Senior Accountant

Lycopodium; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering firm is looking for an experienced Senior Accountant in Cape Town to oversee financial reporting and project accounting. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and 5+ years of relevant experience, particularly in an EPCM or Engineering environment. Responsibilities include preparing financial statements, managing tax compliance, and collaborating with project managers. The firm offers a supportive work environment for professional growth and development.

Benefits

Flexible work arrangements

Career progression opportunities

Investment in employee development

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Accounting experience in an EPCM, Construction, or Engineering environment.
• Strong understanding of tax regulations and international accounting standards.
• Proficiency in managing multi-currency transactions.

Responsibilities

• Prepare financial statements in compliance with IFRS / GAAP.
• Ensure accurate general ledger management and reconciliations.
• Collaborate with project managers to control project expenditures.

Skills

Project accounting

Financial reporting

Analytical skills

Team management

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

CA(SA), CIMA or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems (SAP, Oracle)

Microsoft Excel

Job description

With offices in Africa, Australia, Canada, Peru and the Philippines, Lycopodium proudly delivers high quality professional engineering and project delivery services globally, across the resources, infrastructure, and industrial processes sectors. By joining our global team and learning from renowned subject matter experts, we can offer you a diverse career that could take you anywhere in the world.

Lycopodium Africa is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant to join our growing team in Cape Town. The Senior Accountant is responsible for overseeing financial reporting, project accounting, and compliance within the organisation. And will work closely with project Managers, Procurement and Finance teams to ensure accurate financial management across complex, multi-phase engineering projects.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in compliance with IFRS / GAAP.
• Ensure accurate general ledger (GL) management, reconciliations, and financial close processes.
• Oversee tax compliance (VAT, corporate tax, withholding tax, etc.) and liaise with auditors.
• Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, internal controls, and company policies.
• Monitor and report on work-in-progress (WIP), revenue recognition, and project profitability.
• Track and manage project costs, accruals, and variances, ensuring alignment with budgets.
• Collaborate with project managers to provide financial insights and control project expenditures.
• Support contract management by ensuring billing, claims, and cost recovery processes are accurate.
• Assist in managing cash flow forecasting, working capital, and bank reconciliations.
• Oversee multi-currency transactions and foreign exchange risk in international projects.
• Work with the finance team to optimize cash management strategies.
• Ensure timely processing of vendor invoices, payments, and collections.
• Monitor client billing cycles, payment terms, and credit risk to ensure a healthy cash flow.
• Resolve any discrepancies in supplier or client accounts in collaboration with relevant teams.
• Ensure the accuracy of financial data in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or equivalent).
• Support automation and process improvements for financial reporting and efficiency.
• Assist in system upgrades, financial integrations, and digital transformation projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, or a related field (CA(SA), CIMA or equivalent preferred).
• 5+ years of Accounting experience, preferably in an EPCM, Construction, or Engineering environment.
• Strong understanding of project accounting, WIP reporting, and cost management.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or similar) and advanced Excel Skills.
• Experience with multi-currency transactions, tax regulations, and international accounting standards.
• Proven leadership and team management experience.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and attention to detail.
• Cape Town based.
• South African Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Full time office based.
• Numerical accuracy and attention to detail.
• Management skills.
• Must be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Positive, confident, self-motivated and a team player.
• Readily and willing to assist fellow team members where needed.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Conflict resolution.
• Ability to conform to listed group processes and procedures but also be adaptable within the confines of the financial environment.
• Solid technical aptitude, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision whilst consistently producing a high quality of deliverables, within budget and schedule constraints.
• Demonstrate proficiency with the Microsoft suite of software packages, including Word, Excel, and Power Point
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills, specifically in English
• Proven ability to produce accurate and professional complex, technical documentation.
• Demonstrate the ability to work efficiently in a team and knowledge sharing environment.
• Demonstrate good interpersonal skills and a practical approach to problem-solving.
• Self-motivated with excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple, varied tasks while ensuring attention to detail.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility and commitment
• Demonstrate a commitment to continued professional development and improvement.
• Cape Town based.

Benefits

The benefits we'll provide

Lycopodium has a strong company culture focused on career progression and technical skill development. You can expect to be involved in a wide range of large projects whilst working amongst a team of highly skilled professionals.

We recognise that everyone is different and needs may change over the course of your career.

That’s why we :

• Invest in our people for the long-term, building a diverse and rewarding career, mentored by the best in the industry.
• Allow our people to balance work with other commitments, like family or study, offering flexible work arrangements.
• Are undertaking significant people and technology initiatives that will support the workplace of the future.