Senior Accountant

AESG is an international specialist consultancy, engineering, and advisory firm with offices in London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, South Africa, Egypt, Australia and Riyadh. We are dedicated to helping solve our clients' greatest challenges through collaboration, innovation, and advanced technical solutions. With unparalleled experience gained from working on hundreds of projects, our multidisciplinary team of architects, planners, engineers, scientists, modelers, and project managers work alongside our clients to deliver effective solutions that stand the test of time.

We pride ourselves on being leaders in the industry in each of the services that we offer. We have one of the largest dedicated teams with decades of cumulative experience in sustainable design, fire and life safety, façade engineering, commissioning, building performance, waste management, environmental consultancy, carbon management, and acoustics.

Job Description

We are seeking a capable and detail-oriented Senior Accountant to manage full-cycle accounting and ensure financial integrity across our South Africa and UK entities. You will support local compliance, contribute to timely month-end closes, and help strengthen internal controls and reporting accuracy. This role is essential in maintaining clean books and supporting statutory, tax, and payroll compliance in both regions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain and reconcile general ledger accounts (prepayments, accruals, intercompany, etc.)
• Post journals accurately and ensure complete audit trails for both UK and South Africa books
• Perform monthly balance sheet reconciliations and follow up on outstanding items
• Assist with intercompany transactions, eliminations, and reconciliations
• Support the month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring deadlines are met
• Process supplier invoices, ensure timely payment runs, and manage AP aging reports
• Support project-based billing and ensure AR accuracy and timely collections
• Reconcile supplier statements and resolve discrepancies with vendors
• Post monthly payroll journal entries and reconcile payroll-related GL accounts
• Liaise with payroll providers to validate calculations and ensure compliance with: UK: PAYE, NI, Pensions (Auto-Enrolment), HMRC reporting; South Africa: SARS EMP201, UIF, SDL, Pension, and Medical Aid deductions
• Assist with preparation and submission of: UK VAT returns and reverse charge adjustments; South African VAT201 declarations and reconciliation of Input/Output VAT

Essential Qualifications / Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 3-5 years of full-cycle accounting experience, ideally covering both SA and UK entities
• Knowledge of both UK GAAP and South African accounting/tax regulations
• Strong proficiency in accounting systems (NetSuite, Xero, or similar) and Excel
• Preferred experience in a multi-entity or international finance environment
• Preferred exposure to professional services, project accounting, or consulting firm structures

As an employee of AESG, you can expect:

• A huge amount of freedom for our high-performing employees
• Great career opportunities as the company continues to grow, with access to a huge variety of projects and incredible clients
• Working on some of the world's leading developments and tackling our client's greatest challenges
• Commitment to building on your areas of specialism and focal interest points, supporting your professional development through a structured training and mentorship program
• Highly collaborative approach across the different technical service offerings
• Promotion of the importance of the health and well-being of the team, including team-building fitness activities, social events, and the provision of a healthy work environment
• To be part of a dynamic and motivated team with an amazing team culture