and Fund Management
• Support the Finance Manager in ensuring that grant/social investment funds are properly managed and accounted for
• Preparing funder reports and ensuring timeous submission thereof.
• Preparing all other financial information and documents required by funders.
• Oversee special financial audits conducted by grant maker/ funders.

Requirements

Key Person Specifications

Qualifications & Experience

• CIMA or any finance professional accreditation is highly valued.
• Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting (Honors) with article experience
• 3 - 4 years' experience in the same/similar position
• Experience with Sage Intacct Accounting and inventory will be advantageous.

Competencies

• Working with large amounts of data from various input sources, preferably in a branch or multi-location setting.
• Proven track record of introducing and implementing innovative systems in the workplace.
• Experience in start-up environments or in fast-paced, constantly changing industries.
• Experience in project reporting, both locally and internationally.
• Thorough understanding of SmartStart's business ethics and values.
• Familiarity with SmartStart's organizational structure and reporting hierarchy.
• Extensive knowledge of accounting best practices.
• Outstanding ability to develop project budgets, financial forecasts, and tax reports.
• Analytical thinker with strong conceptualization and problem-solving abilities.
• Attentive to detail with excellent organizational skills.
• Capable of working under pressure and meeting tight deadlines.
• Proficient in both independent work and collaboration as part of a team.
• Excellent communication skills for effective collaboration.